ASU students take synthetic log for a spin
Log Rolling World Champion Judy Hoeschler taught Arizona State University students Friday afternoon how to log roll in hopes to make the sport a popular campus activity..
It takes a combination of balance, fast footwork and core strength to stay on top of a rolling log – a skill Judy Hoeschler showed Friday afternoon to students at Arizona State University in Tempe.
Log rolling, a sport that started in the 1800s by lumberjacks in the Midwest, is now quickly becoming a popular sport, the 59-year-old athlete said.
"It's a historical sport for modern times."
It has become modern thanks to Key Log Rolling, a Hoeschler family business that sells 65-pound synthetic logs made of polythene.
"It floats and spins and reacts just like a traditional cedar would," Hoeschler said. "It just weighs a whole lot less."
Hoeschler, who is a nine-time World Champion in the sport, came up with the idea nine years ago in hopes that, one day, log rolling will become an Olympic sport.
Already making appearances at summer camps in Texas, California, Minnesota and a few more states, Hoeshcler said the next goal is to reach colleges and create collegiate-level competitions.
A few universities have picked up the family's invention, including Northern Arizona University, Hoeschler said.
"Wouldn't it be great to see some rivalry between ASU and NAU? Let's see some good old college rivalry."
Friday afternoon at the Sun Devil Fitness Complex Swimming Pool, Hoeschler demonstrated her product to encourage the sport and to show students that log rolling could be a great way to stay healthy.
"It's high-cardio and it gets the heart racing," she said.
Lindy Lukenheimer, the facility's assistant director of fitness and wellness, said they are surveying log rolling with students to see if it is something they want to introduce to the campus.
"We're constantly looking for way to make fitness a fun activity for our students," Lukenheimer said.
The students attempting the sport for the first time didn't stay on their feet for long.
"At first it will feel weird and you won't know what to do with your feet," Kaitlyn Holmgren said. "All you can do is make sure you move fast."
Several attempts later, Homgren, a senior studying non-profit leadership and management, managed to stay on top for eight seconds before splashing into the pool.
Hoeschler said the log will remain on campus for several weeks and will be available to students. Hoeschler's daughter Katie, will be conducting classes for those interested in learning the sport.