Club Obi Wan

A little movie that might be of interest. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkwTIQgJpdg

That was great Bernie, thanks for sharing!!!

That's a nice act.

C

Well done...those white stockwhips were striking as well!
Ron

The whips were made by Simon Martin. I was talking to him this morning and he told me about the video. Chris Beck was the Australian whip cracking champion at the tender age of 16. He stopped for awhile but now it looks like he's making a come back.

That was really COOL! it was a really good performance

~Alex

Even before I saw the other posts I thought that they look like a pair of Simon Martin whips that I saw on his website, the ones I saw were made of nylon, (I thought) I didn't think that he made nylon whips were these it correct me if I'm wrong I can't seem to find them on his sight right now.

Keep Crackin

James

classicbullwhips wrote:Even before I saw the other posts I thought that they look like a pair of Simon Martin whips that I saw on his website, the ones I saw were made of nylon, (I thought) I didn't think that he made nylon whips were these it correct me if I'm wrong I can't seem to find them on his sight right now.

Keep Crackin

James

http://www.whipmaker.com.au/Full_Ben.htm Simon calls it Whippa rather than nylon it's his own find, maybe he'll post but I'm sure I read somewhere he wrote that he has it specially made up..

Tony

Sweet video - thanks for sharing!

Ryan

That was pretty cool!

Can you image someone getting out there with two 10 ft Indy bullwhips?

"Oh Yeah, criticize this! KAPOW!!!"


Crack On!
Allen

Thanks for posting this Bernie, Nice to see Chris Beck in action again. Keep us posted on how he and Chantelle in the next round.

Nice one Bernie! Nice whips too!

Champ at 16 hey? Reminds me of an Oz saying I read somewhere (can't remember where sorry): "Every fair dickum ought to know how to crack a whip. It's un-Australian not to."

Cheers!


Franco

"Every fair dickum Australian ought to know how to crack a whip. It's un-Australian not to."

That should read "Every fair dinkum Australian ought to know how to crack a whip. It's un-Australian not to." I think it was said by R.M. Williams.

Great video Bernie! I love that card cutting trick.

Weston

Hey Bernie,
yeah that's probably it. Love that saying!

Simon calls it Whippa rather than nylon it's his own find, maybe he'll post but I'm sure I read somewhere he wrote that he has it specially made up..

Yes, I had this especially made up for me. It's technically not nylon, so I have just called it "Whippa" to make it sound like a special thread for whips. I'd had a sample of it hanging in my shop when Gary Brophy from Sunrise Circus dropped in and he wanted a pair of whips made out of it. Then when I was making those, Chris Beck saw me making them and he got inspired to get back into whipcracking professionally. I know Bernie said he was champion at 16years, but I think it was acctually 14years, because he had entered the Junior division and at that time the winner from the Juniors was allowed to compete in the Men's division. That changed after Chris one both Australian Whipcracking Championship divisions. Bernie does this sound right?
Regards
Simon

I googled that saying and the slang "fair dinkum" means "true" or "genuine." I get it now.

Happy cracking,

Ryan

Around where I live it is "fair dinkum" not "fair dickum" but maybe other Aussies say it the other way. Yes, it means genuine.

Yu arwe of corse rit cobber digger.

Bewdy cobber

Your right about Chris only being 14 Simon, getting old and forgetfull. I was just watching some old video footage of a couple of TV shows we did together and he gave his age on one of them at 13 which was just before he won the Australian championship. I remember his father bringing him up to see me when he was about 12 to buy a couple of whips and when I saw him perform decided I would sponsor him. For a 12 year old he was brilliant.

Bernie
I saw some of those old tv clips recently on a video Chris lent me. They were very interesting. He told me when he was Australian Champ in the early 90's that he did over 150 shows one year. Makes you wonder how much schooling he did! He was the first to do the "Tasmanian Cutback" and by putting this crack in to a routine called the "Tasmanian Twist" is what helped him win the Junior & Men's division in 1993. Rules were changed after this so that Juniors couldn't compete in the Men's division. Also technical whipcracking in Australia has progressed at LOT since the 90's thanks to people like Fiona Wilks & Ben Hughes.

On Saturday I was at the 2009 RM Williams AWPA Australian Whipcracking Championships and Chris's name was on the Junior Tropy Whip Plaque for 1993 representing Tasmania which was the first AWPA Australian Chamionships. This year it was won by Rohan Smith who is 15years old. This is the first time a Tasmanian Junior has won it since Chris in 1993.

When I get the full results I will post them. Also I'll let you know when Chris's next show is on.

Kind Regards
Simon

When I first started sponsoring Chris part of the deal was that he come to some of the agricultural shows that I used to sell at and put on a demonstration. I used to be the dummy that held the baloons and bits of vegetables that he cracked out of by hands. At times back then he wasn't all that accurate and I have two nice scars as reminders of what a whip can do through a shirt and a wool jumper. Judging by the show on TV he's come a long way since then.

The results from the 2009 R.M. Williams Australian Whipcracking Championships are now to be found here http://www.australianwhipcracking.org/F ... esults.htm
And here is a picture of the place getters.

There was a very larger number of Novice and under 9 competitors this year, so the future of whipcracking is looking very good.

Also Bernie,
Chris Beck has done his next show, but is now waiting to be voted through by the general public. The way he presented his last show is not what I personally would support, but he still is a very good showman. It will probably be on you tube soon. He did his famous "Tasmanian Cutback" on the show.

Kind Regards
Simon

Did you get any video of the younger whip crackers Simon? If you did it would be good to post it on youtube so we can see the little whipper snappers at work.

Simon, now you've got my curiosity up, and I hope someone posts Chris's second performance soon, on YouTube.

What was it about his second performance that you didn't like?

I liked what he did in his first performance, though I'll admit I found his assistant's legs to be very distracting

-Adam

It's here.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p7xiOShIZc0

Chris

I have a "little bit" of practicing to do!

winrichwhips wrote:I liked what he did in his first performance, though I'll admit I found his assistant's legs to be very distracting

If you thought she was distracting in their first performance, wait till you see the newest video Wow

Thanks for posting the new link Chris. I can see why Simon might have found that a bit objectionable, that performance was definitely more “spicy” then the first round. I can’t say I didn’t like it though

I lked the combination of whipcracking and banjo music a lot, thank you for sharing

Chris - thanks for posting the new video - that was great! Good inspiration to keep practicing.

Ryan

Chris,

Thanks for posting the link. I'm going to the gym right now! And then the tattoo parlor.

Actually, I already have 5 tattoos, but watching that video makes me want to go out and get the rest of the tats I had in mind.

-Adam

I thought it was not that great of a performance. Rather boring actually. I thought the theme was a little cheesy, and I know he can do much better then that being a great whip cracker. First performance was much better.

Bernie said

Did you get any video of the younger whip crackers Simon? If you did it would be good to post it on youtube so we can see the little whipper snappers at work.

No, I didn't take my camera this year, but I've just uploaded a clip from my latest dvd here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YdDvz3F0_5M
Daniel won the Men's for the first time, and Katie came 2nd in the Juniors and Brooke came 2nd in the Juvenile's. I'll see if one of the other familys that went to the championships from Tassie took any video.
Also the Australian Championships will be in Canberra again in 2010, then it will probably be moved for another 3 years. May even be a chance of having it in Tasmania for the first ever time! This would be great as we have a lot of talent down here now coming through.

Adam said

What was it about his second performance that you didn't like?

I guess you know now! I just feel this image is detrimental to the development of the sport. Unfortuantly the show's producers basically told Chris this is the music that we what you to perform to, and we don't want a cowboy theme as it's been done before.
Kind Regards
Simon

bernie47 wrote:Yu arwe of corse rit cobber digger.

NEW ZEALAND?

TASMANIAN
We always say two heads are better than one down here.

Bernie Said

TASMANIAN
We always say two heads are better than one down here.

And you can always tell when somebodys not from Tasmania as they wouldn't have kept the head they have
That's a joke my cousin uses when he gets rubbed about being Tasmanian, and I find it quite funny.

Did you ever post the video of you cracking the 30ft whip you made recently on Youtube Simon ?

Hi Bernie

Sorry for the delay, but I just don't seem to have as much time to read the forum as I used to. I uploaded the video the other day here http://www.youtube.com/results?search_t ... lwhip&aq=f It was raining the day I finished making it, so went to the nearest stadium to crack it. It has concrete walls, and it's amazing how the sound keeps reverberating. But this really doesn't show on the video.

Also I've been going to post a picture of the Under 8's from the Australian Championships, but haven't had time yet. Will soon...
Also Bernie when your up my way next drop in to the shop as I have the Perpetual Whip Trophy that was first won by Chris, back in 1993 hanging on my wall. The latest Tasmanian to win the Juniors was born that same year. You can see Rohan center of the picture above. It's quite interesting to read all the names of the winners over the years. Thought you may be interested.
Kind Regards
Simon

Thanks for all the links!

Good to see ole Jim Craig again, too. My three year old son loves the Man from Snowy River. He'd watch it every day if I'd let him. He loves horses and whips. Takes after his dad, that one. I guess I have to claim him...

Yes "Jim Craig" has enspired a lot of whipcrackers in this country over the years. Here's one little clip for those who don't know http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YNStbzxuAQ4 who Tom Burlinson (Jim Craig on the movie) is. Tom was one of the judges on Australia's got talent.

Simon

Great videos Simon, thanks for posting them. And although I'm a waaay over 3 years old, The Man from Snowy River is still one of my favorite movies

Jim

I look forward to seeing that trophy again Simon, it was a great day for Tassie when he won that because up until that time Tasmanian whip crackers where not heard of and young Chris took them by storm. I'll be up this Wednesday some time.It was even better when he won the adult trophy while still a junior.

Well I got around to putting a couple of photo's up of some young whipcrackers.


The first one is a couple of the boys waiting to be presented with their placings. The second is the top 6 place getters in the PeeWees Division (8 Years and Under). Unfortuantly I didn't take any photos of them swinging their whips around. It's amazing what some of these kids can do at such a young age. Queensland Crossovers, Tasmanian Cutbacks ect....
Bernie, you should show your grandkids the pictures. Maybe you can inspire them to take up whipcracking after all?

Kind Regards
Simon

Simon Martin wrote:Well I got around to putting a couple of photo's up of some young whipcrackers.


The first one is a couple of the boys waiting to be presented with their placings. The second is the top 6 place getters in the PeeWees Division (8 Years and Under). Unfortuantly I didn't take any photos of them swinging their whips around. It's amazing what some of these kids can do at such a young age. Queensland Crossovers, Tasmanian Cutbacks ect....
Bernie, you should show your grandkids the pictures. Maybe you can inspire them to take up whipcracking after all?

Kind Regards
Simon

Wow Simon, and I thought I was very young when I had my first whip at age nine... It is good to see many little lads learning this interesting sport!!!

Bernie, you should show your grandkids the pictures. Maybe you can inspire them to take up whipcracking after all?

Sadly Simon no one in the family seems interested in whip cracking or making that's why I try to get as much information out there as I can before I fall off my perch. Our youngest grandson,5 years, is only interested in rounding up his fathers dairy cows on his 4 wheeler and running my wife and me off our feet at the moment, perhaps when he gets a bit older. The rest are in their teens and some in their mid twenties,(God I feel old) and have other things on their minds.

Hey Bernie nice to hear from you again (for some reason it feels like it's been a while...)

I know what you mean, my nefews and I didn't have a whole lot in common, except having the same appetite for my mother's cooking hehehe. But my ex-girlfriend's son and I are way closer! Sometimes, things skip a generation...
Cheers,

Franco

PS-Your expressions (fall off my perch...) kill me!

PS-Your expressions (fall off my perch...) kill me!

Don't know if that was meant to be a pun Franco but that's exactly what will happen

Marhala said

Wow Simon, and I thought I was very young when I had my first whip at age nine... It is good to see many little lads learning this interesting sport!!!

Yes it's great. There seems to have been a bit of a generation jump. Grandfathers that were stockman's back in the 1950's and 60's are now teaching their grandkids. Some of them can crack a whip at 2 years old! I was 13 when I first cracked a whip, but I wish I had the opportunity to start much younger.

Bernie
It's a shame you have no grandkids interested. Well at least you have passed a lot of your information on to many of us whipmakers and wannabes. Just don't drop of your perch yet, I want your 10000th whip

Simon

Simon Martin wrote:Marhala said

Wow Simon, and I thought I was very young when I had my first whip at age nine... It is good to see many little lads learning this interesting sport!!!

Yes it's great. There seems to have been a bit of a generation jump. Grandfathers that were stockman's back in the 1950's and 60's are now teaching their grandkids. Some of them can crack a whip at 2 years old! I was 13 when I first cracked a whip, but I wish I had the opportunity to start much younger.

Bernie
It's a shame you have no grandkids interested. Well at least you have passed a lot of your information on to many of us whipmakers and wannabes. Just don't drop of your perch yet, I want your 10000th whip

Simon

It's great !!!!!

I remember when 7 years ago I start looking for people who interesting whipmaking and whipcracking in Poland and .... I was alone .... Now we have few realy good whipmakers and Polish whip forum!!!