Learn How to Skip a Rock, According to the World Record Holder
There is something meditative about skipping a rock across a lake, and it makes for a pretty good party trick to boot. While Kurt "Mountain Main" Steiner holds the current record for most consecutive skips—a whopping 88!—you can try your hand at earning family bragging rights with these rock-solid tips. (Psst: If you get really good at it, mark your calendar for a sanctioned stone-skipping competition.)
Step #1:
Hunt the shoreline for a thin, smooth rock. "A good skipping stone is about the size of your palm or larger, and has enough weight to maintain momentum on the water," says Maxwell Steiner (no relation to Kurt), who previously held the Guinness World Record for rock skipping with 65 skips. Better yet, make a pile of them so you don’t have to search between throws.
Step #2:
Hook your index finger around the rock’s edge and place your thumb on top. Face the water and draw your arm back, parallel to the ground.
Step #3:
Bend your wrist so it’s at a 90-degree angle to your arm. Bring your arm forward, and flick your wrist to send the rock skipping across the surface. "Or as former world record holder Russ Byars [51 skips] says, 'Grip it and rip it,'" adds Maxwell.
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