Caber Tossing

Article by: © Michael J. Rosen 2010

"It Took Me Five Games Before I Turned My First Caber."

- professional Highland Games thrower Daniel McKim

Chopping lumber isn't for everyone. Perhaps it's the stereotype of tacky plaid shirts and itchy, saw-dusted beards.

But those looking to out-tacky even a lumberjack get-up will slip on their kilts and have a go at tossing the caber. Said to have evolved from foresters throwing tree trunks into a river, this sport of heaving a giant wooden pole is practiced at Scottish Highland Games globally. There's no standard height or weight for the caber, although most range between 16 and 20 feet, and 80 and 130 pounds. The largest ever recorded in competition tipped the scales, and the competitors, at a daunting 25 feet and 280 pounds.

A caber toss occurs in several steps. First, assistants lift the small end of the caber into the air until the thrower can balance it by himself, while the large end rests on the ground. The thrower then works his hands towards the bottom of the caber, lifting it from the ground until it rests against his chest and shoulder. After a short run, the caber begins leaning off the thrower's chest, and he releases the caber from his mid-section: The brute strength and phallic image are obvious to all.

While some American competitions measure the distance of the throw, success is generally based on how straight the toss is. That is, the thrower's goal is to have the caber land perfectly straight away from his body. Based on the hour hand of a clock, a perfect toss is called "a twelve o'clock" - otherwise known as time for an Old Chub ale and a serving of haggis.

Fancy yourself as a decent tosser, then lob on over to the Scottish Highland Games Association website.

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