CABER TOSS

Caber Toss

BY ALIA ADEENA , 2C

CABER TOSS

The caber toss is a traditional Scottish
athletic event in which competitors toss a

large tapered pole called a "caber" . It is
normally practiced at the Scottish Highland
Games. In Scotland the caber is usually made
from a Larch tree and it can be between

16–20 feet (4.9–6.1 m) tall and weighs
between 90–150 pounds . The term "caber"
derives from the Gaelic word caber, which

refers to a wooden beam.

It is said to have developed from
the need to toss logs across

narrow chasms (in order to cross
them), lumberjacks needing to

transport logs by throwing them in
streams, or by lumberjacks

challenging each other to a small
contest . Although the sport is
primarily associated with Scotland,
a similar exercise, "casting the bar",
was popular in England in the 16th

century.

" I first started throwing in 2009 at JASON
a Highlander competition made up of BRAINES
half highland games events and half
Canadian Jason Baines has set a
strongman events. We had an axle new world record, performing
clean and press, tire flip, yoke walk 161 caber tosses in one hour at
the 45th annual Montreal Highland
for the strongman events; and
Braemar stone, 28# weight throw, Games on Sunday.
and the 56# weight over bar. 2008 The caber toss is a traditional

World Champion Sean Betz was Scottish event that sees
there and highly recommended I competitors toss a large tapered
compete in the games. I did my first
pole.It is typically made from a
full games in 201 and started Larch tree and can be 16 to 20
throwing professionally in 2014.
feet tall, weighing between 90
JASON BRAINES and 150 pounds.“There's nothing
( INTERVIEW ) more fun than putting a skirt on,
going out on a field with people
watching you and then maybe

getting a nip of whisky
afterwards,” Baines told CTV
News ahead of his world record
attempt. To practice for the

event, Baines, who lives in
Hawkesbury, Ont., made his own
cabers from logs found on land

he owns.His goal was to flip a
caber more than 122 times in one
hour -- he beat it by 39 flips.On
his off days, Baines works in a

factory that makes and
distributes lock nuts for rail

wheels.

THE END