Caber toss

The caber toss (Scottish Gaelic: tilgeil a' chabair) is a traditional Scottish athletic event in which competitors toss a large tapered pole called a "caber" (), normally practiced at the Scottish Highland Games.

The term "caber" derives from the Gaelic word cabar, which refers to a wooden beam, and the person tossing the caber is called a "tosser" or a "thrower". In Scotland, the caber is usually made from a larch tree, and it can be 16–20 feet (5–6 metres) tall and weigh 90–150 pounds (40–70 kilograms).

Although the sport is primarily associated with Scotland, a similar exercise, "casting the bar", was popular in England in the 16th century, and similar sports exist around the world, such as stångstörtning in Sweden.

Objective and technique

The primary objective is to toss the caber so that it turns end over end, falling away from the tosser. Ideally it should fall directly away from the tosser in the "12 o'clock" position.

The tosser balances the caber upright, tapered end downwards, against his or her shoulder and neck, the caber being supported by stewards or fellow competitors while being placed into position. The tosser then crouches, sliding their interlocked hands down the caber and under the rounded base, and lifts it in their cupped hands.

The tosser must balance the caber upright; this is not easy with the heavier end at the top, and less experienced tossers may be unable to stop the caber falling to one side after lifting it. The tosser then walks or runs a few paces forward to gain momentum, and flips the tapered end upwards so that the large end hits the ground first, and, if well tossed, the caber falls directly away from the tosser.