Why It's Almost Impossible to Skip a Stone 89 Times | WIRED

Kurt Steiner set the world record for skipping stones by hurling a rock at the water and making it skip an astonishing 88 times. How is that even possible? WIRED's Robbie Gonzalez got coaching from Steiner to find out how he does it -- and looked into fluid dynamics and physics to see whether we've reached the limit for skipping stones.


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Why It's Almost Impossible to Skip a Stone 89 Times | WIRED

[henrymarckisotto]

A nice older gray man who just enjoys skipping stones. He's just enjoying one of life's simple pleasures. Right on man. Right on

[hendrikwennberg]

Wow I was wondering why my skips always stopped at 88, thanks

[ThePumpkinToad]

That dude is exactly what I want the world record holder for skipping a stone to look like. Thanks universe

[alquinn]

the world record stone skipper looks exactly like how i would have imagined

[vednooka]

Someone: gets 90 skips

Wired: why it’s almost impossible to skip a stone 91 times

[arah]

Him: I never count.

So… there's a chance he broke his own record without realising

[defound]

"why it's almost impossible to skip a stone 89 times"

Me: can't even find a flat rock

[garigari]

I can't skip stone, but skipping classes is my profession.

[scrs]

Imagine finding the best rock ever and messing up the throw

[davis]

“The odd thing is I never count”

“Are you serious you never count?!”

*Don’t question greatness*

[holt_]

That rock at the bottom of that lake is probably so cocky and like “ I’m the most skipped rock in the world.”

[benjaminshulman]

Robbie is phenomenal host for this show. He's above average for a relative novice at the majority of the things he tries, yet he seems to have no ego about it. The amazement that he, fairly naturally gifted person, has for the experts at a craft is what makes the show. I love his humility and I aspire to develop it.

[allthingsfascinating]

Man the researcher is so happy about his research in the end he laughs like a baby. It's so adorable given he's studying skipping

[KikiTay]

The fishes be like... "DID YOU SEE THAT ASTEROID?!?" .."THERE IT IS AGAIN!!!"

[johnraymundtanuga]

somebody: skips 89 times
Wired: Why It's Almost Impossible to Skip a Stone 90 Times

[anonymouspotato]

Okay, despite the clickbaity titles (and the constant jokes about them), I actually really like this series. It’s clear they worked to make the topics interesting and easy to understand despite how complicated the biomechanics and physics involved can be.

[Corwin]

I prefer to read that as "8 or 9 times" to make myself feel less inadequate.

[samuelvanniel]

No ones going to mention how his last name is 'Steiner', and how "Stein" is German for Stone?? He is literally "Kurt 'Stoner' the Stone Skipper"

[Cheekyspeezy]

WIRED:what’s the record?
Someone:(says record)
WIRED: let’s add one more and say it’s impossible

[Leo-siyx]

It's funny that his name is "steiner" because "stein" is the german word for "stone"