Editing Varpa

{{Short description|Swedish outdoor sport}}
{{About|the outdoor game|the genus of moths|Varpa (moth)}}
[[File:Varpa-811285 1920.jpg|thumb|Varpa, [[Stånga Games]], [[Gotland]].]]
[[File:Kalkstenar på stranden Gotland.jpg|thumb|Flat [[limestone]]s from Gotland's beaches, [[Tumble finishing|tumbled]] and rounded by the sea are the original varpa stones used in the game]]

'''Varpa''' is an outdoor [[game of physical skill]] that allegedly dates back to the [[Viking Age]] and survived in [[Gotland]]. It is similar to [[boules]] and horseshoes but is played with a flat and heavy object called a "varpa" instead of balls. Varpas used to be well-shaped stones, but nowadays, aluminium is more popular. A varpa can weigh between {{convert|1/2|and|5|kg|lb|0|spell=on|abbr=off}}. The object of the game is to throw the varpa as close to a stick as possible. The stick is {{convert|15|m|yd|spell=on|abbr=off}} away for women and {{convert|20|m|yd|spell=on|abbr=off}} away for men. The game can be played individually or in teams.

No official nationally sponsored varpa teams exist; however, unofficial leagues are growing in popularity among youth in suburban areas of Sweden and Norway.<ref name=spel>{{cite web|last1=Molin|first1=Maria|title=Stångaspelen för den oinvigde|trans-title=Stånga Games for the uninitiated|date=12 June 2015|url=http://www.gotland.net/se-och-gora/arkiv/stangaspelen-for-den-oinvigde/11142011|website=www.gotland.net|publisher=Gotlands Media AB|access-date=24 June 2016}}</ref>

"Varpa" is an old word which simply means "to throw".

Varpa is one of the disciplines at the annual [[Stånga Games]] (''Stångaspelen'').<ref name="spel" />

== See also ==
* [[Caber toss]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Games of physical skill]]
[[Category:Gotland]]


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