The second annual New Zealand Rural Games kicked off in the middle of Queenstown this morning.
Around 3000 people turned out for a day in country -- a caber toss away from the centre of town.
It's not a particularly dignified look for those competing, but when exhaustion kicks in, modesty's an afterthought.
Kilts were in style in Queenstown today -- the beards an essential accessory.
Competitors pushed their limits in traditional Highland games.
But the kilt was abandoned as 160kg of muscle took on nine tonnes of steel.
"The farming community are well used to some of these traditional sports, but it's great to be able to have the city folk come in and enjoy them," says games founder Steve Hollander.
It's all based out of the Queenstown Recreation Ground near the middle of town.
Locals and tourists alike are able to have a go at everything from gumboot-throwing to barrel-rolling and hay-stacking.
"The whole point of this exercise is to get as many people into the ground as we can, to be able to see all these rural sports events coming into the city," says Mr Hollander.
Even Cabinet Minister Nathan Guy got his hands dirty at the cowpat throwing competition.
"Sometimes we dish it out, other times we receive it," says Mr Guy.
The crowd was kept entertained by a trans-Tasman battle of the heavies.
New Zealander Reuben De Jong took out the title for another year.
The event continues tomorrow with a bit of egg-throwing, coal-shovelling and cherry stone-spitting.
Newshub.
