Steinstossen (translated to 'stone throwing' in English) is the Swiss variant of stone put, of throwing a heavy stone overhead for the longest distance.[1] 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 of the Old Swiss Confederacy. It is also central to the Unspunnenfest, a festival inaugurated in 1805 in Interlaken near the old ruins of Unspunnen Castle in the Bernese Alps, and held once every twelve years.
One of the main highlights of the Unspunnenfest is the 'Unspunnen stone throw' where the contestants have to begin on a 6.1 metres (20 ft 0 in) runway, hurling the 83.5 kg (184 lb) stone into a 4-inch-deep (100 mm) sand pit. The unique stone is carved out from Aare granite of the Hasli valley.
The world record for the 'Unspunnen stone throw' is held by Swiss carpenter Markus Maire who threw the 83.5 kg (184 lb) stone 4.11 metres (13 ft 6 in) during 2004 'Eidgenössischen Schwing und Älplerfest' in Lucerne.[2][3] Urs Hutmacher holds the current Unspunnen-record: he threw the stone 3.98 metres (13 ft 1 in) during the 2023 Unspunnen games (Unspunnenschwinget) in Interlaken,[4] besting Maire's 3.89 metres (12 ft 9 in) from the 2006 Unspunnenfest.[5]
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 (33 lb) block of iron.
Within the United States, the Ohio Swiss Festival in Sugarcreek has the distinction of being the longest running competition, having run annually since 1956.[6] Contestants in the men's division hurl a stone weighing 61.25 kg (135 lb). They begin on a 6.1 metres (20 ft 0 in) runway, hurling the rock into a 4-inch-deep (100 mm) sand pit. The record holder of this event for 21 years was Jud Logan of North Canton, Ohio, with a throw of 4.37 metres (14 ft 4 in). That record was broken by Beaux Lenarz in 2005 with a throw of 4.42 metres (14 ft 6 in). There is also a women's division, using a 34 kg (75 lb) stone. The women's record is held by Roberta Collins of Sandusky with a throw of 3.87 metres (12 ft 8 in).
Steinstossen at the annual German-American Festival, in Toledo, began in 1989. The competition is scheduled for a two-hour period beginning at 3:00 pm on Saturday and Sunday. Kevin Marx of Toledo, in 2009, had a throw of 4.66 metres (15 ft 3 in). A different rock is used at this festival than is used at the Ohio Swiss Festival so the two cannot be directly compared, even though both rocks weigh the same. The women's record at the German-American Festival is held by Becky Ball of Marblehead with a throw of 3.94 metres (12 ft 11 in), in 2007.
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Main article: Arnold Strongman Classic |
The steintossen is one of the 15 regular events which may feature, on a selective basis, in the annual Arnold Strongman Classic competition. In the 2023 competition in Columbus, Ohio, the contestants had to throw an 84 kg (185 lb) replica of the Unspunnenfest stone. Poland's Mateusz Kieliszkowski threw the stone for 3.47 metres (11 ft 5 in) to win the men's event.[7] The women's competition was won by Victoria Long who threw a 50 kg (110 lb) replica for 3.31 metres (10 ft 10 in) to win the event.[8]
