[Ansteorra] American Jouster

[mikea]

On Sun, Oct 04, 2009 at 07:28:36PM -0500, Chris Zakes wrote:
> At 12:23 PM 10/4/2009, you wrote:
> >From NPR:
> >
> >http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=113429069&sc=fb&cc=fp
> >
> >Living The Life Of The 'American Jouster'
> >
> >What valorous sentiment lurks in the heart of the American jouster? What
> >drives our modern-day knights to bash each other with heavy wooden lances?
> >In 100 pounds of armor? On a 2,000-pound horse, moving something like 20
> >mph?
> >
> >Jacki Lyden took a trip to the Maryland Renaissance Festival to find out.
> >
> >Retired jouster Richard Alvarez spent 11 years in the saddle. Now he has
> >directed a documentary, American Jouster, on the life of these modern-day
> >practitioners of an antique martial art.
> 
> Those of us who've been around since the Dark Ages may remember 
> Richard Alvarez--he was half of the swordfighting team "Triomphe" 
> during the early years of the Texas Renaissance Festival.

I'm given to understand that the jousters who compete in the evening
lists at Visby during Medieval Week are professionals who move around
Europe, though I have no idea where, other than Visby, they'd do their
thing. They certainly were _very_ spectacular when we saw them, and it
was obvious -- especially from the way one of them got up and limped off
after being unhorsed very roughly -- that it was entirely for-real and
dangerous.

-- 
Mike Andrews        /   Michael Fenwick    Barony of Namron, Ansteorra
mikea at mikea.ath.cx  /   Amateur Extra radio operator W5EGO
Tired old music Laurel; Chirurgeon; SCAdian since AS XI