Back in May I took a log rolling class with two good friends (who have both since moved away…sniff). What is log rolling you ask? Have no fear, we will demonstrate for you in our epic log rolling video below. But before we get to that check out our instructor’s face in the bottom left of the photo above. Best photo capture of our experience (excuse the fact that the camera was wet, it just adds to the effect, right?).
Our log rolling instructor was a maniac on the log – he was even gone one of the weekends to compete in American Ninja Warrior. Hard core….we were in good hands. But as you will soon see, it’s not easy. Even with expert instruction, all we could do was try to stay on the log as long as possible. Which wasn’t very long at all….our best times were a whopping 10 seconds on the log. See our scores below in the lower right….Sarah and I both “rode the bull” (stayed on over 8 seconds) clocking in with record times of 8.25 and 10.63. Now don’t mind the 4 minute times in the upper left. Those were tiny tiny children, which obviously don’t count. Their tiny bodies don’t even make the log move. We watched the class before us, we saw how they roll. It’s like walking on land. Must be boring. 4 minutes, I mean I would have jumped off from boredom by then.
We weren’t satisfied just being crazy good log rollers ourselves, we had to bring our husbands in to experience this with us….describing it in words to them just wouldn’t suffice. And as Ta’u loves trying any local cultural or traditional activity, this was right up his alley. Log rolling is a true Minnesotan tradition.
Jim Herron’s ” Grandma Log Rolling ” show
It began during the logging days in the late 1800’s when lumberjacks would drive the logs down rivers to transport them to the growing cities of the north. They guided the logs, trying to prevent log jams as they went around curves and across shallow areas. It was critical for them to hone their skills of standing on floating tree trunks. After working hours they would hold competitions at the logging camps. Two or three men would stand on a log and try to knock the others off until only one was left standing. The sport has been kept alive in various circles and competitions are held around the country each year (check out the US logrolling association). It appears to be making a big comeback in Minnesota this year, as we saw classes offered at all the lakes this summer, and saw logs tied to the roofs of cars as they passed us on the freeways.
So who wants to see our mad log rolling skills? I promise you won’t be disappointed.