Most
games of Pooh sticks are traditionally played on a low bridge across a stream,
since that is how Christopher Robin, Winne the Pooh and Piglet originated the
game. In fact for purists, you should go
to the 100 acre wood where he game originated. Link
For extreme sports Poohsticks fans, this is a
bit tame, so fast flowing rivers and deep gorges provide them with a much more
serious challenge. The higher the bridge, the greater the skill in getting your
stick to land in just the right part of the river and not be disqualified for
landing over the starting line. Extreme
PS can be divided into two leagues, the High Altitude league and the Rapids
league.
The
skills for a high altitude games are different from a rapids game, but the most
interesting are where a high altitude game is played over rapids. The faster
and more turbulent the flow the greater the arguments as to which stick crossed
the line first, often not even resolved with laser theodolites and stop
watches. Often only a photo finish will resolve disputes, which canbecome quite heated.
P
Kits the four times gold medal winner is credited with developed the Pootronic
stick with built in GPS and inertial recorders which, whilst controversial,
particularly in the buoyancy area, has been responsible for an argument free
result for the first time in several seasons. Extreme gamers will travel
the world, even going to the extent of erecting rope bridges across dangerous
gorges which at certain times of the year carry the flood water from the spring
melt from some of the highest mountains in the world. However, the IPL
(International Poohstick League) are trying to ban the use of impromptu bridges
since there have been some deaths when people have attempted to erect PS
bridges in dangerous conditions.
Well
maybe the bit about extreme PS gamers is not really true but TG and her family
did play Poohsticks off the Ironbridge and being so high, dropping the stick
became a bit more of a challenge as the wind took them all over the place :)
Well, you learn something new everyday, especially when snafu is involved :} Thanks for the explanation. I must admit I was getting a bit concerned as I continued reading the above post, and was greatly relieved to discover that at least some of the post was due to your somewhat over-inflated imagination! Never-the-less, it's all very interesting. I guess my childhood was seriously lacking the adventures of Pooh! I have a new great-grandbaby on the way - maybe, as she grows, I will get to share some of Pooh's adventures with her and educate myself at the same time!
ReplyDeleteHey Pete! Just wanted to thank you and joy for my donation for my skydive!
ReplyDelete