Sarosh wrote on Sep 20^th, 2018 at 10:52am:

Do have a perfect time in Balkans. Just for the record though, always clarify if you intent to visit North Macedonia(Skopia or FYROM) or Greece. Regarding the latter, I am afraid that I am the only one I know. Even though I heard (but never seen) that in Greek part of Macedonia, there are still some Muslim Villagers that remember how to use the Sling. Mainly to scare the predators of their flocks. Else, In Balkan mountains there still are shepherds who still use this. Remember only that here the passions and hates are always hot. Greeks with Turkeys, Albanians with Serbians or Greeks, Bossnians with Serbians... Just bear peacefully our madness . We are not dangerous to foreigners. Oh and wherever you go, DO drink a lot of wine. On this peninsula, wine is the blood of our mountains . Have fun!

Passed through Serbia . Now I'm in Croatia pinned in a tent by rain. With hitchhiking  I don't get enough time to sling .
Still none pm me, seems like Balkans haven't got any commited slingers.

Other than slinging I'm having a great time ,met some crazy guys along the way 

PS : no videos until i return home ...

That looks like a great beach I've found the same on Lauttasaari island here in Southern Finland. Multiple times I've had to stop to allow the swans to get out the way. They lazily float on past despite the rocks splashing all around for the last hour. they really don't care. Once I realised I had been slinging OVER some smaller birds that I hadn't noticed going around the rocks on the beach. Sling whirling around and they just did not care.

ThracianSlinger26 wrote on Nov 11^th, 2018 at 8:31am:


Wow that sounds awesome

Well,here it is:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EX5lzQy4Djw
WARNING:a bit graphic here and there,and loud "war cries" if we could call them so.
I know it makes us look like some dumb,club wielding and war loving caveman,but it's just on of those weird,old,barbarian traditions we like to keep alive. Also,it's a good workout. I mean,the cudgels weigh about 2-3 kg,the masks are about 5-6 kg (mind you,you need to keep that thing on your head). Theoretically,this should be done only with men that have these masks (which kinda double as helmets),as these will protect you against these cudgels,which means there wouldn't be any casualties,but as always,there will be some stupid guy that goes into the fight without the mask,so there is the potenital that some people die.....And that's why this tradition is illegal now.....I mean,they still meet up with clubs and masks,but no fight and a load of police around. Men from the countryside are extremly tough,especially shepherds (we call them Ciobani,for the plural,and Cioban for the singular),which cary a 20 kg sheepskin cloak on their back (we call it Sarica),and a club (the romanian words for clubs are Bata,Ghioagha and Maciuca)which they use as a weapon/walking stick. My great grandfather (may he rest in peace),used to tell me stories about shepherds fighting and killing bears,just with those clubs and a knife. They also fought armed thieves on a daily basis. In medieval time they were often called into battle,because of their fighting skills. Here are some photos:The shepherd in the picture is 101 years old,he still works,he still goes up in the mountain with the sheep. The second picture shows a typical romanian shepherd's club. The Dacian spirit lives on!

I love old traditions like this. It's really fascinating and that is a damn big dog

ThracianSlinger26 wrote on Nov 11^th, 2018 at 8:31am:


Back when Iwas away from this forum and the slinging hobby, I was a traveling  Environmental, Health and Safety Contractor. I spent a week in Ploesti in mid December a few years ago. I agree with your assessmet of your country. Romania was one of only two countries where I felt like I was at home. Just wished I had the time to see more of it, and to know there were Romanian slingers. When I was traveling, I always had one of Aussie’s slings wrapped up in my carry on backpack.