chainsaw juggling
aaron gregg
the Portland Juggling Festival this past weekend. It is unofficial at
this point pending guinness' approval. Celebrity jugglers Mark Hayward,
Matt Hall, Rhys Thomas, and Ryo Yabe were on hand to witness.
A video of the record is at http://www.aarongregg.com/chainsaws.mov
The old record of 78 catches fell to my 86. Thanks to Vanillatown and the
Portland Festival organizers for their help.
-Aaron (very happy and without scars)
----== posted via www.jugglingdb.com ==----
Emil
Congrats, i had never acually seen chainsaw juggling.
I guess for breaking records it comes down to using
lightweight chainsaws, however, a clean finish will
always be a problem ;-)
Emil
bspeers
Hi Aaron-- just a note, I couldn't read your file on my or Kirsten's
computer and the codec does not seem to be available on the quicktime
website. I get the audio though, and it does sound fun. I don't know if
anyone else in the rec.dot world had that problem.
Incidentally, you should email Mark if you haven't already, he was
awaiting a "I broke the record" call, and I don't think he ever got it.
Nice work, and way to take the record a step higher!
-B
Adam
Great, look forward to seeing you in guinness!
Adam
aaron gregg
Yes they are light chainsaws, but they are the same type used by the
previous two record holders, and many other chainsaw jugglers (echo cs-301
or cs-3000). It doesn't come down to the equipment or even strength, for
me the technique was most important.
I can get a reliable clean finish when I do 20 catches or so. I just
throw one in a column from the right hand, pass the next one caught from
the right hand into the left and then catch the column throw.
-Aaron
Steve Bennett
Also: I couldn't watch the video. Is there a codec or something I
need? Or can you post it in another format maybe?
Thanks,
Steve
aaron gregg
> Stupid question: the chains are toothless, right?
No, in fact they have teeth. I cut wood with each chainsaw prior to the
attempt and the chains were moving throughout the juggling. It really is
dangerous.
> Also: I couldn't watch the video. Is there a codec or something I
> need? Or can you post it in another format maybe?
Yeah, sorry about the exotic codec. I'm using my new Mac for the first
time and the video compression is very mysterious. I guess it's the
newest quicktime codec (7.0 I believe) you need to view it. I'll see if I
can get around to posting it in another format, Final Cut Poo!
Holger Jeromin
> Also: I couldn't watch the video. Is there a codec or something I
> need? Or can you post it in another format maybe?
Get the VideoLAN client VLC from videolan.org and watch "everything"
without need to worry about fileformats... 8-)
--
Holger Jeromin
Mutton
Way to keep the juggler stereotype alive. :P
Jokes aside, congratulations!
- Andrew
Now if we could only get Gatto in the record books...
_daniel_
nice work aaron.
congrats on the record!
..that's some serious $$$ to go and buy 3 of those chainsaws!!
~Daniel
BrettSheets
I don't mean to be stupid or anything here but... did you rig the triggers
or something? How do you get the chainsaws to run while they were in the
air? I haven't seen the video, but i assume they are 3 chainsaws. Thats a
pretty cool record. Most i have seen done is one and two other equally
bizarre juggling props. Somehow it feels awkward to have such a
fluctuation of ability in the record books though. Like . Anthony Gatto -
7 balls 10 mins , Aaron Gregg - 3 Chainsaws 86 catches.
I would try them myself just to see how hard they are, but seeing as my
budget mostly goes to my broken renegades, i probably can't afford it.
Congrats!
Nerd
Nice work, i liked your start :)
Adam
BrettSheets wrote:
>
> I would try them myself just to see how hard they are, but seeing as my
> budget mostly goes to my broken renegades, i probably can't afford it.
>
You don't have to try them to find out if it's hard because if Mr. Greg
can only get eighty some catches it's gotta be pretty tough.
Adam
Steve Bennett
Wow, you are really psycho (which I'm sure you'll take as a
compliment :)) Does the rotating blade cause any weird gyroscopic-like
effects? Like when you spin a bike wheel and then try and turn it on
its side it's very difficult...
Do you wear any kind of protective gear?
Lastly, I thought Guinness stopped tracking "dangerous" records (eg,
eating large quantities of food, sword swallowing, free diving...)?
Steve
aaron gregg
> Hi,
> Wow, you are really psycho (which I'm sure you'll take as a
> compliment :)) Does the rotating blade cause any weird gyroscopic-like
> effects? Like when you spin a bike wheel and then try and turn it on
> its side it's very difficult...
It's not the rotating blade but the engine that causes a gyroscopic force.
In fact it's somewhat beneficial as it prevents the saw from spinning (as
long as you position the handle correctly). But it makes the balance on
the chin start a nightmare becase I can't drop it into the juggle but have
to reach up and grab it off my face. The other nasty part is the
vibration which makes the handles hard to hold.
> Do you wear any kind of protective gear?
No. It would just get in the way. I practiced a great deal before ever
doing it with a chain or a moving chain.
> Lastly, I thought Guinness stopped tracking "dangerous" records (eg,
> eating large quantities of food, sword swallowing, free diving...)?
I corresponded with Guinness prior to the attempt and they were good to
go. I understand they occassionally do accept new sword swallowing
records (according to some pro swallowing website).
Lachlan
practicing? I imagine dropping all the time would tend to do a lot of
damage to the saw. How did you deal with that problem? Just keep shelling
out the cash?
Congrats on your record!
aaron gregg
> Did you have problems with the blades bending or snapping while you were
> practicing? I imagine dropping all the time would tend to do a lot of
> damage to the saw. How did you deal with that problem? Just keep shelling
> out the cash?
good enough to have them moving. One saw has a dent on the top but
functions fine. There were a few other breakages but pretty minor.
> Congrats on your record!
Thanks!
-Aaron
aaron gregg
It was Dick Franco inspired, though I didn't wear a jumpsuit.
-Aaron
aaron gregg
BrettSheets wrote:
> I don't mean to be stupid or anything here but... did you rig the triggers
> or something? How do you get the chainsaws to run while they were in the
> air?
There's a trigger locking device on the saws that keeps them going.
People who use other brands of saws use tape or similar.
> I haven't seen the video, but i assume they are 3 chainsaws.
Um, yeah.
> Thats a
> pretty cool record. Most i have seen done is one and two other equally
> bizarre juggling props. Somehow it feels awkward to have such a
> fluctuation of ability in the record books though. Like . Anthony Gatto -
> 7 balls 10 mins , Aaron Gregg - 3 Chainsaws 86 catches.
Mmm. Are you suggesting that I lack ability? I'm no Gatto indeed, but I
could juggle 5 renegade 95mm clubs for five minutes before training with
the chainsaws. The reason it's only 86 catches it they're 12 pounds each.
> I would try them myself just to see how hard they are, but seeing as my
> budget mostly goes to my broken renegades, i probably can't afford it.
>
> Congrats!
>
> ----== posted via www.jugglingdb.com ==----
----== posted via www.jugglingdb.com ==----
aaron gregg
> nice work aaron.
> congrats on the record!
>
>
> ~Daniel
>
Yeah, $500 Canadian each. But 3 of them are still a bunch less than a 12'
unicycle. The cost is also less than the time invested in practicing.
What frightened me was the thought of buying them and then not being able
to get close to the record.
-Aaron
aaron gregg
I've put it up in MPEG4 format. It's at
http://www.aarongregg.com/chainsaws.mp4 and hopefully that works better.
-Aaron
..and they said macs were more user friendly!
Steve Bennett
Player, Media Player Classic,*and* Quick Time viewer. Quick time gives
"unknown error -8971.
Bugger.
Steve
Guy G
Very impressive. Just out of interest though, if it's the engine that
causes the gyroscopic force and the vibrations, would Guinness care
whether the blades were running or not? I can understand that running
blades add an element[1] of danger, but for a world record attempt are
they necessary?
Guy
[1] OK, a massive heaped bucketload
Steve Bennett
I think pretty obviously for a 'chainsaw juggling' attempt, the
chainsaw has to be running with the blade turning! For starters, if
that wasn't the case you could build a chainsaw with no motor at all
etc.
Steve
adremeaux
aaron gregg wrote:
> I am pleased to report that I broke the chainsaw juggling world record
Where's the 531
-andy
Pentti
HI!
And conratulations for breaking the new world record.
But I'm sorry to tell you about a finnish juggler Markku Aulanko who also
juggles chainsaws.
Now I need to ask you if you did your record with 3 chainsaws?
Because 6 months ago I was to witness him to juggle with 4 chainsaws, and
he did 92 catches. That's pretty good of him I think. Of course the
chainsaws
had big handles but damn when I held one in my hand; it was so heavy.
But that has got to be something to do with his weight lifting career.
I'm gonna film it the next time he does it. It's just super cool.
Pentti!!!!
BrettSheets
I don't mean to imply that you lack ability, but i think that guiness
should really only recognize records with conventional props. I doubt they
ever will though. Or maybe im just wrong and chainsaws are conventional
props, i guess according to the public they are. But I know that juggling
three chainsaws is no easy feat. Especially when they're actually running.
I don't really like associating danger with juggling though. I personally
would much rather attempt a record with nice light plastic clubs rather
than 12 pound running chainsaws. It kind of makes me wonder how many
people a year actually try, or are capable of breaking the record.
aaron gregg
Guinness recognizes far too many records in my opinion. They have a
record for
underwater juggling for instance.
Since I'm a professional juggler, chainsaws are a conventional prop.
People ask about
them all the time, people want to see you juggle them. For performance
it's much better
to use a prop people have experience with than a juggling club.
I definitely see your point though, I imagine that most jugglers are far
more appreciative
of a record with clubs or balls than with chainsaws. I'm fine with that.
I did it more for
professional than hobbyist reasons.
-Aaron
aaron gregg
>
> And conratulations for breaking the new world record.
> But I'm sorry to tell you about a finnish juggler Markku Aulanko who also
> juggles chainsaws.
> Now I need to ask you if you did your record with 3 chainsaws?
> Because 6 months ago I was to witness him to juggle with 4 chainsaws, and
> he did 92 catches. That's pretty good of him I think. Of course the
> chainsaws
> had big handles but damn when I held one in my hand; it was so heavy.
> But that has got to be something to do with his weight lifting career.
> I'm gonna film it the next time he does it. It's just super cool.
>
> Pentti!!!!
to do 4
saws. What pattern did he use? Does he do double spins? How does he
start?
Difficulty aside, 4 would be much more dangerous because of the increased
collision
potential. I'd definitely like to see a video, or even a picture of the
muscles necessary to
do 4 saws.
-Aaron
aaron gregg
>
> And conratulations for breaking the new world record.
> But I'm sorry to tell you about a finnish juggler Markku Aulanko who also
> juggles chainsaws.
> Now I need to ask you if you did your record with 3 chainsaws?
Yes, only 3 saws. I guess I should have mentioned that specifically in
the original
message.
> Because 6 months ago I was to witness him to juggle with 4 chainsaws, and
> he did 92 catches. That's pretty good of him I think. Of course the
> chainsaws
> had big handles but damn when I held one in my hand; it was so heavy.
> But that has got to be something to do with his weight lifting career.
> I'm gonna film it the next time he does it. It's just super cool.
>
> Pentti!!!!
>
> ----== posted via www.jugglingdb.com ==----
----== posted via www.jugglingdb.com ==----
BrettSheets
Yeah if i was a professional i might take a stab at it too. To the public
it sounds like a awesome title to have. World record with chainsaws sounds
very impressive, expecially if they haven't been introduced to how high of
numbers juggling actually goes. Most people don't think it goes higher
than 5 I've found. I think actually the public thinks that is what
jugglers do; Start with balls, then learn more dangerous props. So...
Common Stereotpye + World Record = $$$ =)
Little Paul
> Well, I don't believe it, but no, still doesn't play (this in Media
> Player, Media Player Classic,*and* Quick Time viewer. Quick time gives
> "unknown error -8971.
Works fine here in winamp and VLC (the media player of champions)
Nice one Aaron.
-Paul
Adam
Pentti wrote:
> But I'm sorry to tell you about a finnish juggler Markku Aulanko who also
> juggles chainsaws.
Well I'm sorry to tell you that Guiness doesn't base their records on
rec.juggling rumor :-)
Adam
Pentti
He does it with singles, and he starts it so that he has 2 saw on a stand
and then he just throws the 2 saw in the air that he holds in his hand and
then he gets into 4 saw synchros. Unfortunately I don't have any pictures
of him at the moment but I will take one whenever I see him.
Pentti!!!