Easdale, Scotland (The Old Slate Quarry)
My Secret Stone Skimming Technique
About 400 skimmers from over 30 countries came to a tiny Scottish island to skim slate. I brought a technique.
The World Stone Skimming Championships were held on Easdale, a tiny Scottish island with about sixty residents. Some 400 competitors from more than 30 countries skimmed slate across a flooded old quarry. I came with a technique.
The Technique
Everyone gets three throws, and it’s about distance, not bounces. Here’s mine.
- The look. Stare at the water until it respects you. That takes about a minute. Longer with lakes.
- The stance. Low and wide. Very athletic. A lot of people took pictures of it.
- The throw. Sidearm, fast, with a little flick at the end. And a wink. The wink is the secret.
The Results
My first stone went straight down. My second stone went straight down, faster. My third stone, I kept. It’s a beautiful stone: Easdale slate, under three inches across, within all the rules. I checked.
That stone is still in my pocket, and it has never lost a throw. Not one. Undefeated. I call that a winning record.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many times did your stone bounce?
Zero, above the water. Below the water, I'm told it was spectacular.
Why do the stones have to be island slate?
Those are the rules. After last year's scandal over shaped stones, they hired a geologist to check them. A stone inspector. What a job.