SATURDAY, NOV. 27th - Sawdust flew, snowdrifts shattered, and 9 participants got their chop on as the first ever TIMBERRR! Lumberjack Challenge at FortWhyte Alive went into the books.
The nine hardy racers ran a 2 mile course, laden with logs. Along the way, they identified trees, worked the saw, chopped kindling, living the adventurous life an early-20th century lumberjack - if only for 45 minutes.
Weather conditions were perfect for the event. The course volunteers (Thank-you Axeman Jack and Sawmill Gord!) were as excited as the racers.
TIMBERRR!!! was the first in a series of similar events happening at FortWhyte Alive before next summer. the next event - the Second Annual Spears and 'Shoes Atlatl/Snowshoe Biathlon, set for 1pm on February 19th, 2011.
Thank-you to all the participants and spectators who came out on Saturday - and keep looking here for more details on Spears and 'Shoes 2011!
-Barret
Showing posts with label atlatl. Show all posts
Showing posts with label atlatl. Show all posts
Monday, November 29, 2010
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
The Inaugural Spears and 'Shoes Biathlon - A huge success!
"Ready....five seconds...set....GO!!!!!!!"
I've been told Vancouver is hosting some sort of major sporting event right now...all I know for sure, is this past Sunday afternoon, I had the privilege of shaking hands with a world champion!
The Inaugural Spears and 'Shoes Biathlon - a multi-sport event featuring atlatl accuracy competition (spears) combined with a 2.4km snowshoe race ('shoes) - saw 14 hearty racers have a blast, test out some traditional technologies, and compete in a fun new race.
The winner of the event was Lane Coulter, of Virden, MB, who posted a score of 9 minutes, 21 seconds, to claim first place. Scoring was simple: each racer's snowshoe race time had 90 seconds shaved off for each successful atlatl hit on the range - four shots each, for a combined possible bonus of 6 minutes.
Lane, a young man who came to the race with his Cadet group, ran a solid snowshoe race, and was the most successful atlathlete (officially a word now!) of all the racers. Lane was quite a bit younger than most racers, and had never seen an atlatl before the race.
Pre-race practice throw by J. Harms, currently ranked 3rd in the world with a personal best score of 12:09.
When asked about his performance, the world's first champion said, "I mess around with a bow and arrow a little bit, but this is new...I guess I'm good!" the young Mr. Coulter will have a good chance to get even better, as his prize is a hand-made atlatl set!
Another racer came up to me after the race, smiling. "I thought I was the only one who would be interested in this type of event - now, I see there are more like me!" She added, "When's the next one?"
The next one is in the works! No date, or details...yet...but the next, similarly-inspired race/challenge is in the first stages of planning. It's still a long way off, but early indications are Spears and 'Shoes will happen again next winter, as well - 9:21 is the score to beat!
As with all FortWhyte Alive programs, a big thank-you goes to the volunteers who helped with this race. Another HUGE thank-you goes to all participants, spectators, and well-wishers. A few months ago, this race was an off-beat idea. Now, it is in the history books as an awesome event - mixing fun, fitness, cultural education, and...FUN.
No big TV contracts. No performance-enhancers. No multi-million sponsorship deals. Just good, old-fashioned (like paleolithic-fashioned!) fun. This event, for me, reflected human spirit at its best!
(A big thank-you to all who contributed photos to this post!)
I've been told Vancouver is hosting some sort of major sporting event right now...all I know for sure, is this past Sunday afternoon, I had the privilege of shaking hands with a world champion!
The Inaugural Spears and 'Shoes Biathlon - a multi-sport event featuring atlatl accuracy competition (spears) combined with a 2.4km snowshoe race ('shoes) - saw 14 hearty racers have a blast, test out some traditional technologies, and compete in a fun new race.
The winner of the event was Lane Coulter, of Virden, MB, who posted a score of 9 minutes, 21 seconds, to claim first place. Scoring was simple: each racer's snowshoe race time had 90 seconds shaved off for each successful atlatl hit on the range - four shots each, for a combined possible bonus of 6 minutes.
Lane, a young man who came to the race with his Cadet group, ran a solid snowshoe race, and was the most successful atlathlete (officially a word now!) of all the racers. Lane was quite a bit younger than most racers, and had never seen an atlatl before the race.
When asked about his performance, the world's first champion said, "I mess around with a bow and arrow a little bit, but this is new...I guess I'm good!" the young Mr. Coulter will have a good chance to get even better, as his prize is a hand-made atlatl set!
Another racer came up to me after the race, smiling. "I thought I was the only one who would be interested in this type of event - now, I see there are more like me!" She added, "When's the next one?"
The next one is in the works! No date, or details...yet...but the next, similarly-inspired race/challenge is in the first stages of planning. It's still a long way off, but early indications are Spears and 'Shoes will happen again next winter, as well - 9:21 is the score to beat!
As with all FortWhyte Alive programs, a big thank-you goes to the volunteers who helped with this race. Another HUGE thank-you goes to all participants, spectators, and well-wishers. A few months ago, this race was an off-beat idea. Now, it is in the history books as an awesome event - mixing fun, fitness, cultural education, and...FUN.
No big TV contracts. No performance-enhancers. No multi-million sponsorship deals. Just good, old-fashioned (like paleolithic-fashioned!) fun. This event, for me, reflected human spirit at its best!
The final racers coming toward the finish line
(A big thank-you to all who contributed photos to this post!)
Friday, January 8, 2010
Biathlon Postponed - and a Touch Museum Teaser Trailer
Hello, all!
It is my regretful duty to announce the postponement of the Inaugural FortWhyte Alive Snowshoe Biathlon. With the holidays having just passed, and the cold temperatures this week, interest has been tepid...so, we're going to try again on February 20th, at 1pm.
If the idea of a snowshoe race with some atlatl throwing interests you, let me know!
ALSO:
There's a new resident moving in to the Kiwanis Touch Museum in the next few weeks. It's going to be a big, hairy deal...keep watching for info!!!!
It is my regretful duty to announce the postponement of the Inaugural FortWhyte Alive Snowshoe Biathlon. With the holidays having just passed, and the cold temperatures this week, interest has been tepid...so, we're going to try again on February 20th, at 1pm.
If the idea of a snowshoe race with some atlatl throwing interests you, let me know!
ALSO:
There's a new resident moving in to the Kiwanis Touch Museum in the next few weeks. It's going to be a big, hairy deal...keep watching for info!!!!
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
The Inaugural FortWhyte Alive Biathlon
January 9th, 2010 - Registration Noon, event starts 1 pm
I am proud to officially announce an unofficial FortWhyte Alive event!
Join us on January 9th, 2010, for the first-ever FortWhyte Alive Biathlon - an event combining the disciplines of snowshoeing and atlatl!
The snowshoe course is approximately 3.5 km long. We will use a standard archery target for the atlatl throwing, from a distance of 10 metres. Every "hit" of the target shaves two full minutes off a participants' time in the race. Each partipant will throw four darts.
This is a "just-for-fun" event, but...the participant with the best time will win the Grand Prize for the day - a handmade atlatl set!
The event is open to anyone who feels they would like to spend some time on a Saturday afternoon snowshoeing and throwing atlatl darts. As the organizer, I ask you email me (click here to do so!) and let me know you are interested - I may have to limit numbers to fifteen racers, to ensure atlatl availability for all.
Though this is an inaugural, "just-for-fun" event, there is a Grand Prize: the participant with the best time, and most accurate atlatl performance
There is no cost to particpate - standard admission to FortWhyte Alive is required, though.
To the best of my knowledge, this is the first time atlatl and snowshoeing have been combined into a modern sport - though, given the ancient heritage of both technologies, it's likely the two were used in combination sometime in the past. This event will be a fun way to honour human history, get some outdoor winter exercise, and meet others with similar interests.
The challenge is open - see you at FortWhyte Alive on January 9th!
-Barret
I am proud to officially announce an unofficial FortWhyte Alive event!
Join us on January 9th, 2010, for the first-ever FortWhyte Alive Biathlon - an event combining the disciplines of snowshoeing and atlatl!
The snowshoe course is approximately 3.5 km long. We will use a standard archery target for the atlatl throwing, from a distance of 10 metres. Every "hit" of the target shaves two full minutes off a participants' time in the race. Each partipant will throw four darts.
This is a "just-for-fun" event, but...the participant with the best time will win the Grand Prize for the day - a handmade atlatl set!
The event is open to anyone who feels they would like to spend some time on a Saturday afternoon snowshoeing and throwing atlatl darts. As the organizer, I ask you email me (click here to do so!) and let me know you are interested - I may have to limit numbers to fifteen racers, to ensure atlatl availability for all.
Though this is an inaugural, "just-for-fun" event, there is a Grand Prize: the participant with the best time, and most accurate atlatl performance
There is no cost to particpate - standard admission to FortWhyte Alive is required, though.
To the best of my knowledge, this is the first time atlatl and snowshoeing have been combined into a modern sport - though, given the ancient heritage of both technologies, it's likely the two were used in combination sometime in the past. This event will be a fun way to honour human history, get some outdoor winter exercise, and meet others with similar interests.
The challenge is open - see you at FortWhyte Alive on January 9th!
-Barret
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Atl Whatl? The fine art of throwing board repair.
When people ask what I do all day at FortWhyte Alive, there is no easy answer.
What makes the answer comlicated is the "Special Programs" part of my title. What's a special program? It can be just about anything.
Today, for example, I repaired the throwing board of an atlatl.
For those of you out there who think I also spend my time making up words with too many consonants and too few vowels, rest assured: atlatls are real. Atlatl is a Nahautl (Aztec) word referring to a device consisting of a throwing board and spear. Most every culture on earth has used the device at one time or another. The throwing board is used to propel the spear at a target, faster and more accurately than unaided arm strength can manage.
We use the atlatl to help students connect with the challenges faced by people living on the Prairies in the past. At some point, everyone (regardless of geographic or cultural heritage) has had an ancestor who held a throwing board and a dart, and knew that this simple tool was all that stood between their current situation and starvation...all of a sudden, the little things that divide us pale, and the common human needs for food, shelter, and the drive to care for family come to the forefront. Standing in front of grade five class and saying this all would get an interpreter laughed at. Standing in front of a grade five class just finishing THROWING SPEARS!!!!, the interpreter has the class' full attention.
A full summer and fall of atlatl use left one of our throwing boards worse for wear. The leather finger straps had torn away from the throwing board, the result of too much enthusiastic use. This was not a worn out, damaged good, to be disposed of or junked, as we are so prone to do these days. This was a colleague in need of help and rest - granted, I don't feel the same bond with the non-living chunk of wood and leather as with my living, breathing, teammates...however, I can't fix my living, breathing teammates when they need help and rest. I can only listen. I can fix an atlatl board!
I cannot disclose all the details involved in repairing an throwing board - any organization needs a few secrets! I will let you know that the process involves milkweed stems, general-purpose epxoy, and time.
The repair part of the job was a challenge. I love trying to get the look of the repair right, while at the same time ensuring it is structurally capable of handling pretty heavy use. However, the really fun part of this task comes tomorrow...when I field test the repair!
Watch for pictures. Talk to you then!
What makes the answer comlicated is the "Special Programs" part of my title. What's a special program? It can be just about anything.
Today, for example, I repaired the throwing board of an atlatl.
For those of you out there who think I also spend my time making up words with too many consonants and too few vowels, rest assured: atlatls are real. Atlatl is a Nahautl (Aztec) word referring to a device consisting of a throwing board and spear. Most every culture on earth has used the device at one time or another. The throwing board is used to propel the spear at a target, faster and more accurately than unaided arm strength can manage.
We use the atlatl to help students connect with the challenges faced by people living on the Prairies in the past. At some point, everyone (regardless of geographic or cultural heritage) has had an ancestor who held a throwing board and a dart, and knew that this simple tool was all that stood between their current situation and starvation...all of a sudden, the little things that divide us pale, and the common human needs for food, shelter, and the drive to care for family come to the forefront. Standing in front of grade five class and saying this all would get an interpreter laughed at. Standing in front of a grade five class just finishing THROWING SPEARS!!!!, the interpreter has the class' full attention.
A full summer and fall of atlatl use left one of our throwing boards worse for wear. The leather finger straps had torn away from the throwing board, the result of too much enthusiastic use. This was not a worn out, damaged good, to be disposed of or junked, as we are so prone to do these days. This was a colleague in need of help and rest - granted, I don't feel the same bond with the non-living chunk of wood and leather as with my living, breathing, teammates...however, I can't fix my living, breathing teammates when they need help and rest. I can only listen. I can fix an atlatl board!
I cannot disclose all the details involved in repairing an throwing board - any organization needs a few secrets! I will let you know that the process involves milkweed stems, general-purpose epxoy, and time.
The repair part of the job was a challenge. I love trying to get the look of the repair right, while at the same time ensuring it is structurally capable of handling pretty heavy use. However, the really fun part of this task comes tomorrow...when I field test the repair!
Watch for pictures. Talk to you then!
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