2023-09-03 11:58:45
Sursee
Rahel had to lose five kilograms for the rope pulling world championships
Rope pullers from all over the world came together over the weekend for the world championships. 20 minutes was there and asked why people fight with ice skates and why they hardly eat days before the competition.
Published3. Sep 2023, 1:58 p.m
Teams from all over the world traveled to Sursee for the world tug of war championships.
Chris Roos
A day of competition in tug-of-war is strongly reminiscent of a wrestling festival.
20min/Zoe Stoller
On closer inspection, however, it becomes clear that this is a completely different, very unusual sport.
20min/Zoe Stoller
The athletes pull a rope and try to get the opposing team on their side.
20min/Zoe Stoller
In order to have enough grip in the ground, the rope pullers wear prepared ice skates, which they ram into the ground before the fight.
Chris Roos
Rahel, Laura and Luzia (from left to right) describe what makes tug of war special and what challenges the sport entails.
20min/Zoe Stoller
At the weekend, the world championship in tug of war took place in Sursee.
In skates, the teams tried to pull the opponents to their side.
Because the team is supposed to have a certain weight, athletes sometimes have to starve before competitions.
Fans swing cowbells and scream with joy, the speaker comments on the ongoing fights and beer and spritzer are happily drunk everywhere. The rope pulling world championships in Sursee reminiscent of a wrestling festival. Only the numerous foreign teams and the lack of sawdust give an idea that this competition is a completely different sport.
If you step up to the fence and observe the fights up close, you can see eight athletes positioning themselves on each side, grabbing the rope with their bare hands and putting their shoes – mostly skates that are sharpened to provide more grip – in the ramming earthen ground. As soon as the referee gives the signal, it starts and both teams pull on the at least 33.5 meter long rope and try to pull the opponents to their side. The team that pulls the rope to their side up to the four-meter mark wins.
“Had to lose five pounds”
18-year-old Rahel, who sits on the floor and rests with Luzia (21) and Laura (22) following their tug-of-war fights, says: “Tug-of-war is special because you don’t have to rely on your team so much anywhere else. You make every single move as a team and feel your teammates at all times.” Only as a team do you have a chance of winning a competition.
The most difficult thing for Rahel is to have the required weight on the day of arriving at the World Cup. “A few days beforehand, our coach counts up who can be how heavy. I had to now lose five kilos for this World Cup», explains the 18-year-old. “That’s pretty steep.” To lose weight, you jog a lot, eat little and hardly drink. In addition, visits to the sauna would help to sweat a lot and lose weight. “Now, two days following the weigh-in, I’m three kilos heavier once more. As soon as you have reached the prescribed weight, you can finally eat properly once more, »says Rahel.
Hardly any pain thanks to the adrenaline
Rahel, Laura and Luzia trained hard for the rope pulling world championships. In addition to the regular training sessions in the club, they do three individual strength and endurance training sessions. In addition, mental preparation is essential before a competition. “I watch videos of the tug of war and try to put myself in the situation of the competition.” Laura adds: “During the pull, it’s difficult not to be distracted by the audience, but to concentrate all your strength and concentrate on the rope.”
Athletes hardly feel any pain when pulling: “The adrenaline means you hardly feel anything during a competition. But following two or three fights, your hands can hurt quite a bit,” says Laura. In addition, cramps or tension in the arms and shoulders can occur once more and once more.
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