Throwing the rock for 38 years – Atwood Lake man is hooked on Steinstossen
By Jennifer Kneuss
October 2, 2011
1052
Summer: When the Ohio Swiss Festival comes to Sugarcreek each year, so does the legendary Steinstossen. Although the customary 3 heats over 2 days had to be shortened to one, three throw event due to rainy, cold weather, the faithful still showed up to see the tossing of the rock on Saturday night.
The Steinstossen, or stone throwing contest, is the stuff of legend. From its beginnings in Switzerland centuries ago, to its presence at the Ohio Swiss Festival in Sugarcreek since 1953, the Steinstossen stirs up a mysterious attraction in those who have experienced it. Jeff Bittiker is part of that legend, and in spite of cold and rainy weather on Saturday, October 1, Bittiker, 57, stepped up to throw the 138 pound stone for his 38th year.
When we were kids, we used to come out here when Bob Morehead was doing it. He was the champ, and won 10 years in a row. Me and my brother just stood here and watched, and we were here in 1968 when he broke the record. Thats when we said, you know, we ought to go out there and try. But at the time, we were 13 and 14 years old. We wouldnt have been able to lift then, but we thought we could. We waited about five years, and then I started doing it when I was 20, in 1974, shared Bittiker, formerly of Dover and now of the Atwood Lake region. You just get hooked on it, like golf or bowling or anything else. You just want to do it, and you want to improve.
In all my years here, Ive seen lots of people drop the rock, but Ive never seen anyone get hurt, not in all my times of practicing and competing. Not once have I ever gotten hurt, said the contestant who was also quite willing to share his secret to a good Steinstossen throw.
Whats the secret to getting that rock up? Really, the secret is to want to do it; to decide its going up. Because the first time I did it, we, my brother and my buddy Bob Harris, who cant throw tonight because he got hurt in a car accident, just decided we would. You just work at it so hard. You finally get mad at that rock, and you say, you know what, this time youre going up. And once you do it, you can always do it. Its like riding a bicycle. But before you ever do it, its really hard to do. No one can tell you how to do it. Youve just got to feel it. Thats why you have to get your own rock and practice. Anyone who wants to do this should. Get a rock at home. You teach yourself how to do it. Thats the secret of it.
I won it a few times, and that really gets you hooked on it. You really get the fever. My best throw ever was 12 feet, 10 ½ inches, but I didnt win that year. I was 35 when I threw that, and I came in second. I won it seven times - in 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 85, and 1990, when Bob Harris and I actually tied with each other. It looks like there are about 10 or 11 men here, and three women. It sure is down because of the weather. The crowds down, too; you usually see a huge crowd here. The weather means everything to this festival. Hopefully, next year it will be better, and Ill work a little harder so I can do better. You get a little prize money if you win, but nobody does it for the money.
When I cant do it anymore or its no fun anymore, then Ill quit, summed up Bittiker. Ill be back next year, and Ill tell you the same thing, then the year after that, Ill tell you the same thing again.
Winners of the one heat, 2011 Steinstossen were Robin Lamp of Canton, throwing 10 feet 2 ½ inches in the womens division, and Kurt Roberts, with a throw of 12 feet, 9 3/8 inches. Tara Stingel was the Garaway womens winner, with Larry Miller named the mens Garaway champ.
