Mackinac Island — Amateurs and professionals from all over the country take the ferry over to face off to determine who is the best at skipping stones—America’s other favorite pastime.
The competition kicked off at 10 a.m., as families gathered at Windermere Point to register for the “Pebbles” division. Despite the choppy water stirred up by nearby cruise ships, freighters, and ferries cutting through the straits, the kids lined up and gave it their best shot.
One young boy, road-tripping with his family from Ohio, proudly wore a “7 Skips” sticker on his red, white, and blue shirt. After his round, he taught others how to scout the best skipping stones along the beach.
Unfortunately, Windermere Point didn’t offer many good ones, but the tournament makes sure all competitors are equipped with high-quality, fair-play stones, regardless of beach conditions.
Once the kids’ tournament wrapped up, the open and amateur divisions began. Competitors ranged from grandmothers to fathers, sons, mothers, and big brothers, cheered on by their families and, in some cases, met with good-natured laughter when a stone flopped with a single kerplunk beneath the waves.
Even so, a few competitors managed to score into the 20s, despite the choppy surf.
Meanwhile, children retreated a few yards into the park to play lawn games, like cornhole, hula hoops, giant wooden blocks, and tug-of-war, inviting strangers to act like old friends.
By noon, the announcers began hyping up the crowd for the professional division. Families gathered along the prime beach-viewing area as the emcee introduced the judges and welcomed longtime mayor Margaret Doud to speak.
She was inducted into the Stone Skipping Hall of Fame, her name added to the tiered trophy awaiting that year’s champion.
Mayor Doud is the longest-serving consecutive mayor in the U.S., having first taken office in 1974, around the same time Mackinac’s stone skipping tournament began.
The ceremony also honored longtime supporters, judges, and members of the skipping community who’ve kept the tradition alive across generations. It was casual, heartfelt, and set the perfect tone for the afternoon’s festivities.
Stone-skipping scoring is cumulative: Each round gives competitors two throws, and the final winner is crowned after the third round concludes. While the sport may seem lighthearted, many of the pros approached their throws with laser focus and practiced rhythm.
Most of them clearly knew each other, many going by stone-themed nicknames like “Pro-Stoner” or “Skip or Swim.” A few families wore custom T-shirts to cheer on their favorite competitors.
Kids darted back and forth between the games and the shoreline, chasing each other and collecting smooth stones.
One couple even competed side-by-side in the pro tournament. “Rockin’ Ron” of Marquette (originally from Texas) and his partner Julie both demonstrated sharp technique and pulled off impressive double-digit throws, despite freighters passing and disturbing the waterline.
Ron, aka Cameron Nabors, has been skipping for just three years under Julie’s tutelage. When asked what he loves most about the stone-skipping world, he said it is the community.
“Everyone’s rooting for each other, and at the end of the day, it’s a hobby,” Nabors said. “Both the professionals and the amateurs keep it light. It’s fun. We’re all just rooting for each other, and we get to be goofy.”
That much was clear. After the opening ceremony, the emcee cued up the Imperial March and dramatically escorted the pros to the shoreline. Spectators cheered for every competitor, even when a stone was swallowed by a rogue wave.
Among the pros were some of the sport’s biggest names.
Kurt Steiner, the current Guinness World Record-holder with 88 skips, took his time and let the surf wash over his legs while he seemed to methodically calculate each throw in his mind.
Former recordholder John S. Kolar, who’s been competing since the 1970s, wore his championship shirt from 1977 with pride. One competitor arrived decked out in full patriotic gear; another earned the nickname “The Jolly Green Giant” thanks to his stature and green competition tee.
But the winner of the day was an upstart, first-time champion, “Panda” from Wisconsin.
When the waves were too choppy on the left-hand side toward the docks, Panda inventively tried throwing toward the right, hoping that the breakwater would help break up the waves from all the boat traffic.
It seemed to work, and suddenly most of the competitors followed suit. As the emcee announced Panda’s victory, a giant WWE-style belt was paraded from behind the booth, and Panda whooped, posed for the cameras, grinned, and danced after his well-earned victory.
From San Diego to Florida to Michigan and back again, the stone-skipping community is alive with goofy, grassroots joy.
Whether you’re a pro with a nickname or a kid chasing stones on Windermere Point, there’s something irresistible about this light-hearted tradition. Everyone can try their hand at it.
Or maybe it’s all in the wrist.
Anna Bassols is a contributing writer for Michigan Enjoyer.
