Mobile phone throwing

Mobile phone throwing is an international sport that started in Finland in the year 2000. It is a sport in which participants throw mobile phones and are judged on distance or technique.

There are usually four categories in the sport:

• Original (also called 'Traditional'): an over-the-shoulder throw with the farthest distance winning (best of 3)
• Freestyle: contestants get points for aesthetics and creative choreographics
• Team original: up to three competitors have one throw each with their scores added together
• Junior: for children aged 12 or younger

The phones used vary not just between events but between competitors, with any phone that weighs over 220 grams being acceptable. At some events the choice is down to personal preference from those provided by the event organisers, while others provide only one model of phone.

Lawrence University has hosted a Rotary Phone Throw in 2005, 2006, and 2007. This competition has similar rules to the mobile phone throw, yet uses rotary phones. The current Best Boy is Andy Kincaid, and the current Best Girl is Chelsea Fickbohm. The Worst Boy is Spencer Neitzel, and the Worst Girl is Becca Shorr.

World and national championships

The Mobile Phone Throwing World Championships have been held annually since 2000 in Savonlinna, Finland. The first national competition was held in Trondheim, Norway in June 2004, with several other countries across Europe also staging their own events. The first winter championships were held in Stoos, Switzerland in February 2005. Commonly, the prize for first place in a national event is entry to the world championships, and the grand prize for winning the world championship is a new mobile phone. Many events are supported by mobile phone recycling organisations and promote the recycling of the phones.

In the UK the championships are held every August and organised by 8th Day UK Ltd. The first event in 2005 was held at Richmond Golf Driving Range, the 2006 event at Tooting Bec Athletics Track in London. ActionAid Recycling partnered the event to raise awareness for mobile phone recycling and raised money from donated phones for the first two years, but due to the involvement of a casino (Golden Palace) in the 2007 event and the associations this would have in relation to charity, are no longer involved.

In 2007, the UK event was held at Old Hamptonians Rugby Club on the 12th August, with throws recorded from 3.70m to 95.83, a new unofficial world record. The men's winner was Chris Hughff, and the ladies winner was Jan Singleton, both successfully defending their 2006 titles. There were also throws recorded by a penguin and a gorilla, prompting a new category - fancy dress, to be incorporated for 2008. The 2008 competition was held at the same location, with Jan Singleton defending her title and Jeremy Gallop claiming the men's title. Madeleine James set a new benchmark for the Under 3 Category of 1.57m.

UNITED STATES

On August 1, 2008 the United States will hold its first national championship in South Hadley, Massachusetts at Buttery Brook Park. Sponsored by Family Wireless. In Europe the event is called “Mobile Phone Throwing” in the United States it is called “Cell Phone Throwing”. The United States event has also dedicated itself to recycling cellular phones.

The results are in for the United States Cell Phone Throwing contest.

Original - Individual Men--- RYAN CAULEY--- 259'1" (United States Champion) Original - Individual Woman--- ROBIN TURGEON---- 123'4" Freestyle – Individual--- KATELYN KURPASKA--- 27PTS/68'2" Freestyle – Team--- THOMAS & JULIA ZUFELATO--- 59'6" Original – Team--- JIM DEMERS & MEG NOONAN--- 41'5 Junior 10 & younger--- MATTHEW WAGE--- 68”9’ Junior 11 & older--- JOE KURPASKA--- 226'7"

The United States "Cell Phone Throwing contest" at Buttery Brook Park in South Hadley MA USA has been a great success. Many people and families participated. All needed information is posted on the web site.

The 2007 world championships were in Savonlinna as usual. The winner of the men's freestyle event, Taco Cohen of the Netherlands, won for a novel performance which incorporated juggling and acrobatics.

Records

The current (unofficial) records (as of August 2007) are:

• Men's world record - 95.83 metres (314.4 ft) Chris Hughff (Aug 2007)
• Women's world record - 53.52 metres (175.6 ft) Jan Singleton (Aug 2006)

Both the above were set at the UK Championships.

References