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Caber Toss
The Caber (kay-bur) Toss is the most spectacular of
the Scottish heavy athletic events. The caber is traditionally a fairly large tree with all of its limbs and bark removed. It is normally from 18 to 24 feet in length and weighs from 80 to 120
pounds (obviously the longer the caber, the heavier it is). The narrow end of the caber is tapered and smoothed for that is where the athlete grips the caber. The athlete will first squat down and grab the caber close to the narrow end. He then hoists the caber up to rest against his shoulder while shifting his grip to the tapered end, cupping his hands under the taper. Now he "walks" the caber, attempting to get some momentum. When he judges that it is the right time, he heaves the caber up and away with all his might. His goal is to have the end that was pointing up to hit the ground first and then to have the narrow end flip or "turn" so that it is pointed away from him. The ideal toss would result in the caber being at a "12:00 o'clock" position in relation to where the athlete was standing when he made the toss.
The official who judges the accuracy of the toss is also called "the spotter" for it is his job to keep close behind the athlete and "spot" the action of the caber. If it looks like the athlete may lose control of the caber, the spotter will help to push it in a safe direction (the toss is then no good). If the athlete successfully turns the caber, it is the spotter who judges how close to "12:00 o'clock" the toss was.
All the athletes are given three tries at turning the caber during a round. The winner is the first person in a round to have a perfect "12:00 o'clock" or at least as close as possible. Tosses that are between "3:00 o'clock" and "9:00 o'clock" do not count. If no one turns the caber then a piece is cut off the thick end (the length is determined by the spotter) and another round starts.
By its nature, there are no world records in caber tossing. Each caber is different in length, thickness, weight, and even texture, all of which affect the athletes.
It is considered extreme bad form for spectators to distract either the spotter or the athlete. Several years ago a spectator loudly called out the name of the spotter and when the spotter turned his head, the caber fell back onto him. He was seriously injured with a broken collar, shoulder, and arm. He could have been killed.