[Philip Montgomery]

The NYTimes has an interesting magazine article on Jousting as an Extreme Sport.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/11/magazine/11Jousting-t.html?hp

Interesting article. Read it, draw your own conclusions. I would be interested to see what the members here have to say.

[Lloyd Clark]

Well, as one of the American-style jousters mentioned, I doubt that it will ever reach the level of interest in the American public that is needed for it to become "mainstream". I worked with Shane (and others) for years trying to get jousting on TV and get sponsors (yes, Museum Replicas used to be my main sponsor in the early 2000s) - but it was an uphill battle.

I agree totally that the level of injuries that is incurred jousting in what is callled the "realgestech" style is ridiculous. I spent a great amount of my time with broken bones, dislocations, and separations from jousting in that manner. This makes holding down a regular job quite challenging (and, in fact, I have lost a career position due to my jousting injuries - that was a real wake-up call!)

When Rod Walker stayed with us in 2004, and I became a member of the International Jousting Association (and, later, the International Jousting League) my eyes were opened to a less violent style of jousting. Could we sell that in the US? Jeff Hedgecock is working his butt off to make it happen, but for the most part, the only interest is among history buffs, most of which would rather spend their dollars at a Ren Faire.

I am returning to jousting after a 3 year break. If you wish, I can update you with my thoughts periodically on this.

[Philip Montgomery]

[R D Moore]

FWIW I'd rather spend my dollars on a Jousting tournament than a Renn Faire so please continue posting!

[Dan P]

It doesn't count as an extreme sport until the horse barding, armor, and shields are plastered with bright corporate sponsor logos.

Seriously, safety issues. I noticed more than a few quotes in the Times article about spectators and participants drawn to the violence and chance to see people seriously hurt. Maybe these are the same people who watch car racing just in case there's an accident and explosion, but that always seemed like the wrong reason.

[Scott Hrouda]

[R D Moore]

Scot Hrouda wrote:

"The style of jousting followed by the International Jousting League as mentioned by Jeffrey Hedgecock seems much more intelligent to me personally."

I totally agree. It has to be a sport and not a prize fight, but it shouldn't be a stage play either. Football is a good analogy. It'll be interesting to see what developes.

[JE Sarge]

In answer to the OP's question: I'd say no.

[Bryce Felperin]

[Bryce Felperin]

[Joe Fults]

I think I saw something to the effect of "...could get as big as NASCAR..." in the article which I find laughable. I think part of what makes the big money sports big, is accessibility and shared experiences. Many, many kids play basketball, baseball, football and even soccer. Almost everyone drives a car. I think an import part of the interest in sports is that many of us retain fantasies and fond memories of our sporitng experiences. I watch football and soccer because I played football and soccer. I watch MMA because I have a connection to it through wrestling. Same for Alpine Skiing and cycling...done them both so I'll watch both but I seldom actually seek that content out.

Baseball was not my thing...watch it not so much. Ditto basketball, track, hockey, tennis, golf, sailing, skating, horse racing and whatever else. Sometimes I'll watch the stuff if its on but I'll do that with the weather channel from time to time so I'm just as likely to skip that content outright!

Safety issues from the article aside, I just don't see jousting as a high school sport. Not even as a club sport for that matter. The risks, liabilites and costs of equipment are just huge barriers that I don't see going away. To me, this means the sport of jousting will be doomed to remain a niche interest at best.

So no, I don't see it as the next extreme sport and I honestly suspect that the Wii has a better chance of pulling that feat off based on what kids are spending time doing today.

[T. Hamilton]

I'd pay to watch, but doubt it will ever catch on in the U.S. One point I'd like to make: A lot of the posts talk about injury and not being accesable to the general public as hinderances to the sport. It got me thinking, what's the difference between jousting, and say bull riding (which ALWAYS seems to be on TV)? Both are dangerous, and I don't know of too many people busting broncos in the backyard.

IMO, European-style jousting has the best shot of making this happen because it's safer. A contest where the participants are consistently maimed (or worse) will never be more than a fringe sport because: 1.) It will run out of participants rather quickly, 2.) If the jousters are always hurt, it's impossible to build a fan base, 3.) Without fans, there will never be corporate sponsorship money, 4.) There is a certain knightly "something" that comes to mind when I think of a tournament/joust, and those guys in the article don't inspire it. Take that out of the equation, and all you have left is two guys on horseback carrying big sticks.

[Sam Gordon Campbell]

[Sander Marechal]

[Peter Lyon]

The article put both sides pretty well; as a member of the IJA and IJL myself, it should not be surprising that I side with the "European style". The heavy-hit proponents have been around for a while, since the WCJA days, but there have never been that many of them, partly because the rate that competitors break themselves, the pool of experienced people cannot grow large enough to create critical mass. By contrast in Europe there is a large and healthy jousting community, and some of them are professionals who can make a decent living through their historical/jousting activities. Europe will always have the advantage that the history is right on their doorstep (often literally) so it is easy to joust in an historical context; without that context, the only basis in the US is as a competitive pure sport, at which point it has to compete with so many other sports, like race cars, bull riding, football etc.

[F. Carl Holz]

perhaps one day it will take hold enough to become a more widely recognized sport, but i doubt jousting will ever approach mainstream.

For my part i see that being a lot more likely via the IJL. Injuries aside, the aura put out by those leading the charge for the American style is one that i want less than nothing to do with. Not to say that it permeates, but if that is the image that is put forward than it is a likely image to be maintained; and it hits me closer to "bully" than to "sportsman".

[Scott Hrouda]

[Chad Arnow]

Interesting article. I doubt jousting will become mainstream because there is not consensus on what makes a good joust. There are multiple camps, each with a different focus: hard-core competition (safety and historical accuracy be damned), hard-core entertainment (not always competitive, not as interested in accuracy, pretty safe), and historically accurate (which is accurate, safe, and competitive, but the hard work that goes into making it such won't be noticed by many).

We see some similar things in the edged weapon world (speaking in very general terms): sport fencers (competitive, pretty safe, not historically accurate for the middle ages), SCA-types (tries to portray another time with varying levels of success, has plethora of artificial rules to make it safe/fair), HEMA folks (accurate, as safe as the people involved can make a lethal art, but whose accuracies won't be noticed by many).

With all these, there are people and groups that run in multiple circles or in their own altogether.

Jousting will entertain some. Just like with movies/TV accuracy takes time and money to achieve and, unfortunately, most people won't know the difference or care. More people are drawn to car wrecks than a properly made 15th century gothic harness.

[Peter Lyon]

Personally I hope jousting doesn't ever become "mainstream" if it means having to go down the "heavy" route; for me the history inspires me as much as the perceived risk, the idea of emulating (albeit in a lesser way) my forebears. The "big hit" jousters have thrown out that aspect, so lose the pageantry and colour that can make a show great. That colour and crowd interaction can also cover up for the occassional lacklustre show too; but if all there is to see is repeated runs in enclosed lists, one after the other, it is hard to sustain that for long.

I don't mind seeing my own jousting as a financially losing position; to try to make a profit off it would be extremely hard in any circumstances, but the continual need to be out there will take a physical toll pretty soon. A friend of mine, who spent about 8 years in the upper levels of jousting in Europe, running his own troupe and stables, did so many tourneys that he has back and shoulder problems from the continual impacts, even though it was the so-called "soft" style. Bear in mind here that it is relative, even the balsa-style joust causes unhorsings and injuries.

[Michael B.]

WIth the right marketing, it could take off I think. At least for a short time. Throw some fog machines, lasers, rock music, and a jumbotron and you have yourselfs a sports show. Look at the popularity of "Medieval Times" in Vegas, now mix that showmanship with the hard hitting sport and you may have a hit. (no pun intended)