UNIQUE SWISS SPORTS
Equip outfielders with what look like oversized baker’s bread shovels, let a batter swing a long carbon fiber whip used as a bat to hit a puck-like ball which will fly through the air at up to 200-300km/h speeds, and you’ll have the makings of “Hornussen.” Needless to say, originally it used to be made of wood. The game played in the cantons of Bern, Solothurn & Aargau dates back to the 1600s. According to some historians the name of the game is derived from the buzzing sound the puck or “hornuss” makes as it flies through the air. “Hornuss” is the Swiss-German word for hornet. Unlike baseball where you have to catch the ball, in Hornussen you have to stop the hornuss’ flight by throwing the paddles in the air. It’s fascinating to watch.
The Swiss enjoy a number of native, Olympic-like sports - “like” being the discriminator. If you are invited to a wrestling match in Switzerland, don’t expect to see Graeco-Roman style wrestling. “Schwingen” as it is called, dates back to the 13th century. It is strictly an amateur sport with well-defined grips, throws and rules. The wrestlers’ uniforms are simple albeit not exactly stylish. Short wrestling pants made of jute with their legs rolled up to form handles are worn over long pants. The object is to throw the opponent on his back within a circle of sawdust with both shoulder blades touching the ground. Another unique Olympic-like sport is the Swiss version of shot-putting – Steinstossen. The big difference is in lieu of a 16 lb ball, the Swiss toss a 180 lb glacial boulder as far as they can, reaching as much as 13-1/2 ft.
The largest sporting event in Switzerland & the largest marksmanship competition in the world takes place every five years in Switzerland. The Federal Field Shooting (Feldschiessen, Tir fédéral en campagne, Tir federale in campagna) originated as a military training exercise. Today it is purely recreational. My favorite Swiss sport highlights the 1st of August celebrations and is frequently accompanied by the sound of the alphorn. Yes! Flag-throwing. Just click here for a look.
Equip outfielders with what look like oversized baker’s bread shovels, let a batter swing a long carbon fiber whip used as a bat to hit a puck-like ball which will fly through the air at up to 200-300km/h speeds, and you’ll have the makings of “Hornussen.” Needless to say, originally it used to be made of wood. The game played in the cantons of Bern, Solothurn & Aargau dates back to the 1600s. According to some historians the name of the game is derived from the buzzing sound the puck or “hornuss” makes as it flies through the air. “Hornuss” is the Swiss-German word for hornet. Unlike baseball where you have to catch the ball, in Hornussen you have to stop the hornuss’ flight by throwing the paddles in the air. It’s fascinating to watch.
The Swiss enjoy a number of native, Olympic-like sports - “like” being the discriminator. If you are invited to a wrestling match in Switzerland, don’t expect to see Graeco-Roman style wrestling. “Schwingen” as it is called, dates back to the 13th century. It is strictly an amateur sport with well-defined grips, throws and rules. The wrestlers’ uniforms are simple albeit not exactly stylish. Short wrestling pants made of jute with their legs rolled up to form handles are worn over long pants. The object is to throw the opponent on his back within a circle of sawdust with both shoulder blades touching the ground. Another unique Olympic-like sport is the Swiss version of shot-putting – Steinstossen. The big difference is in lieu of a 16 lb ball, the Swiss toss a 180 lb glacial boulder as far as they can, reaching as much as 13-1/2 ft.
The largest sporting event in Switzerland & the largest marksmanship competition in the world takes place every five years in Switzerland. The Federal Field Shooting (Feldschiessen, Tir fédéral en campagne, Tir federale in campagna) originated as a military training exercise. Today it is purely recreational. My favorite Swiss sport highlights the 1st of August celebrations and is frequently accompanied by the sound of the alphorn. Yes! Flag-throwing. Just click here for a look.
