Saturday morning I hatched a hair brained plan to institute the Crazy Coppess Challenge – later renamed by the kids who voted the “Crazy Kids Challenge.” The Crazy Kids Challenge consisted of 10 events some timed, some team, some completive, concluding with Judge Bob’s (Broc’s) obstacle course. We had a total of 6 participants, and had a ton of fun and laughs. The kids competed for medals, and the Grand Prize was some kind of hippo looking trophy. The event spanned from its early conception around 9:00am to getting stuff ready from about noon to 3:00pm to the actual competition starting at 4:00pm and concluding with a delicious hot dog and potato chip dinner around 7:00pm.

We, of course did not take enough pictures or video, but I am posting the individual event results, and my impressions.

Preparation:

We finalized the plans around noon and Betsy went to the store to get some prizes. I got the girls together and started them on making the number plates (whatever they call the things you wear on your chest) I told the girls they could make them however they wanted – and they made enough people could choose which one they wanted. We then cut out about 1000 little cardboard circles covered them with tinfoil attached some ribbon and made medals.

During this time Broc worked on a target for the Balloon toss, worked on his mud hole for the tug o’ war and obstacle course, and overfilled a whole bunch of water balloons.

About 3 everything was ready – Broc was putting the finishing touches on the obstacle course and putting one more final mix on the mud hole.

Event #1 – Balloon Shuffle

The fist event was the balloon shuffle – Put a overfilled water balloon between your legs just above your knees and go to the other end of the course as fast as you can. Breyson and Kiki first – they both went real fast, lost their balloons, had to go back and get another. – good times though. Brenna and Mya both much slower but neither lost there balloon. Brenna wins the event followed by Kiki, Breyson, and Mya.

Event #2 – Egg Toss

The first team event. Teams were chosen by a drawing – and it ended up a family affair. The copps Vs. the dots. First off – we have to find more fragile eggs. But Bren and Breys caught theirs and Mya and Kiki did not. And after Mya and Kiki’s egg hit the ground the fourth time it finally broke. Bren and Breys first – Mya and Kiki second.

Event #3 – Sack Race

Classic Sack Race – First completive event. All four kids at the starting line, in pillowcases. Bang. A close race but Kiki showed her stuff as she breezed to the victory. Mya cruised to a second place finish and Breyson rounds out the top three.

Event #4 – Dizzy Run

Spin around a bunch of times and run between some cones to the finish line. This took two tries. Broc spun them the first time and not enough – it seems – they ran though the course pretty easily and seemed not effected much. So we figured we would try again, and I’d spin the kids, and we would add the times together. I spun the kids, and again not much effect – the times were longer and the kids missed some cones this time. I have to figure a better way to get the kids dizzy. (I want some crashes) Breys wins followed by Bren, Kiki and Mya.

Event #5 – Balloon Toss

Lexi and Braden arrived, got their number and hat and were ready to go. Simple event three throws at a target about 10’ away. Only counts if the balloon breaks. Some great throws some terrible throws. No bull’s eye. Lexi easily wins this event if she had a little more juice, but she hit the 10 pt area 3 or 4 times but no balloon break. She wins anyways. Have a playoff for second between Bren and Breys – Breys get 10 and Brenna misses everything. Lexi, Breys, Bren, Braden, Kiki, Mya.

Event #6 – Uphill Run

Competitive event. All six kids bottom of hill run up and break the tape. I thoroughly enjoyed watching this event. Great test of stamina. All 6 kids out of the blocks quick. They were all really close about half way up the hill. Kiki moved into the lead but ran out of her legs and bobbled. Mya moves to a commanding lead, Breyson sidesteps Kiki and heads for a shortcut. Brenna Fades towards the top of the hill. Lexi runs out of gas. Braden’s little legs keep chugging but there just too short. Mya breezes to the victory; Kiki recovers and gets a solid second. Bryan and I direct Breyson back onto the track, he finishes 3rd followed by Bren, Braden, Lexi.

Event #7 – Sled Pull

Pull a snow sled with big chunks of concrete about 10’ – Ultimate test of strength. I’m not sure how heavy the sled was but I would guess around the 80-100lb range. Mya first very slow. But a good time. Kiki next. Took a while to get it going but when she did it kept going great time. Breyson for the life of him could not get the sled to move, I took one of the rocks out and he did it. Brenna who is physically bigger than anyone – who was talking some trash about her big muscles, pulled for over an minute and moved the sled about 3 feet.(sweet justice) Braden next – looked at the sled and did not want to do it. I little encouragement from dad and he was ready to go. A relentless effort and Braden is in with a great time. Lexi Next, Very apprehensive, she pulls hard and post a good time. Lexi wins her second of 3 events, Braden a great 2nd, followed by Mya, Kiki, Breyson and Brenna.

Event #8 – 3 leg Race

Classic 3 leg race, Team event. There was a definite disparity in the overall size of contestants and teams would be picked by a random drawing. The teams worked out pretty well. Breyson and Braden, Brenna and Kiki, Lexi and Mya. After about a 5 min warm up it was pretty obvious Brenna and Kiki would run away with this one. At the whistle Brenna and Kiki cruised to a easy victory. Lexi and Mya crashed but recovered and slid in to second. And Breyson and Braden after crashing multiple times and the best crash at the finish line right on top of Lexi and Mya, Get the Bronze.

Event #9 – Tug O’ War

The best part of the tug O’ war was Broc’s mud pit. All the kids looked a little worried about the mud pit. The teams again, were picked by random drawing. Bren, Kiki, and Braden matched up against Lexi, Mya, and Breyson. After a quick stalemate. Braden the anchor of his team, Bren, and Kiki were finally able to pull Mya, Breys and Lexi into the mud. They win, and all of the kids take a second to test out the mud pit.

Final Event – Judge Bob’s obstacle course.

The Final event. Run across the backyard about 50feet. Push the Tonka truck around the corner – about 15ft. up the side yard over the hurdles, back and forth through the orchard trees, over (through) the mud pit, into the pool through the muddy water up the ladder, down the ledge, across the balance board, and to the tape.

Braden up first. Flies out of the starting gate and cruises thorough the Tonka push. Up the side yard and over the hurdles, (which Braden actually has to jump over) Through the orchard trees, Through the mud pit – loses his shoes, and into the pool. Braden struggled on the ladder but fought thru it, across the balance board and to the finish. 1:26 great time.

Kiki Next: From start to finish all out, full speed no bobbles, flawless – posts a time of :44 smokin fast – the time to beat. (Broc ran the course later and posted a :38 only 6 seconds faster)

Bren Next: Bren goes well little slow in the Tonka push, and has shoe problems out of the pool. Good time :54, ten seconds off Kiki’s time.

Breyson: Really fired up for this. Definitely the fastest on the Tonka push including an extra 5 ft. and of course a big splash and crash in the pool. Quick to the finish. :56 great time, but two seconds off his sisters time and a ful 12sec of Kiki’s.

Lexi: I can sum up Lexi’s run by quoting Bryan, “Lexi it’s a race, it’s a race.” Lexi was fast but she was very careful. Here biggest struggle was mud on her shoes which probably cost her 20 seconds deciding whether or not to put on the muddy shoes – good time barely loses to her brother 1:36

Last was Mya: Mya was shot out of a cannon. Really fast, a slight hang-up in the mud pit and she’s in :58 really good, right behind Breyson at :56, Bren at :54, and Kiki’s smokin time of :44

Final Scores:

Grand Champion – Kiki – Total 50Pts

Kiki dominated the speed events, and was very good in the strength events. She and Brenna were an unstoppable team in the late events.

2nd – Brenna – 46Pts
Brenna did surprisingly well in all of the events. Her terrible performance in the sled pull and lack of stamina in the uphill race damaged her chances to win.

3rd – Breyson – 41Pts
Breyson actually medaled in every event but one. Very consistent, and definitely had the most exciting crashes of anyone.

4th – Mya – 34Pts
Fastest, and strongest in the solo events, slow start, and some tough draws in the team events lost ground in the end.

6th – Lexi – 26Pts
Lexi won the balloon toss, and the Sled Pull, and did very well in the other events, only competed in 6 events, and tough team losses put her in a tight spot.

6th – Braden – 17Pts
Braden only competed in 6 events, but did very well. The most challenged based on size – great effort.

Conclusion:

I have to figure out a better way to get the kids dizzy. Anyways we had a blast from conception to completion. I would love to get a few more contestants and have some better designed events. And I would really like to document the events better – Video. The underlying point – what an awesome day, no Xbox, no whining, just fun.

Fun.