By future world champion, Digger Field*
• Pick some water. It has to be pretty wide. The calmer the better. Rivers and lakes are good. Beaches are okay as long as the waves aren’t too big and there are no surfers.
• Find a rock that is flat, round and smooth. It can’t be any bigger than the palm of your hand otherwise you won’t be able to control it. If it’s too light you won’t be able to throw it hard enough. If it’s too heavy it will sink without bouncing and you’ll look like a dumbnut.
• Place the rock flat between your thumb and your index finger. Stick one edge into your thumb and the opposite one into your index finger.
• Aim the rock. (Check for kayakers. They don’t have a sense of humour.)
• Visualise the throw. Close your eyes and imagine the rock hitting the surface of the water and bouncing along. Though be careful not to stand there for too long with your eyes closed and your arm swinging because you will look like a freak.
• Practice your throw. The idea is to throw sidearm so the rock hits the water flat. Until you get used to the feeling of throwing sidearm, jam your elbow into your hip and throw so your arm runs parallel to the ground—a bit like a table tennis forehand.
• Now it’s time to throw. When you release the rock, snap your wrist for extra power, like when you throw a frisbee.
• Count the number of times the rock skips.
• Don’t worry, great things take time. When it finally works there is nothing better than watching a small rock bounce across the water.
• Once you’ve mastered the art, here is one more secret tip that will make your stones travel further than anyone else’s … Angle the stone in your hand so the front is slightly higher than the rear.