Finn takes gold at mobile phone throwing contest

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PeteC
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Finn takes gold at mobile phone throwing contest

Post by PeteC »

This one is especially for Bamboo Grove :D . Perhaps also an idea for new HH bar games? :shock: Pete

PS: I really like the idea of a wife carrying competition, although wife throwing would be interesting also. :laugh:
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SAVONLINNA, Finland (Reuters) - Anyone wanting to throw away their mobile phone can do it in style and may even win a medal -- at the Mobile Phone Throwing World Championship, Finland's latest contribution to offbeat athleticism.

Originally a local event in this small town close to the Russian border, the seventh annual contest on Saturday drew some 100 throwers from as far afield as Canada, Russia and Belgium.

Founder Christine Lund describes the event as a good source of light exercise with an environmentally friendly twist. "There are a lot of mobile phones on the second-hand market, and we are recycling them (before they become toxic waste)," she said.

The inventive Finns had already given the world the Sauna World Championships and the Wife Carrying Competition before coming up with a new way to make mobile phones even more mobile.

This year's gold medal went to Finland's Lassi Etelatalo, who flung a scrapped Nokia unit a forceful 89.00 metres. "I prepared by javelin throwing, I haven't really practised throwing mobile phones," Etelatalo told Reuters.

In the freestyle event, Dutchman Elie Rugthoven's phone landed outside the designated area, but he still won silver thanks to a phone juggling performance that impressed the judges.

Lund says competitors all have their favorite throwing brand. "People choose by size, by color or by how it fits in the hand ... Some believe a heavy model will ensure a long throw, some want a light one."
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Post by Bamboo Grove »

I'm so proud of my nation's achievements. Actually, I studied in this town in 1981-86 but unfortunately they didn't have this competition then. Then again the mobile phones must have been (if there were any) about the size of a small house in those days. Other competitions we Finns can be proud of (because they are organized in Finland) are: wife carrying contest, snow football, marshland football and sea football and of course the top of it all is sitting on ants' nest competition. Anyone for some extreme vacation?
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Post by chelsea »

The competition even made it to the 6 .00pm news here in Perth. Must admit the higlights made riveting viewing.

Also on wierd sports, Australia have just been crowned the underwater hockey world champions at the weekend.
:cheers: :cheers: :cheers:
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Post by PeteC »

chelsea wrote: Also on wierd sports, Australia have just been crowned the underwater hockey world champions at the weekend.
:cheers: :cheers: :cheers:
Did they play with a puck, or ball? :laugh: Pete
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Post by chelsea »

According to the news that I heard this morning, the game is played under water, with a puck like object and something resembling a spatular that you use for cooking as a stick.
:cheers: :cheers: :cheers:
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Post by chelsea »

Pete, here is a website that gives you all of the info regarding the championships.
http://www.uwhworlds2006.net/
:cheers: :cheers: :cheers:
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Post by PeteC »

chelsea wrote:Pete, here is a website that gives you all of the info regarding the championships.
http://www.uwhworlds2006.net/
:cheers: :cheers: :cheers:
Looking at that site, this is not a put on, they're serious and, well organized internationally. I never would have guessed. Seems like an underwater version of water polo. :cheers: Pete
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Post by chelsea »

The only problem is, we will now have to put up with the Aussies crowing about another nonsencicle world championship that they now have.
:cheers: :cheers: :cheers:
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Post by PeteC »

chelsea wrote:The only problem is, we will now have to put up with the Aussies crowing about another nonsencicle world championship that they now have.
:cheers: :cheers: :cheers:
Honestly, I wish they would have done better in the Tri-nations. NZ needs to come down a few pegs, but the kiwis are good, no arguing that. :cheers: Pete
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Post by STEVE G »

I think as silly sports go, the International Bog Snorkeling Championship takes some beating. Held annually at the Waen Rhydd Peat bog, in Wales, competitors have to complete two lengths of a 60 yard trench cut through the peat bog in the quickest time possible, wearing snorkels and flippers, without using conventional swimming strokes. Don’t ask me why!
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Post by chelsea »

Steve G, also I think a close 2nd would be the Cheese Chasing Competion held in the West of England.
This website has all the info on proceedings.
http://www.cheese-rolling.co.uk/
Must be the scrumpy that they drink down there that makes them have such strange pastimes.
:cheers: :cheers: :cheers: :cheers:
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Post by PeteC »

I need to visit Finland! Bangkok Post today (Sept. 5) page 8 bottom left side of page, IN BRIEF section.

Finn opera star on his way to a performance in Helsinki disabled by a squirrel running through the spokes of his bicycle. He took a nose dive and the article ended saying "..the squirrel did not survive.." :laugh: Someone in the Finnish Press has a good sense of humor to place these stories on the news wires. :cheers: Pete
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