A Better Route

The caber is always put in an upright position by the previous thrower or Games staffers. You stand with your heels together and toes out with the narrow end of the caber on the ground between your feet while the other athlete walks it up. I.e.: he grabs the heavy end, raises it over his head and walks toward you until the caber is upright and right in your face. Then he or she says, You got it? And you say, Yup. But then, what else can you say? No, I dont even know what Im doing here!?

You let the stick angle slightly back. resting on your shoulder. Then you start a slow, snaking action, moving your hands toward the ground down the shaft, all the while sensing for a shift in the weight that will tell you that the caber is not going to stay where you want it. You are squatting, back almost parallel to the ground, the caber is pressing on your shoulder and you finally feel your little fingers touch the grass. Later, and with longer cabers, you wont go as far down the shaft. Now comes the first tricky part.