Resurrection of the dead horse in 2025?

I'm referencing and paying homage to these forums in my latest diatribe, so I thought it only fitting I post it here. I know full well this post may sink with the ship, and I'm okay with that...

I’ve been thinking a lot about the state of the games and the growth of this sport we all love, and I’ve gotta say--I’m fired up that this conversation is finally getting the spotlight it deserves. Huge shoutout to the bold and brilliant podcasters out there who are fanning the flames of discussion and lighting the path forward. You’re doing real work, and it matters.
A little about me: I threw my first stone on Father’s Day, 2008. That was the spark, the moment everything changed. From that day forward, I was all in, reading, watching, asking questions, absorbing everything I could about Highland Games. Back then, the forums were alive and thriving. NASGA was the place, and it wasn’t just newbies chatting, it was legends, ADs, champions, all weighing in. That gave us a pulse on the sport’s health in a way nothing else could. It felt alive.
Life, of course, took its turn. A new career, a growing family. I stepped back. But I never let go. I knew I’d return. And in 2016, I did. I came back swinging, inspired like so many by the force of nature that was Matt Vincent. He peeled back the curtain and showed us what it looked like to live the grind; training, traveling, competing as a professional. It was raw, real, and unforgettable. His life might not have mirrored mine, but his mindset? That clicked. After watching the 2016 IHGF Worlds, I turned to my wife and said with full conviction, “I’ll be a professional thrower in five years.” It wasn’t a wish. It was a plan. And I made it happen.
So when you ask, “How are pros good for the sport?”, that’s the story I’ll tell. The pros pulled me back in. They lit a fire. They showed me a version of myself I hadn’t met yet. And I’m not alone. In every corner of this community, I’ve heard the same thing: “Seeing the top dogs go to work gave me the will to grind harder.”
Now, I get it. Some say that focus on pros only helps other pros. I hear you. But this isn’t a zero-sum game. This isn’t about “either/or.” It’s about “yes, and.” Yes, pros push the sport forward. And yes, we absolutely must invest in everyone.
Because here’s the other side of the coin: quantity. Growth. So many athletes, so much potential, and yet, we’re bumping into natural limits. Fields can only fit so many, volunteers can only do so much. The solution? More games. More opportunities. More places to throw, to grow, to build.
And that’s where the backyarders come in—the rebels, the passionate, the DIY heart and soul of this sport. Groups like Backyard Rebellion, SAAA, SHA, SAAANR, No Fame Game, F4SA… these folks get it. They’re doing it right. They’re building the future, one throw at a time. Let’s give them the resources and support to keep expanding that map.
So where should we put our energy? Our time? Our money?
BOTH. We need both.
Look at strongman. It's thriving—not because it picked a side, but because it built a full ecosystem. From the first-timers to the elites with major sponsors, strongman carved a model of inclusion and excellence. There’s no reason we can’t do the same.
Let’s stop pretending this is a debate with a winner. It’s not. It’s a mission. And if we get it right—if we invest in infrastructure and inspire with excellence—there’s no limit to where Highland Games can go.
Let’s build that future. Together.


Edited by Alaska - 4/25/25 at 12:21am