You think the weather is crazy? Just wait until things get ridiculous in a month.

Sunday, June 03, 2001

You think the weather is crazy? Just wait until things get ridiculous in a month.

The organizers of this year’s SPAMTOWN USA Festival have added a new children’s event to the popular Austin event this summer. The Ridiculous Relays event, sponsored by Knights of Columbus Council No. 1201, will be held from 1 to 6 p.m. July 4 on Main Street North, west of the municipal swimming pool. Volunteers from the Austin Catholic Religious Education Group will assist with the event.

Events for the Ridiculous Relays will include:

— Balloon pop relay: Teams line up single file. About 20 feet in front of each team, a place on a board or chair is a balloon for each. One at a time, each team member runs to the balloon and sits on it to pop it. The team whose members do this in the shortest time wins. Ages 2-6, 1-2 p.m.; ages 7-9, 4-5 p.m.

— Guzzle relay: Teams line up single file behind a line. Each person needs a drinking straw. A gallon of water (for younger kids), juice (for medium kids) and pop (for older kids) is placed a certain distance away from each team. At the sound of the whistle, the first person in each line runs to the drink and starts to guzzle. When the whistle blows, the next one goes. Some get small drinks and others a lot. The person who drinks the gallon wins. Ages 2-6, 2-3 p.m.; ages 7-9, 3-4 p.m.; ages 10-12, 4-5 p.m.; ages 13-16, 5-6 p.m.

— Bubble busters relay: Teams make their own bubbles with a large wand. They then must keep the bubble from popping while racing to the finish line. The first team to complete race with a bubble intact wins. Ages 2-6, 3-4 p.m.; ages 7-9, 5-6 p.m.

— Back-to-back relay: Teams line up. The first couple in each line must stand back to back and interlock arms. One person runs forward, while the other must run backward. On the return trip, it’s vice versa. Then, the next two people go, and so on. Ages 2-6, 4-5 p.m.; ages 10-12, 2-3 p.m.

— Forehead relay: Kids pair off. Each couple races to a point and back, carrying a balloon between their foreheads. If the balloon is dropped, they must start over. Ages 2-6, 5-6 p.m.; ages 13-16, 1-2 p.m.

— Waddle relay: Teams race with players carrying a small coin between their knees. Without using their hands, they must successfully drop the coin into a jar or small bucket placed 15 to 20 feet away. If a player drops the coin along the way, he or she must start over. Ages 7-9, 1-2 p.m.; ages 13-16, 3-4 p.m.

— Broom twist relay: Teams line up. About 20 to 30 feet away from each team, a team leader stands holding a broomstick. The first player in each line runs to his team leader, takes the broom, holds it against his forehead and turns around as fast as they can for 10 times. Then they hand it back to the team leader, run back (dizzy) and tag the next person. The first team to finish wins. Ages 7-9, 2-3 p.m., ages 10-12, 3-4 p.m.

— Life Saver relay: Teams line up relay style. Each player is given a toothpick to hold in his teeth. Place a Life Saver on the toothpick of the player at the head of each line. The team must pass the Life Saver from toothpick to toothpick until it reaches the end of the line. If the Life Saver is dropped, they must start over. The first one to have their Life Saver reach the end of the line wins. Ages 10-12, 5-6 p.m.; ages 13-16, 4-5 p.m.

— Balloon bottom relay: Teams line up. They bend over and pass a balloon through their legs to a teammate who is bent over reaching through their legs, too. If they drop the balloon, they must start over. The first team to reach the end successfully wins. Ages 10-12, 1-2 p.m.

— Daffy dribbling: There are three variations for ages 13-16 from 2-3 p.m. These are:

– Dribble basketball standing up, kneeling down, sitting on ground, laying on back, back up to sitting position and then standing again. Whoever finishes this sequence first without missing wins.

– One legged, dribbling while standing on one leg. Judged by who can do it the longest without stopping.

– Blind dribble, judged on who can dribble the longest blindfolded without stopping. Registration for the events, which are free, will be on site.

Chairwoman for the event is Mary Mueske. For more information on the Ridiculous Relays, call Alice Duffy-Meyer at 437-3250 or 433-7405, or the festival office at 437-3448, or send e-mail to spamtown@smig.net.

Call Chuck Gysi at 434-2230 or e-mail him at chuck.gysi@austindailyherald.com.