Arignola brothers share Rock Skipping crown
LOOKING QUITE dapper in their derbies are the Flathead Lake Rock Skipping Championship judges, from left, District Judge Jim Manley, Steve Lozar and Dennis DeVries. Judge Manley even wore his courtroom robe.
DIVISION WINNERS in the fifth annual Flathead Lake Rock Skipping Championship held Saturday, June 1 were, from left, front row, Katie Walter, female 13 and over; and Arinna Schall, female age 12 & under; and back row, Tom Adrignola and Carlo Adrignola, male age 13 & over (co-champions); and AJ Brown, male 12 & under. The winners show off their championship rocks. (Joe Sova photos/Lake County Leader)
CARLO ADRIGNOLA, who was visiting the Mission Valley from his home in Humble, Texas, goes all in on a throw during the Rock Skipping Championship. His best was 20 skips, good for a tie for the 13 & over title with his brother, Tom Adrignola of Columbia Falls.
TWO-TIME DEFENDING champion Tom Adrignola tosses a rock along the surface of Flathead Lake on Saturday, June 1. He tied with his brother Carlo for first place in the 13 & over male division.
KATIE WALTER of Polson won her first female 13 & over Rock Skipping Championhsip on Saturday on the shore of Flathead Lake.
ZANDER AVISION was the youngest thrower during the Rock Throwing Championship last Saturday.
Lots of kids still “skip rope,” especially during school activites. However, not “rock skipping” is something for engagement for ages from toddler to the elderly. All you need are some rocks and some water — preferably lake or pond — on which to skip them.
There were 20 competitors and about that many spectators at the fifth annual Flathead Lake Rock Skipping Championship held Saturday morning, June 1 on the shore of the Flathead River, just below The Cove Pizza & Deli business, which hosted the signup and rules meeting, and post-game party.
The competition was a fundraiser for the Mission Valley Ice Arena Association. Board chair Hilary Lozar said the group was about “halfway” to raising enough money to build a $4 million indoor ice skating facility.
After the pre-game meeting, Great Scott Drums and Bagpipes led the judges and competitors to the gaming area.
There was a unique tie for first place in the male 13 & over division. It was a matter of which Adrignola brother would get the nod. The final tally by the judges — District Judge Jim Manley, Steve Lozar and Dennis DeVries — indicated it was a “dead heat,” with two-time defending champion Tom and Carlo having a best effort of 20 skips.
Each contestant in the 13 & over divisions got two flights of three skips each, and the 12 & under throwers had two flights of a trio of throws.
It was “one skip away” from there being a three-way tie for first in the male 13 & over division. George Simpson’s best throw resulted in 19 skips.
Tom Adrignola hails from Columbia Falls, and brother Carlo was visiting from Humble, Texas. Yes, he was humble in settling for a tie for top honors.
Katie Walter of Polson is the new female 13 & over champion. Her winning effort was 13 skips.
AJ Brown of Polson took first place in the male 12 & under group with 12 skips.
Arinna Schall of Ronan, the only entrant in female 12 & under also received a gold-painted rock.
You will read more about the Mission Valley Ice Arena Association in an upcoming issue of the Lake County Leader.