About The Championships

A Historic Venue

The World Stone Skimming Championships are a celebration of precision, power, and the charm of a truly unique sport. Held annually on the tiny, historic island of Easdale, the championships draw competitors and spectators from across the globe to witness the mesmerising excitement of competitive stone skimming. It is a competition set against the stunning backdrop of the Inner Hebrides, and promises an experience unlike any other.

Easdale Island, the smallest permanently inhabited island of the Inner Hebrides, was once the bustling heart of Scotland’s renowned slate mining industry. Today, one of its disused, water-filled quarries provides the perfect, naturally-formed arena for the World Stone Skimming Championships. The unique landscape is not just a picturesque backdrop; it is intrinsically linked to the very essence of the competition, because the specially selected skimming stones are made entirely from Easdale slate itself. The distinctive, perhaps slightly eccentric nature of the event, within this historical industrial landscape, is a key draw. It differentiates the championships from other, more conventional sporting events, making it particularly memorable and newsworthy. This all acts as a driver for attracting tourists and generating revenue for our local community.

The History of the World Championships

The World Stone Skimming Championships began with a simple, yet brilliant idea, conceived by a former Easdale resident. In 1983, Albert Baker initiated the very first championships. This initial spark, born from a local pastime, laid the groundwork for what would eventually burgeon into a globally recognised and celebrated event.

After a period of dormancy, the championships were resurrected in 1997 by Eilean Eisdeal, the Easdale Island Community Development Group. Their vision transformed the event into a vital annual fundraiser, breathing new life into the competition and firmly cementing its place as a cornerstone of the island’s community calendar. The progression from a hobby to a community initiative highlights that these championships are more than just a sporting event; they are a crucial community resource, repurposing our industrial heritage for residents today and in the future. Since its revival, the event has experienced significant growth, now guaranteed to sell-out every year, attracting over 400 participants from around the world, alongside thousands of enthusiastic spectators.

The venue for the championships is deeply rooted in the island’s heritage. Easdale Island boasts a profound history as the epicentre of Scotland’s thriving slate mining industry during the 18th and 19th centuries. The island’s geological wealth led to the creation of vast quarries, some of which extended dramatically below sea level. Following a devastating tidal wave in 1881 that flooded many quarries and the industry’s eventual decline in the early 20th century, these disused, water-filled pits became a unique legacy. One such quarry now serves as the “perfect arena” for the championships, offering sheltered, calm waters ideally suited for skimming.

The quarry itself is a powerful symbol of transformation and adaptation for Easdale Island. The very site that once symbolized the island’s past industrial might and subsequent decline has been creatively repurposed into its most prominent cultural and sporting highlight. This is emblematic of Easdale Island’s enduring spirit and its ability to find new purpose and vitality from the remnants of its past.

The Art of the Skim: Rules, Stones & What It Takes to Win

The World Stone Skimming Championships rules ensure fair competition and a consistent, enjoyable experience for all.

Stones

You must use naturally formed Easdale slate stones.
Stones cannot be wider than 3 inches at their widest point.

Skimming Attempts

Each contestant gets three skims per session.
You can only participate in one session.
You cannot be part of more than one team.

Valid Skims & Judging

For a skim to count, the stone must bounce at least twice on the water’s surface.
The length of your skim is measured to the point where the stone sinks.
The longest valid skim in each category wins. (See “Ties” for tie-break rules.)
You cannot have a “run-up.” Both feet must stay on the platform when you throw.

Official Signals

A red disk means an invalid skim.
A green disk means a valid skim.
The throw judge’s decision is final.

Invalid Skims

A skim is invalid if:

The stone bounces fewer than two times.
The stone bounces or sinks outside the designated skimming area.

Ties

Overall Champion Tie: If there’s a tie for the Overall Champion, the winner is decided by a cumulative, three-skim “Toss-Off.” The total distance of these three tie-break throws determines the winner. A “Back Wall” hit counts as 63 meters.
Other Categories Tie: For all other categories, ties are broken by the cumulative total distance of all three original skims.

Teams

Team names cannot be similar to existing team names.
Team members must register individually when registering their team.
Teams can have a maximum of four people of any gender and age.

A Festival Atmosphere

The Championships are more than a competition; they are a fully-fledged, vibrant community festival that embraces Easdale Island. The preceding evening always sets the tone with a lively “pre-skim bash,” featuring exhilarating live music at Seil Community Hall. On the day of the championships itself, the event is accompanied by a vast array of activities, including entertainment, stalls, a delicious barbecue, and live music throughout the day. This creates a welcoming, festive, and truly immersive atmosphere for competitors and spectators alike, embodying the warm and spirited essence of Easdale Island.

Easdale Island: The Heart of the Skimming World

Easdale Island’s very identity is inextricably linked to its profound history as a centre of the Scottish slate industry. Although the industry faced decline after the devastating flooding in 1881, its indelible legacy is visibly etched into the island’s landscape and continues to shape its enduring spirit.

In the modern era, the World Stone Skimming Championships have become a vital pillar of Easdale Island’s community life and economic well-being. As a fundraising event, it directly supports local initiatives and fosters ongoing community development through the efforts of Eilean Eisdeal. It repurposes a site of historical industry and the island’s unique material (slate) into a contemporary cultural and sporting attraction.

The championships attract hundreds of participants and many spectators from around the world. The event garners considerable press interest, having been extensively covered by major international and national publications such as Rough Guides, Lonely Planet, The Independent, The Times, The One Show, and The Daily Mail. This global spotlight helps to preserve the island’s unique heritage, sustain its small but vibrant population, and ensure its flourishing future.

Our Supporters

The World Stone Skimming Championships wouldn’t be the global spectacle it is today without the incredible spirit of collaboration that underpins it. Over the years, the event has proudly welcomed support from a range of partners, from local businesses like An Lionadh Self Catering Accommodation, to brands such as Barney’s Beer, Rapscallion Soda, and Allica Bank. The National Lottery Community Fund and EventScotland have recently played vital roles in helping this event flourish. We are truly heartfelt in our gratitude to every single person who contributes, from the tireless volunteers who make it all run like clockwork, to the fantastic local enterprises that embrace the energy and excitement, and the international sponsors whose belief helps us elevate our competition onto the world stage.

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Easdale Island

Near Oban, Scotland, PA34 4TB

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5th September, 2026

11am – 11pm

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