Let’s face it, we humans have a knack for finding sport in the strangest places. Whether it’s watermelon seed-spitting distance, spelling bees, or county pun-offs, each has their champions.
But what about skipping stones? That elegant, archaic pastime of finding the most perfect, smooth rock and seeing how far it will skitter across water before sinking. Is there a champion stone-skipper?
Absolutely. In fact, he’s a professional.
An upcoming documentary intends to dive below the surface of skipping culture, and its producers have released a teaser video in the hopes of raising funds for a full-length film. We meet the current world champion, Russ “Rock Bottom” Byars, who holds the Guinness World Record of 51 skips. We also discover the down-but-not-out former record-holder, Kurt “Mountain Man” Steiner, along with some other promising contenders.
The project description certainly promises big things: “Set in the world of professional stone skipping, this film will examine the competitive nature of mankind. World Records will be tested, rivalries will fester, and a sport will rise from the ashes of obscurity.”
Of course, regardless of your interest in a whole film on this pastime, you can expect the trailer to deliver some pretty impressive skips.
If you’d like to learn more about how to support this documentary, check out their Kickstarter page for more information.
