大象传媒 Scotland - 大象传媒 Scotland - Are these the world's "most competitive" sportspeople?

Are these the world's "most competitive" sportspeople?

"Some people make models out of matchsticks, some people climb Everest, and some people are stone skimming champions."

In speaking about his son – the eight-time World Champion Dougie Isaacs – Ian Isaacs alludes to the fact that stone skimming breeds a different kind of sportsperson who is incredibly focused and driven to win.

Sink or Skim follows the trials and tribulations of some of the world's best stone skimmers as they prepare for the World Championships in the small island community of Easdale.

Some stone skimming giants: (l to r) Lucy Wood, Ron Long, Dougie Issacs and Alex Lewis

Easdale Island is the home of the World Stone Skimming Championships

Old slate quarries in the area provide a ready supply of perfect skimming stones.

'The best stone skimming event ever'

Event organiser Donald 'Melon' Mellville admits he has been taken aback at just how popular the event has become:

"We didn’t expect it to grow to the size it has… although it was always called the World Stone Skimming Championships – even back in ‘83.”

The venue at Easdale appeals to competitors from across the globe – including Dougie Isaacs – due to its unique take on a stone skimming:

“Easdale is the back wall. You only get three stones; the pressure’s on.”

However, 2017 to 2018 British Champion Alex Lewis feels that the short length of Easdale's water hinders some of the bigger throwers on the circuit:

"It’s such an inadequate place to hold the world championships. The sport itself has outgrown her arena."

Top 'tossers' practise stone skimming

Alex, Ron and Gareth enjoy a stone skimming session 鈥� prep for the World Record attempt.

International appeal

Easdale's World Stone Skimming Championship was started as a way of raising funds for the community, with local pub landlord Keren Cafferty explaining the importance of the event:

"We’d be lost without the stone skimming really – it creates an amazing amount of money for such a tiny community."

The event attracts fans and competitors from all over the world, with 2017 champion Keisuke Hashimoto explaining why the event appealed to him:

"Easdale is like a dreamland for me because there are a lot of nice stones."

American Kurt Steiner – World Record holder for the amount of skips done with a stone – seconds Hashimoto's sentiments:

“I think it’s gotta be the best stone skipping event ever in the history of the world.”