Rumtu’s Amazing Rock Lifters

French Polynesia

It’s sport, legend and tradition rock and rolled into one as island strongmen lift their weight in boulders for the honour of the village. By Larry Writer

ALTHOUGH competition is light hearted, the ancient Tahitian cus tom of amoraa ofai, or stone lift ing, is hardly a sport for lightweights. Each year the strongest of the strong men and women of the French Polynesian island of Rurutu meet there and on Tahiti to flex

their muscles before adoring crowds of cel ebrating spectators.

The object of stone lifting is to lift heavy, oiled rocks boulders is a more apt description first to chest height, then with a dramatic surge of strength to heave them to the shoulders, holding the

massive stone there for a “few minutes”.

The competitors’ achievement is a weighty one: the stones the men lift weigh up to 140 kilograms. Women are expected to hoist 60 kilogram rocks on to their shoulders.

Although most of the rock lifters are

young, in their late teens or 20s, many suc cessful champions are a good deal older.

At a recent competition a man of 51 years of age put his younger opponents to shame and won the day.

The pastime is an ancient one, but look its modern form about 200 years ago when warriors lifted stones to keep in shape for battle. Stone lifting has long been prac ticed on Rurutu, 500 km southwest of Ta hiti, once every year on New Year’s Day; since 1982 it has also been a popular and colourful fixture at Tahiti’s July fete or Ta hitian Festival.

On Rurutu, people from the three main villages have used the same stones, known as pa ’oro ’oro , for hundreds of years. They are kept in special enclosures when they are not in use.

Practice is conducted throughout the year to keep lifters in perfect lifting trim for the big event, when village pride is on the line.

Each competitor is given three tries at hefting the greasy rock to his or her shoul ders. If the weight is too great, the com petitor simply lets go and does his or her best to get out of the way before the stone crashes to the ground. The cham pion is the contestant who can lift the heaviest rock twice at four selected sites on the island.

Today, as in past years, the spectactors at stone lifting competitions sing, dance, play a variety of musical instruments and chant. They follow the stone lifters on foot and by horseback, in cars, jeeps and trucks.

The feats of the day are celebrated long into the night at a traditional tamaaraa or feast when the fierce rivalry of the day is put aside and thoughts turn to the next eat competition □

"The object is to lift a heavy, oiled rock first to chest height, then, with a dramatic surge of strength, to heave it to the shoulders, holding it there for a few minutes before letting go”