walk on stilts

Each practice, I learn or try one new thing. It’s my nature to take things slowly, to keep doing them until almost in spite of myself, I accumulate experience and skills. Stilt walking is still very new to me, and I’ve only been a handful of times. Today, I learned how to get up and get going by myself from sitting on my car roof (and to get back down). This means I can drive over to any park and practice stilt walking without having to find something the right height.

This will sound ridiculously easy to any one who hasn’t tried stilt walking, and also to any one who has gotten comfortable with stilt walking. It’s just beginners like myself who will recognize this as a little milestone – an inch stone? :)

Has anyone ever attempted walking on stilts on all fours? I was at the Oregon Country Fair back in the mid-nineties and there were these huge, awesome stiltwalkers dressed up like weird animals walking on four legs. It was the most amazing thing I’ve ever seen on stilts. How did they do it?

I was at a friends place this afternoon and there is a homemade set on the property. After a couple of attempts I managed to get myself stable and taking a few steps. More competency is needed before I’ll really consider this done however.
Encouraging progress though.

Hi Im the director of MythMaker the Mytho Theatrical Sacred Circus. We stilt walk fire spin, ariels, acrobatics an most anything we can try.
We teach courses on circus and theatre arts
you can see us at www.mythmaker.ca

we would be willing to help anyone out

hjeron

I forgot about this goal but I found a fun “how to” link for others interested - on a site called deliciously enough “dangerously fun” - and it looks dirt simple:

http://dangerouslyfun.com/stilts.html

I can walk, but I’m not entirely proficient at doing so. Anyways, I’ll have to go walking around campus more before Halloween comes.

Thank you, Flash, for inspiring and assisting me with this goal,

—-FIG

I think my hardest part is taking the first two steps after getting up on them. Like a bird who’s just developed its wings, I need to test out my new mode of transportation. Love, love, love it!

Definitely must do this again someday soon.

Can someone give me some advice on how to run while on stilts? I don’t know what I am supposed to do: I can’t lean forward like “normal” running, and I can’t really high-knee either.

Also, is there a good way to stand back up after falling? I think I am going to need a second while I am out trick-or-treating.

Thanks,

—-FIG

Finally had a chance to get out on the stilts again. Classes are done and the weather is good again. I was walking around and doing quite well, I think. I think I am going to go down to the lakefront tomorrow after work and walk the bike path. It’s something like a mile, but I don’t think I will walk the whole thing. Half, tops, maybe just around the city park. Anyways, I’m making progress on this one and the Skellington costume goal.

So, I enjoy working with my hands once in a while, and I enjoy wood. BUT, I do not normally woodcraft anything. I keep thinking I really want to make something like a table by hand or something, but I fear that task might be a little too advanced for my complete lack of woodworking practice. Therefore, I think making stilts might be a very Very VERY good place for me to start!

Now, I… must… make… time… and graduate first, of course!

I can always add that “make a piece of furniture out of wood” goal later.