Rock skipping is an age-old pastime with a goal of keeping a
rock afloat while skimming the surface of a body of water. While we may not be
the best rock skippers you ever did see, we just so happen to be a part of
Glacier National Park, where the supply of perfect rocks and crystal blue lakes
is endless. That being said, here are a few tips and tricks we are glad to
share to help you along your way!
Step 1: Rock Out.
Find a flat, smooth, and circular
rock. Some say that the thinner the rock the better, while others will argue
that using a rock with an imperfect surface such as a chip in the corner will
improve grip and so help exponentially with getting the right spin on it.
Step 2: Make a Splash
Find a lake, pond, or some sort of level
body of water. The more even the water source is, the easier it will be to get
your rock bouncing. The rougher the waters, the heavier your stone will need to
be to cut through the waves, even if they are minimal.
Step 3: What’s your Angle?
Research
has shown that the best angle between the stone and the water’s surface is 20%.
What does that look like again? Time to bust out the protractor. If you’re on
the taller side, feel free to bend the knees to help achieve this power angle.
Step 4: Parallel Parking
The key to
putting your rock in expert trajectory is lining up the bottom of the rock
evenly with the top of the water. It has been said that if only the horizontal
speed could be maintained then the rock would go on perpetually.
Step 5: It’s all in the Wrist
Bend your
wrist back before releasing the stone in order to gain more momentum. Speed is
a factor, but surprisingly, it is not as important as mere angle and spin. Make
sure to follow through or your prize winning stone will become just another
brick in the water.
Step 6: Practice makes Proficient
There are
many things in life that come naturally. Manipulating the laws of physics to
keep a heavy object from sinking? Not one of them. Test different types and
sizes of stones, rehearse the motion of the throw until it is successful, and repeat
the action until you become comfortable.
So there it is. A really helpful solution to getting better
at this activity is availability of the finest rocks and lakes. Ahem, now, come
to think of it, I believe I know a place with some of the most superior stones
one could find. And lakes come to mind, big, beautiful, flat lakes that stretch
themselves out underneath the protection of the Rocky Mountains. People come
for miles to see the multi-colored stones at Lake McDonald. If you’re looking
for unique beauty, Glacier National Park is the place to be. Come on down and
work on your skills with us. The current world record rock-skipper had 51 skips
in one graceful toss. We challenge you to try and beat him, there are plenty of
rocks to go around!
