A small problem this morning in deciding in which category this article should actually be posted.
This could be tradition or maybe it should be under sport or even possibly (but probably not considering the state of the cheese at the end of the competition) posted under sport but either way an extremely interesting and visually exciting weekend here in Barga as the Campionato Italiano di lancio del formaggio -- the National cheese rolling Championship, took place with teams from all over Italy fiercely competing for the cup.
The categories of cheeses being flung down some of the roads around Barga were 1 kilo, 3 kilos, 6 kilos, 9 kilos and then finally, the real heavyweights of the competition: cheeses weighing 20 kilos -- believe me, if you see one of those coming at you at speed on the road you do not want to be in the way -- a hit by one of these could be devastating.
SABATO 26. APRILE . 2014
ORE 09,00 INIZIO GARA DI QUALIFICAZIONE KG. 1 E KG. 6
A SEGUIRE FINALI DELLE SUDDETTE CATEGORIE.
ORE 16,00 INIZIO GARA DI QUALIFICAZIONE KG. 20
A SEGUIRE FINALE DELLA SUDDETTA CATEGORIA.DOMENICA 27 APRILE 2014
ORE 07,30 INIZIO GARA DI QUALIFICAZIONE KG. 3 E KG. 9
A SEGUIRE FINALI DELLE SUDDETTE CATEGORIE
It was interesting to hear all the different dialects being used by participating athletes as they came from all across Italy and also for what is a traditional sport the varying and different methods used to secure the belt which is wrapped around the cheese and attached to the wrist.
A mixture of leather, wooden blocks, twine, rope, cording and tapes all of which are there to increase the spin of the 20 kilo Parmesan cheese and also depending on subtle positioning around the circumference, the intended direction.
Not just a game of brute strength but also strategy and skill as they are playing on road conditions which have to be assessed and acted upon. Opinions and suggestions on just how the athlete should make his move are not short in coming as more or less everybody present is an authority on the game. Discussions and argument are apparently part of the ritual in this traditional game which goes back through the centuries.
