Caber toss

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. Weight and strength are essential for success, but technique is also important for balancing the caber when lifting it, and flipping up the held (tapered) end to promote a clean toss. ==Scoring==

The straightest end-over-end toss scores highest. If the caber lands on its end but falls back towards the thrower, the score is lower than for any end-over-end throw but is based upon the maximum vertical angle that the caber achieved (side-judging may involve a second judge). End-over-end tosses are scored according to the hours on a clock, with a 12:00 score being highest (falling directly away from the thrower), down to a 9 or 3 for cabers that reach a vertical, before falling to the side. ==World records==

For angle • Braemar challenge caber at 12 o'clock by Douglas Edmunds (1976 World Caber Tossing Championships) For distance • for by Douglas Edmunds (1985 World Muscle Power Classic) • for 161 tosses in 1 hour by Jason Baines (2021 Montreal Highland Games) ==Photo gallery==

File:Cabers_05Bel_001.jpg|A selection of cabers of various lengths and weights File:Caber Toss.jpg|Getting ready to lift File:Caber toss-2004 highland games.jpg|The run-up File:Caber_05SV_001.jpg|Moment of release File:Caber_05PNW_001.jpg|The caber in mid-flight File:Caber_05Tac_001.jpg|The caber strikes the ground File:Highland games caber toss 2.JPG| ==See also==