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]


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