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Getting Started - A guide for new throwers.

PostPosted: Thu Oct 09, 2008 11:40 am
by Mike Wills
Sources for Information
MASA - Mid-Atlantic - http://www.heavyevents.com
SSAAA - Southeast - http://www.thessaaa.org/
NESA - Northeast - http://www.newenglandstrength.com/index.htm
GLSAA - Great Lakes - http://www.glsaa.com
NCHA - North Central - http://www.northcentralheavies.com
RMSA - Midwest - http://www.rmsa.org
SAAA - West Coast - http://www.saaa-net.org
NASGA - North America (also general gathering message board for Highland Games) - http://www.nasgaweb.com

The Events
Open Stone (16 - 22 lbs) - http://www.highlandgames.net/videos/vierra-stone-2.mpg
Braemar Stone (22 - 28 lbs) - http://www.highlandgames.net/videos/gudmundson-braemar-2.mpg
56# Heavy Weight for Distance - http://www.highlandgames.net/videos/sandford-56-1.mpg
28# Light Weight for Distance- http://www.highlandgames.net/videos/brebner-28-1.mpg
22# Heavy Hammer - http://www.highlandgames.net/videos/vierra-22-3.mpg
16# Light Hammer - http://www.highlandgames.net/videos/king-16-1.mpg
Caber Toss - http://www.highlandgames.net/videos/vierra-caber-1.mpg
16# Sheaf Toss - http://www.highlandgames.net/videos/kd-wr.mpg
56# Weight Over Bar - http://www.highlandgames.net/videos/sandford-wob.mpg

Rules
You can review the MASA rules here: http://www.heavyevents.com/rules/index.php

Local Training Groups
Post your name and where you live - with a request for in-person help on the Training page of this forum, or Private Message Bryan McClain, aka Sheaf Daddy, from this forum and he will help you find a training group in your area.

Signing Up for MASA Competitions
Please read the other Announcement titled Competition Registration Procedure - http://www.heavyevents.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=153 - and follow the directions for monitoring competition dates, available classes, and registration opening dates.

How to Get Started
1. Review online videos for the events. Good sources include: Google (search for Highland Games), Ryan Vierra ( http://www.youtube.com/user/throwfarther) and Sorinex - http://sorinexforums.com/community/forumdisplay.php?s=91c81d254d84632ceb116e2177769990&f=8
2. Find an experienced thrower in your area and learn the basics.
3. Find a clinic and attend. Larry Brock - http://www.brockthrow.com - and Ryan Vierra - http://www.ryanvierrausa.com/ are top pro's that both conduct top-notch clinics.
4. Video yourself throwing and compare to better throwers so you can learn to identify your mistakes.
5. Get out and compete!

Equipment
Malcolm Doying (Old Celt) - http://www.nasgaweb.com/ads/oldcelt/
Tony Dziepak has some ideas on everything, including making training equipment - http://www.geocities.com/Colosseum/8682/heavy/
Tacky - A sticky substance that helps you hold onto the weights and hammers. Larry Brock - http://www.brockthrow.com is the best source.

What to Wear?
Requirements for competition: Kilt and Highland Hose.

Kilts - A lot of the guys like Stillwater Kilts - http://www.stillwaterkilts.com/ - or Sportkilt - http://www.sportkilt.com/ - for fairly cheap and functional kilts. You can also do a search and find many custom kilt makers for higher end kilts. You can also get your Highland Hose (long socks basically) from the kiltmakers.

Shoes - A lot of guys wear Tanel 360 - http://www.tanel360.com/ - or javelin shoes (from track and field).

Posting Etiquette
- Use your real name when asking for help.
- If you expect people to give you help, be courteous enough to provide details like where you live, your basic background, etc.

What if I make a post like this? - "This is Big Daddy (no other name given) talkin to you. Why don't you help me get started and go ahead and sign me up for all the competitions while your at it."
I will definitely make sure you get into a competition...so I can beat the monkey crap out of you once I figure out who you are.

Re: Getting Started - A guide for new throwers.

PostPosted: Sat Oct 11, 2008 10:30 pm
by S McCracken
Mike this is realy nice, I wish I would have found something like this when I was getting started. It realy has all you need to get started.

Re: Getting Started - A guide for new throwers.

PostPosted: Sun Oct 12, 2008 11:40 am
by Sheaf daddy
A couple of other sites to add
Dan John's site is good http://www.danjohn.org - go to his newsletter and read, read, read
Also http://www.ryanvierrausa.com You can pay to join and get lots of videos, advice, lifting program, etc.

To buy videos I recommend the VP Training Videos http://www.vp-prod.com
and Larry Brock's website http://www.brockthrow.com/

Inspirational videos on line at http://www.kiltedthrower.com - click on media and then videos

Re: Getting Started - A guide for new throwers.

PostPosted: Fri Dec 26, 2008 6:06 pm
by heavysprout
One caveat for new throwers.....don't release the hammer doing hammer winds during warm-ups at your first game. - A Former Rookie :oops:

Re: Getting Started - A guide for new throwers.

PostPosted: Mon Oct 26, 2009 11:19 am
by kiltedhitman.4
To go along with Sprout's reply... Another thing to avoid is ripping down the standard in sheaf toss at your first event and making it completely useless for all other competitors :? !! What can I say, It was time for it to end!

Re: Getting Started - A guide for new throwers.

PostPosted: Sat Jan 12, 2013 4:55 pm
by holbee
This is EXACTLY the stuff I've been looking for! Thanks!

Re: Getting Started - A guide for new throwers.

PostPosted: Mon Mar 31, 2014 9:14 pm
by Kodman93
I can't wait this going to be awesome

Re: Getting Started - A guide for new throwers.

PostPosted: Thu Jul 17, 2014 6:14 pm
by gonzocult82
Would light weights and youths use the womens standard weights?

Re: Getting Started - A guide for new throwers.

PostPosted: Thu Jul 17, 2014 6:35 pm
by Rich McClain
Light Weight Amateurs (if there is a class contested at games) would use the 42 instead of the 56.
Light Weight Masters (even more rarely contested at games) would use the 42.
Youth never compete unless cleared by the Athletic Director. Males may throw with the Masters weights and female women weights.

Re: Getting Started - A guide for new throwers.

PostPosted: Fri Aug 15, 2014 10:44 am
by kennyholl
I am about to enter my first competition, at the Virginia Games, and I have a couple questions.

How do I find out if I'm actually entered. I assume I am because I followed the steps to enter and I paid my money, it was accepted, and I got confirmation of the payment, but I was hoping to see my name on a list of entrants or something like that.

Also, I'm in the Masters competition (although I find it ironic that I'm a Master at this even though I've never done it before...), and I'm wondering what the schedule is like for the day. I have to be near Baltimore at 5:00, so I'll have to leave The Plains around 3:00 or 3:30. Is this feasible? How much of the competition will I be missing?

Re: Getting Started - A guide for new throwers.

PostPosted: Fri Aug 15, 2014 2:25 pm
by TheHammer
There is a thread listing that here:http://heavyevents.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=1847
Keep in mind that the Masters is an indication of age, not skill or maturity, and lastly if you have leave at 3:00pm you will definitely be missing a few events.
I suggest you check with Steph or Alex regarding that as that will impact scoring and is something they will want to know ahead of time. I Hope that was helpful.