You may have previously seen that we spoke to Team Squid Hats in a recent Community Spotlight. Discussing the origin story, the community, the rivalries and what’s to come for 2023. If you haven’t read it, check it out here.
Well, here’s the other side of the story from the rival team, Team Crab Hats.
We caught up with Kevin Calder and set the record straight.
What’s The Crab Hats Origin Story?
The idea for Team Crab Hats was an entirely spontaneous response to words uttered by the Squidmeister himself, Chris Hill and it all began back in 2021, at Tough Mudder London West.
In what would become a completely unintentional, yet fateful pincer movement. Martin, Shane and I found ourselves running together on the Sunday of London West, with a mixed group from predominately Team Squid Hats and Mudbro’s and MudHoe’s. The mood was high and a heady mix of clowning around and banter flowed back and forth amongst the Legionnaires. An integral part of the story was the larger than life Mr Hill, who fired off an inky salvo with the phrase: “Ooooh, you’re like a bunch of crabs, constantly nipping at my heels…“
From that passing comment, Team Crab Hats was born.
How many people are in Team Crab Hats nowadays?
Our team is small, but mighty! After 2021, from just three initial Crabs, we’ve multiplied tenfold. Over the course of last year’s season, with many more coming forwards and openly identifying as Crab. We’re all about quality and not quantity.
If you’re feeling artsy and want to join the clan, a template is available to make your own crab hat from EVA foam or cardboard. We wore these in the run-up to last years Europe’s Toughest Mudder – as a ‘dressed crab’ option. As far as we know, there’s no squid formal attire option, life is too short for mediocrity.
Has anybody on the team forgotten their hat? If so, was there a consequence?
As a team, we fully promote Crab individualism. A squid’s a squid, they’re pretty much all the same. eight tentacles and two arms, and only around 300 recognised variants. Crabs, however, come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, with over 7000 species. We warmly welcome those who identify inwardly as well as outwardly. There’s no penalty for not wearing, or even owning a hat; it’s all about attitude!
We do ask, however, that all team members openly participate in scuttling sideways around any Team Squid Hat wearer they come across, make the sign of “The Claw” with both arms raised, and deliver a swift pinch to remind them who’s boss.
Are you raising money for a cause or awareness for a cause?
This year, by donating all the profits from sales of our team patches, we raised £100 for Cahonas Scotland. We don’t really have a fixed charity agenda as yet, however, we’ll always freely support any team or cause (yes, even the dreaded squids) in their efforts to support charities.
Is there a particular story from an event that sticks out to you over the years?
Aside from the infamous Team Squid Hats vs Team Crab Hats Cage Crawl calamity, as mentioned in Team Squid Hat’s blog. Europe’s Toughest Mudder 2021 really stands out as a high point for Team Crab Hats!
We’d only been formed for a few short months and were still in the early stage of Team development. One thing was clear from the out-set however, we didn’t need a hat to prove our crabbiness, just a few dozen sheets of A4 paper and some manual dexterity, let’s step sideways back in time.
It’s the Friday before Europe’s Toughest Mudder, and we’re now up to eight members, six of whom are sitting around a table enjoying Italian food and plotting how best to puncture the outlandish Squid behaviour. A member of the team outwardly blurted “If only one of us could make Origami Crabs”. Well, you can probably guess what ensued. One quick visit to a nearby supermarket, a downloaded template, and a few hours of nimble-fingered work later, we had a couple of carrier bags full of carefully crafted 3D crabs ready to distribute around both The Annie Tent and Team Squid Hats HQ. They were everywhere. In bags, flasks, on chairs, strung from the guy ropes, concealed within in the pockets of changing robes, you name it, we hid a crab in it. Genius.
Is there anything you’d like to say to Team Squid Hats?
Beware the claw…Pinchy-Pinchy!
Anything you’d like to say to potential new members of Team Crab Hats?
Welcome aboard! We’re all a little crabby inside, so make it official and get your crab on!
Join us this season in keeping Team Squid Hats on their toes. You can pick up a crab hat online, or you can make your own, we’re not precious about it, just remember to learn how to walk sideways and throw up your claws.
We’ve only a claw full of patches left too, they’re limited to a production run of only 50, so message us if you want one before they go. A love of calamari is beneficial to the cause, but not essential!
Any news or teasers to share from Team Crab Hats for the 2023 season?
Team Crab Hats will definitely be back for 2023. Look out for more of us out on the course, and keep a beady eye out for ‘The Sign of The Claw’.
Join the community for 2023
Feeling inspired and want to get closer to the action and experience the community for yourself? Grab your ticket now and we’ll see you at the start line.
