In the heart of Scotland’s Hebridean archipelago lies Easdale Island, a small speck in the Slate Islands. Each September, this picturesque island transforms into a mecca for a sport as unique as its rugged landscape: stone skimming. But not all rock stars strum guitars—some, like Lynsay McGeachy, master the art of skipping stones.
It was an unforgiving day in early September. Rain poured relentlessly, resembling a cascade of marbles, while the wind howled and the air carried the strong scent of whisky. Amid this tempest, Lynsay McGeachy, a competitive amateur golfer, mountain biker, and head gin distiller at Beinn an Tuirc in Kintyre, stood poised on the edge of a quarry. With an intense focus and an air of nonchalance, she was about to take center stage at the World Stone Skimming Championships.
The atmosphere crackled with energy, reminiscent of a rock concert. Spectators, many of whom had braved the weather to support their favorite skimmers, cheered and heckled. McGeachy, however, was in a zone of her own. Clutching a flat-bottomed slate pebble, she readied herself for her throw. With a practiced swing, she launched the stone, watching as it skimmed across the waterlogged quarry, zipping through the air like a drunken dragonfly. The stone danced 42 meters and skipped 15 times before coming to rest. “An absolute belter,” McGeachy called it, a testament to her exceptional skill.
For McGeachy, stone skimming is more than just a hobby—it’s a calling. She spends countless hours training on Torrisdale Beach in Kintyre, skimming around 160 stones each week. “The key is finding smooth pebbles with a level underside,” she explains. “They spin faster and glide farther.”
The World Stone Skimming Championships, held annually on Easdale Island since 1997, are as unorthodox as the sport itself. Hosted at one of Easdale’s amphitheatre-shaped flooded quarries, the event attracts over 1,000 spectators, though only 350 skimmers are allowed to compete. This year’s competition, taking place on the weekend of September 7th, sold out in a record 29 minutes, causing the event’s website to crash under the weight of eager applicants.
The championship’s charm lies in its simplicity and its deeply rooted connection to the island’s history. Easdale, once renowned for its slate quarries that fueled the global housing industry, fell into decline after a storm flooded the pits in the 1850s. Today, the remaining slate is used exclusively for competitive skimming. The island’s only pub, The Puffer, and a tight-knit community of around 60 residents organize the event with a blend of local rivalries and beery good humor.
Mathews, a key figure in organizing the event, oversees operations from the “Skim of Destiny,” the platform where skimmers launch their stones. Each stone must be made from naturally formed Easdale slate and fit into a precise measuring gauge to ensure fairness. “Last year’s competition was electric,” Mathews recalls. “Dougie Isaacs, the eight-time champion, hit the back wall with such force that the cheer from the crowd was heard on the neighboring island of Seil.”
The origins of the championship are almost as legendary as the event itself. The tale goes that about 40 years ago, an Englishman, Scotsman, and Irishman walked into The Puffer. After too many drinks, they decided to hold an impromptu skimming contest, which led to the birth of this eccentric world championship.
Despite its quirky nature, the event has a serious side. As a fundraiser for the local community, last year’s championship raised £9,000 for the island’s school and community hall. This support is crucial for preserving Easdale’s heritage and ensuring its future. The Easdale Island Folk Museum offers a melancholic counterpoint to the vibrant skimming competitions, detailing the island’s slate-cutting past.
In the world of stone skimming, the weather plays a critical role. With Scotland’s unpredictable climate, skimmers must contend with challenging conditions. On a calm day, a skimmer’s performance might be flawless, but a gust of wind or a rough sea can send a stone veering off course.
For competitors like Alex Lewis, a previous winner of multiple stone skimming contests, training is a meticulous affair. Lewis, who recently achieved an unofficial world record throw of 147.7 meters at the Welsh Open, underscores the importance of physical conditioning. “Stone skimming is as much about preparation as it is about skill,” he explains. “Injuries are common, so I train rigorously to avoid them.”
In a world where stone skimming might seem an oddity, it represents a unique fusion of sport, tradition, and community spirit. As McGeachy and other skimmers prepare for this year’s championship, the echoes of their throws ripple across the waters of Easdale Island, reminding us that sometimes, the most extraordinary rock stars are those who skip stones with finesse.
