Logrolling (sport)

Logrolling (sport)

Logrolling, or birling, is a sport that originated in the lumberjack/log driver tradition of the northeastern United States and Canada, involving logs in a river (traditionally) or other body of water. After bringing their logs downriver, the lumberjacks would have a competition to see who could balance on a log the longest while it is still rolling in the river.

The contest involves two lumberjacks, each on one end of a log floating in the river. One or the other starts "walking" (or "rolling") the log, and the other is forced to keep up. The contest involves attempting to stay on the log while attempting to cause the competitor to lose their balance and splash into the water. It is also commonly known as "log birling".

The American Birling Association is attempting to standardize the size and (by adding carpeting) texture of the log for organized birling competitions.

J.R. Salzman is a top log roller who has won many championships, although in 2006 he suffered a serious limb injury while deployed in the Iraq War. [http://sports.espn.go.com/outdoors/news/story?page=jr_salzman_recovery_pg1]

See also

*The Log Driver's Waltz, a song about log drivers and birling

External links

* [http://espn.go.com/gog04/s/desc_timber_log_roll.html Log Rolling from ESPN]
* [http://www.starinfo.com/roll_pic.html Good picture]
* [http://www.logrolling.org/ American Birling Association (logrolling.org)]
* [http://www.bartleby.com/61/29/L0232900.html American Heritage Dictionary definition]


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать реферат

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Logrolling — is a colorful phrase that refers to trading favors, a synonym to quid pro quo , for instance to describe vote trading by legislative members to obtain passage of actions of interest to each legislative member. The term is also used for similar… …   Wikipedia

  • logrolling — noun Date: 1812 1. [from a former American custom of neighbors assisting one another in rolling logs into a pile for burning] the exchanging of assistance or favors; specifically the trading of votes by legislators to secure favorable action on… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • logrolling — /lawg roh ling, log /, n. 1. U.S. Politics. the exchange of support or favors, esp. by legislators for mutual political gain as by voting for each other s bills. 2. cronyism or mutual favoritism among writers, editors, or critics, as in the form… …   Universalium

  • logrolling — noun N. Amer. 1》 a sport in which two contestants stand on a floating log and spin it with their feet to try to dislodge their opponent. 2》 informal the exchange of favours between politicians by reciprocal voting for each other s proposed… …   English new terms dictionary

  • logrolling — noun (U) 1 AmE informal the practice in the US Congress of helping a member to pass a bill, so that they will do the same for you later 2 AmE the practice of praising or helping someone, so that they will do the same for you later 3 a sport in… …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

  • logrolling — log•roll•ing [[t]ˈlɔgˌroʊ lɪŋ, ˈlɒg [/t]] n. 1) gov the exchange of support or favors, esp. by legislators for mutual political gain 2) cronyism or mutual favoritism among writers, editors, or critics, as in the form of reciprocal flattering… …   From formal English to slang

  • logrolling — n. US 1 colloq. the practice of exchanging favours, esp. (in politics) of exchanging votes to mutual benefit. 2 a sport in which two contestants stand on a floating log and try to knock each other off. Derivatives: logroll v.intr. & tr. logroller …   Useful english dictionary

  • Best Outdoor Sportsman ESPY Award — The Best Outdoor Sportsman ESPY Award was presented annually from 2002 to 2005 to the outdoor sportsperson , irrespective of gender or specific sport contested, adjudged to be the best in a given calendar year of those contesting the outdoor… …   Wikipedia

  • birling — /berr ling/, n. Chiefly Northern U.S. a game played by lumberjacks, in which each tries to balance longest on a floating log while rotating the log with the feet. [BIRL + ING1] * * * ▪ sport also called  logrolling        outdoor sport of the… …   Universalium

  • Lumberjack — A lumberjack or logger is a man who harvests lumber. The term lumberjack is somewhat archaic, having been mostly replaced by logger . When lumberjack is used, it usually refers to a logger from an earlier time before the advent of chainsaws,… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”