Extreme Sport: Meat-Hook Dangling
Kids nowadays! What will they think of next? Reuters is reporting that a popular new pasttime amongst youngsters in the Florida Keys is to dangle themselves from meat hooks attached to bamboo tripods set up at the beach, and then just hang out that way for a while. Apparently the Coast Guard found "a young woman, her feet brushing the surface of the shallow water, dangled from the frame, hooks embedded firmly in her shoulders." I don't know. I thought I had come across some pretty strange things in my time, but meat-hook dangling definitely took me by surprise. But then, when I was over the initial shock, I immediately thought of the sport of Monkey Fishing, which Slate.com wrote about back in 1996. Monkey Fishing (which also, according to Slate, was popular down in the Florida Keys) involves rowing up to the island of Lois Key which contains a population of wild monkeys, attaching a piece of fruit to a fishing line, throwing the fruit to the monkeys, waiting until the monkeys impale themselves on the hook when they try to eat the fruit, and then yanking the poor animals into the water. Monkey Fishing, of course, turned out to be a hoax which Slate was taken in by. So could meat-hook dangling be the new monkey fishing? Reuters says that the Coast Guard vouches for the reality of meat-hook dangling, but I'd like to see some pictures and get a little more proof before I totally accept this story.Posted By: Alex | Date: Mon Jul 19, 2004 | Permalink |
Total Comments: 48
Category: Body Manipulation, Sports
Category: Body Manipulation, Sports
Listed in chronological order. Newest comments at the end.
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I'd like to do that
Posted by Ariel on Fri Oct 15, 2004 at 03:43 PM
There's a wrestler known as Zandig who works the independant circuit who did this. He's also the promoter of CZW (Combat Zone Wrestling, basically ECW version 2. More hardcore, though.) Yeah, he's nuts.
Posted by Dudester on Thu Apr 14, 2005 at 02:38 PM
Didn't see this before... Sun Dance is alive and well, at least in B.C. I believe it is probably illegal, but I do know the Native Americans where I grew up do sometimes still do this. About 10 years ago (or so) an aquaintance of mine did it. I was invited to go to it (big honor) but wasn't able to go. He did come out a changed person, much more spiritual....This I don't have a problem with because it is an adult choice, not infringing on anyone.
Posted by Winona in USA on Thu Apr 14, 2005 at 03:08 PM
I don't understand the comparison to skydiving. It's much safer than that. Worst case scenario and a hook breaks (which is extremely rare) you fall about 10 feet, as opposed to when your parachute doesn't open and you plummet thousands. On a side note, it's real and it's beautiful to watch. I've been to suspension events, and I'm doing my first one in a few weeks.
Posted by Sarah on Sun Sep 25, 2005 at 08:20 AM
This was also a ritualistic practice with some American Indians but I do not recall the tribes. I believe it was showcased in an old movie named A Man Called Horse? It was painful to watch as he was lifted by 2 hooks imbedded in his chest.
Posted by Mean Capn Bob on Wed Jan 04, 2006 at 01:55 PM
cool...i would love to do that suspension, i always wanted to fly
Posted by Eva in New york on Mon Feb 20, 2006 at 06:29 PM
it is real ive seen many pictures of it on bme, go look if u think its fake, im very interested in trying it but im having trouble locating people in brighton who are practising it, if anyone can help me please give me an e-mail
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Posted by Dan in brighton on Mon Feb 27, 2006 at 05:25 AM
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http://www.suspension.org can help you find a local suspension group.
Posted by ammre on Fri Mar 03, 2006 at 12:50 AM
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