Me and My Rutabaga
Last weekend, I attended and participated in the International Rutabaga Curling Championship in Ithaca. The Rutabaga Curling Championship officially began at the Ithaca Farmers Market in 1998, although the start of vegetable hurling dates back to 1996. For a complete history of the event, visit the official website, or read the Wikipedia entry.
Rachel and I arrived at the farmers market at 11am, in 20 degree weather. I paid my $5 registration fee and was handed a fresh Rutabaga. The first step in the competition is to carve the Rutabaga to your strategic liking. Or to leave your Rutabaga “Untrimmed”. From there, you’re read an overview of the rules, by the Chief Rutabaga Toss Organizer and Official Announcer. The aim of the game is to roll your Rutabaga down the wooden course aiming for a cone 79 feet away. You’re trying to get the rutabaga as close to the cone as possible…just like in olympic ice curling. There are three semifinal rounds with 20-30 curlers per round. The top 5 curlers from each round move on to the championship.
After the rules are announced, you are greeted by the Rutabaga Torch King and Rutabaga Goddess. From there, the participants assemble into a “Torchlight Parade of Athletes”, complete with olympic music and singing from the “Rutabaga Choir” (see video). I’m not making this up. See the pictures and video below for proof. Following the opening ceremonies, the children come forward for the Turnip Toss. The same rules apply to the turnip toss, but the children stand much closer…and toss a turnip instead of a giant rutabaga. Hats off to Zeke, champion of the Turnip Toss. He was amazing. And you can see his victory speech below.
As for the main competition, my own toss rolled to within 20 inches of the cone. Second best toss of the first round! Not bad for a rookie. Unfortunately, I had a bit too much adrenaline pumping in the championship round and rolled my rutabaga past the target and out of bounds. Disqualified. I’ll be back next year though. And I highly recommend the event to any international curlers, athletes or vegetable root fans.
Rutabaga Curling Championship Gallery
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- Rutabaga Curl Registration
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- Inspiration
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- Trimming the Rutabaga
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- Me and My Rutabaga
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- Curling Course
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- The Announcements
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- Refs
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- Head Judge
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- Master of Ceremonies
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- Opening Remarks
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- Torch Bearer (Not Jerry Garcia)
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- Rutabaga Torch
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- King and Queen
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- Parade of Nations
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- Rutabaga Choir
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- Turnip Toss
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- Another Turnip Toss
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- Zeke’s Turnip Toss
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- Champion Turnip Tosser
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- Turnip Toss Ceremony
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- My Rutabaga Curl
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- Measuring My Toss
Videos from the Event:
Zeke’s Speech – Winner of the Turnip Toss
Rutabaga Choir – Singing “Rutabaga Chorus” to the tune of Handel’s Messiah #44
10 comments
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December 24, 2008 at 6:28 pm
Tad Brennan
Ethan–thanks so much for posting the pics and youtube video. I’m the guy in the choir wearing the Carhartt coverall and a bow-tie.
Your description of the event really conveys the flavor of it–thanks!
December 25, 2008 at 5:58 pm
goodbrendan
When did Ithaca turn in Northern Exposure?
December 31, 2008 at 11:57 pm
Steve Sierigk
Ethan, As Commissioner of the Curl I feel like you really captured the feel of what we are trying to do. That which started as fun between some vendors letting off a little steam after a long market season has evolved into a really fun community event! I too was so moved by Zeke’s speech that I was glad that you caught it for all time!
February 5, 2009 at 7:32 pm
Crafty
Is it weird that I got choked up reading this and watching Zeke’s speech?
At first I thought, “only in Ithaca.” And then I thought, “if there is a summertime version of this sport, I’m pretty sure it exists down here in Austin.” They’re similarly odd towns.
February 5, 2009 at 7:44 pm
ethanash
Thanks for all the comments crafty. And no, it’s not weird. It’s a beautiful thing, that Rutabaga Curling Championship. And Zeke is my hero. I’ve been to Austin a few times now, and I too feel the similarities between the towns. Although it could never get cold enough to match the conditions of Rutabaga curling in Ithaca in January. Maybe I’ll see you up here for next year’s competition. -E
October 12, 2009 at 10:54 am
simplymeg28
Hi Ethan-
I’m Meg Rindfleisch, a journalism student at Ithaca College. I’m actually doing a story on the Rutabaga Curl and I was wondering if I could interview you, seeing how you attended the games last year. Please let me know if you would be interested in doing so-my e-mail is mrindfl1@ithaca.edu. Thanks!
Sincerely,
Meg Rindfleisch
October 14, 2009 at 5:10 pm
Rolling Rutabagas: A Twist on Curling « Ithacan Informer
[...] recognized the sport as a “joke,” many Ithaca residents have been drawn to the spectacle. Ethan Ash, Ithaca resident and rutabaga curler, stumbled upon the event upon his return to the area and [...]
October 14, 2009 at 9:21 pm
Return of the Rutabaga Curl « Piece of Ash
[...] Rutabaga Curling Championship is coming up in December and the student reached out based on my post from last winter. I also spoke to the honorable commissioner of the curling championship this week and interest [...]
December 28, 2009 at 3:16 am
The 2009 International Rutabaga Curling Championship « Piece of Ash
[...] For the 12th year, Ithaca held the International Rutabaga Curling Championship. This was my second year as a participant, and I had high hopes for bringing the trophy home to my family after last year’s knockout in the championship round. I had a lot stacked against me this year. The dawn of fatherhood has completely thrown off my training and sleep schedule. I was down in NJ with the family on the morning of the curl and had to leave at daybreak just to make the registration booth in time. The temperatures were again in the single digits and I did not dress for the weather. But we made it to the curl in time for the opening ceremonies, the parade of nations and the turnip toss. (If you haven’t seen pictures of the event, see my post from last year) [...]
January 30, 2010 at 4:42 am
The Ithaca Rutabaga Curlers Meet The Sherston Mangold Hurlers « Piece of Ash
[...] is not a Dr. Seuss book, but a match made in the world of international root tossing. I’ve written twice now about my passion for the International Rutabaga Curling Championship at the Ithaca [...]