9/25/2002: Human tower
 

http://cellar.org/2002/humantower.jpg

And sometimes I have absolutely nothing to say about an image.

Reminds me of that Simpsons episode...except Springfield did it way better...

"Okay... Who farted?"

I hear the falls involved when these towers collapse are quite nasty. I have a video of a couple of failed towers. We're talking 20-30 foot drops directly on to the heads of the gathered crowds...

The background looks like Italy or perhaps Spain. I'd venture it's Spain. Afterall, they run with the bulls and have a heck of a battle with tomatoes, why not a human tower festival. Aftewards they will all go out and drink wine and eat tappas.

brave little kid at the top....

Apparantly doesn't stop you from saying it .. :3eye:

Yes, that looks like a pretty nasty drop. Though at least if you crack a skull, it won't be yours.

One has to wonder what kind of parent would let their kid be on top. :confused:

Human castles are not dangerous
 

I come to this forum to explain you that human castles are not dangerous.

This is a tradition of Catalonia (North-East of Iberian peninsula). We don't like bullfighting and most of us have never taken part in a Tomatoes War.

The aim of human castles is to build up the highest and most difficult castle that each group can. In order to improve, each group has 1 to 3 trainings per week, and each part of the castle is tested in advance, so every one of us knows exactly what to do and how.

As we allways try to do it more and more difficult, we can't avoid fallings, but although they may look "nasty", they aren't at all. The people under the castle is there to hold the weight and the possible falling of the castle.

Last year 56 groups were active and 6556 human castles were tried, of which only 616 fell down (less than 4%). Accident rates (comparing damage to practising time) are similar or even lower than those of other sports, such as football. All castle builders are protected by an insurance.

Human castles have been built in Catalonia for almost 200 years and only 3 or 4 deaths have occurred in this time span.

When I was a child, I used to climb up to the top, I fell down more than 20 times and I am proud I never panicked down. Now I am usually under the castle and some castles fall on us, you just get a bump. If I ever have children, I will teach them how to climb.

If you have questions on this subject, please ask me. You can see fotos and find more information at:

www.collajove.com

But best of it is come on holidays to Catalonia (Salou, Barcelona, Girona, etc.) and see it live!

"Human castles have been built in Catalonia for almost 200 years and only 3 or 4 deaths have occurred in this time span."

Since its invention, also 200 years ago, no known deaths have resulted from tiddlywinks.

This is why I don't close all the threads. Thanks Catalan for the great information!

Wow, what a great site. Thanks for the info Catalan.

At the site, search for "foto" to find all the photo albums, and also click on "video" on the left. Here's what I learned:

I assumed that the goal of this game was to build the tower higher and higher, until it collapses. But apparently they go to a preset height and that's it, which makes it way safer than I thought. It's also way more organized than the above picture suggests. In fact, I think the above picture is a tower in the process of collapsing. If you look at the guy midway up on the left, his feet don't seem to be supported by anything.

You can see different arrangements and techniques in the photos. For example, compare and contrast:

http://personales.ya.com/raulet/2004...1017%20105.jpg

http://personales.ya.com/raulet/2004...1017%20017.jpg

http://personales.ya.com/raulet/2004...1101%20049.jpg

Between the first two, notice the different hand positions, as well as the central "stabilizing" tower in the middle.

Also, looking at the videos, it's cool to see them scurrying up the tower like ants (in the second video), and then sliding down like it's a fireman's pole (first video).

Yeah, welcome to the Cellar, Catalan. :biggrin: How did you find us ...and this old thread?

Some of the castles have 5 men (it looks like all men?) on the 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th levels. Some have 4 men and some have just 1 or 2 on each level. I would guess you get more points, prestige or respect for having more men on each level as it seems it might be more stable but harder and longer to build.

When they do fall, is it always straight down? Never fall over like a tree would fall, do they? That would be very dangerous.

Thanks for the information, we're always looking for that. :)


Catwoman...it's a guy thing. ;)

Pilar
 

This is a PILAR OF 7: One person per level, 7 people high.

http://www.castellersdevilafranca.co...lar-de-set.jpg

2 OF 7
 

Every castle has a name with 2 numbers: The first one means the width, the second the height. for example:

2 OF 7: 2 people per level, height= 7

http://www.xiquetsdereus.net/fotos2004/20040626_02.jpg