[Ansteorra] American Jouster

[David Backlin]

>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.

It's not a life that is circumscribed by Rennaisance fairs, he explains.
Other jousting opportunities include independent tournaments, stunt shows
and medieval restaurants.

In fact, if you'd like to joust full time, there's a way. There are four
major companies that work a year-round circuit; you could travel around the
country with them, really living life as in medieval times: You sleep in a
tent, traveling from "kingdom" to "kingdom," and as Alvarez explains, "you
joust for the king who pays you the most money." For young people without
much of a mortgage or other overhead, Alvarez says, it can be pretty good
money.