Frozen Stones Highland Games

SAAA Idaho Highland Game people have a tradition of being the first highland game competition of the year, which is always on New Year's Day. A few years ago, I competed at one and due to the freezing cold and wind, I swore I'd never compete in one again. Doing this competition is like going to the all-you-can-eat Chinese buffet. At the time, it sounds like an excellent idea. After you’re done eating, you swear you'll never go back again, then after six months, it starts to sound like a good idea again. After two years, it sounded like an EXCELLENT idea.

I made a last-minute decision to go out and compete. I haven’t thrown since the Newport Highland Games back in July, but felt ok about it. The Frozen Stones competition is about fortitude: being able to withstand eight hours in the cold and billion mile an hour winds, without injuring yourself. The ground was frozen with lots of ice, although there wasn’t any snow. This isn’t the competition to go out and expect to set any PRs, or perform at a high level. Survival is the goal.

The day before I got in touch with my pal Cori, I received a text from my other pal, Kellee. Cori is an amazing friend, I love her and would be completely lost without her at my side. I can call her last minute and regardless of what the new adventure is, and she always agrees to go with me and try it out. It’s always a BLAST. She’s my roller derby, Highland Games, NAHA, strongwoman and ghost-hunting pal. Well, Kellee, text me that morning saying she wasn’t going due to lack of sleep and I was tempted to crawl back into bed. But, I knew Cori would be here on time. She’s like the mailman  – always reliable, rain or shine. After only about three hours of sleep, we hit the road on New Year’s morning for our two hour ride of catching up and girl talk.

The Competition

When we arrived, it was the most amazing thing. I literally spent the first 15 minutes just hugging people. Seeing everyone again was like going back home for Christmas dinner after being away for a while. The brotherhood in Highland Games is unlike anything I’ve ever experienced in other athletic disciplines. I’ve shown up to some competitions and all you hear are lies, B.S. and drama. Being surrounded by love, friendship and joy was such an incredible way to start 2012.

I brought my Mr. Buddy heater, a chair, thermos of coffee, some water and comforter. I figured I would be good. Oh, wow! I was so unprepared. Thankfully, Cori knows how bad I stink at packing. She had pants, gloves, hand warmers, a hat and food for me. My friend, Alan, had a nice shelter set-up with a windbreak and a spot for me to settle in and keep warm, while providing excellent company.

The events for the games were: braemar stone, HWFD, WOB, heavy hammer and caber. Like I said, this isn’t the competition to expect to set PRs. It was such a long time since I've thrown, so most of the day was becoming reacquainted with technique while not blowing a knee out.

Thoughts on the events:

  • It was difficult finding stable footing due to ice. All events were challenging due to fear of slipping.
  • I missed warm-ups on nearly every event because I was catching up with friends. As a result, technique was rusty at best. During HWFD, I was a mess. Timing and footing were gone. By my third throw, I was able to muster out a little above 28 feet. It was all coming back to me, but by then my turn was over.
  • On WOB, I opened way exceptionally low. I missed warm-ups and wasn’t sure what the ground conditions were and where I would fall on this event because it has been so long. I made all of my throws with ease and many feet to spare. My WOB is certainly back well over 14 feet. I'm so pleased about that because it took a hit the past few years from over 15, down to 13 feet.
  • The caber and ground were frozen. We did the tiny 11 foot caber. When it turned and hit the ground, there was no bounce, just an ominous thud. The caber actually broke on one of the girl’s turns. I have genuine fear of the caber and was actually called on one of my throws because I didn’t take three steps with it. I picked it up and just tossed it with brute force.
  • One of the judges was knocked in the head with the men’s caber. I didn’t see the whole thing, but the caber fell back from the competitor’s arms and knocked the judge right on the top of his head. He was down for a few minutes but was able to walk off the field on his own. I hope there was no significant injury.
  • So, the Highland Games injuries, just during the competitions I have been in are: broken finger from WFD breaking the fence loose and into a competitors hand, major should injury from LWFD knocking a competitor in the arm, The Pulcinella incident, and a caber to the head (two times now). I see these things and think back to strongman. I have yet to see any broken bones or serious injuries on the field. Every time I compete in HG I always secretly wish I can make it out unharmed. Each time, I leave with a sigh of relief that it wasn’t my turn to get messed up that day.
  • I ended up placing first in all events and taking first in the competition. Starting 2012 off with a win is indicative of what I plan to do, and hopefully many good things coming this year.
  • I got to ring in the New Year surrounded by friends, laughter, competing and having a great time with a spectacular view of the falls. That is my biggest win of the day.