Steinstossen

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Steinstossen (stone throwing) is a typical Swiss alpine sport that is a leading attraction at festivals in

Switzerland

, but seldom seen at festivals in the

United States

. In the

United States

, the Ohio Swiss Festival in Sugarcreek has the distinction of the longest running competition having run annually since 1956. Steinstossen at the German-American Festival began in 1989.

Contestants in the Men’s division of the Steinstossen hurl a huge stone weighing 138 pounds during two-hour periods beginning at 3:00 on Saturday and Sunday. Contestants begin on a 20 foot runway, hurling the rock into a 4 inch deep sand pit. The winners at each session win prizes.

Practiced among the alpine population since prehistoric times, it is recorded to have taken place in Basel in the 13th century. During the 15th century, it is frequently recorded to have been practiced alongside the Schützenfeste (shooting festivals) of the Old Swiss Confederacy. It is also central to the Unspunnenfest near Interlaken, first held in 1805, with its symbol the 167 pound Unspunnenstein.

In 1860, Steinstossen was introduced as a track-and-field discipline in

Germany

, retaining the name in spite of the stone being replaced by a 15 kg block of iron.

Stones used at festivals in

Switzerland

are of varying sizes and weights, but usually are not much over 100 pounds. The largest stone used is the famed Unspunnen stone weighing 184 pounds.

The record holder for 21 years was Jud Logan of North Canton, Ohio with a throw of 14 feet, 4 inches set at the Sugarcreek event.

That record was broken by Kevin Marx of Toledo in 2009 with a throw of 15 feet, 3½ inches at the German-American Festival.

There is also a women’s division of the Steinstossen, using a 75 pound stone. The women’s record, set at the German-American Festival in 2007 by Becky Ball is 12 feet, 11 inches.

The competition, staged in front of hundreds of avid fans, is scheduled for a two-hour period beginning at 3:00 PM on Saturday and Sunday at the annual German-American Festival.