"Enthusiasm for bin jousting runs deep. For some, it surpasses the excitement of watching live band performances": The Heavy Metal Festival Sport of Bin Jousting is a spectacle the Olympics should embrace immediately
Bin Jousting, a unique and exhilarating sport that combines elements of extreme sport, medieval re-enactment, and drunken behaviour, has become as much a part of the Bloodstock metal festival experience as beer, burgers, and a man dressed as Jesus.
The origins of Bin Jousting are shrouded in mystery, but it is believed to have been the brainchild of a man named Top Hat. The sport started as an informal, guerrilla campsite game where festival-goers would balance on wheelie bins and charge at each other late at night. Over the years, this underground chaos evolved into a legendary and officially recognized festival sport, becoming a wildly popular and distinct part of the Bloodstock experience within UK metal culture.
The bins used in Bin Jousting have undergone significant changes to ensure safety. Crash mats, crash bars, reinforced tops, and safety handles have been added to the bins. Participants are now required to wear protective headgear and neck braces. The bins themselves have been decorated with flames for this year's event, adding an extra touch of flair.
Bloodstock's co-founder, Adam Gregory, became aware of Bin Jousting through unusual circumstances. He was being invoiced for damage to the bins, leading him to the realization that the sport was being played at the festival. Despite concerns, the sport has continued to thrive, with some band members even participating in it.
There has been a "battle of wills" between the festival organizers and the Bin Jousters, as the organizers have tried to stop the event due to health and safety concerns and potential injuries. However, the strong community spirit and playful intensity of Bloodstock attendees have ensured that Bin Jousting remains a well-known tradition at the festival.
Despite a few mishaps, such as one participant breaking his leg in two places while participating in Bin Jousting illegally a few years ago, the sport continues to be popular. The participant, in true metal spirit, still emailed the organizers to say he had a great weekend.
Bloodstock is a metal festival that started as a one-day event in 2001 and has grown into a four-day extravaganza. Notable headliners at Bloodstock include Judas Priest, Slayer, Ghost, Lamb Of God, King Diamond, Machine Head, Trivium, and Gojira. The festival is also known for another mosh pit phenomenon, Viking Rowing, which started at Bloodstock and has become a global phenomenon.
Adam Gregory, the co-founder of Bloodstock, suggests the possibility of Bin Jousting becoming an Olympic sport. A significant amount of money has been invested in new bins for Bin Jousting, hinting at the festival's commitment to making the sport safer and more enjoyable for all participants.
Bin Jousting at Bloodstock is a testament to the festival's unique spirit and the camaraderie among its attendees. It embodies the energetic and rebellious ethos typical of metal festivals like Bloodstock, making it a must-see event for any metalhead. The bins, sponsored by Fat Frank's, the festival camping shop, are pushed towards each other, with the person who falls off losing. If neither person falls off, they wrestle until one of them does.
In conclusion, Bin Jousting is a highlight of the Bloodstock festival, a tradition that has evolved from a spontaneous campsite activity to a formalized event. It represents the strong community spirit and playful intensity of Bloodstock attendees, embodying the energetic and rebellious ethos typical of metal festivals. Whether you're a seasoned metalhead or new to the scene, Bin Jousting is an experience not to be missed at Bloodstock.
- Top Hat, a visionary, is believed to have initiated Bin Jousting, an informal game that turned into a wildly popular festival sport at Bloodstock.
- Over the years, Bin Jousting has transformed from a guerrilla campsite game into a legendary and officially recognized festival sport, adding an extra spectacle to the Bloodstock experience.
- Each year, the bins used in Bin Jousting are decorated with flames, enhancing the sport's visual appeal at the festival.
- Co-founder Adam Gregory of Bloodstock discovered Bin Jousting due to accidental bin damage, but he ultimately recognized its cultural significance and let it continue.
- Although concerns about health and safety have been raised, the strong sense of community and playful intensity among Bloodstock attendees have ensured Bin Jousting's survival as a well-known festival tradition.
- Bloodstock includes multiple metalhead favorites as headliners, such as Judas Priest, Slayer, Ghost, and many more, but it's also famous for peculiar activities like Viking Rowing and Bin Jousting.
- Adam Gregory has speculated about the potential of Bin Jousting becoming an Olympic sport, indicating Bloodstock's dedication to improving the safety and enjoyment of the sport for all participants.
