How This Guy Became The Best Rock Skipper On The Planet | Obsessed | WIRED

Sdílet
Vložit
  • čas přidán 22. 06. 2023
  • Kurt Steiner is record holding champion stone skipper-and a master of the physics that underpin the sport. A labor of love that's evolved into a world-class passion, see where Kurt harvests his preferred rocks, the qualities he seeks in them, and each factor he considers in order to throw like a pro.
    Director: Charlie Jordan
    Director of Photography: Chris Foreman
    Editor: Jordan Calig
    Expert: Kurt Steiner
    Creative Producer: Wendi Jonassen
    Line Producer: Joseph Buscemi
    Associate Producer: Brandon White
    Production Manager: Eric Martinez
    Production Coordinator: Fernando Davila
    Camera Operator: Brett Wineland
    Audio: Andrew Santin
    Production Assistant: Chris McAuliffe
    Post Production Supervisor: Alexa Deutsch
    Post Production Coordinator: Ian Bryant
    Supervising Editor: Doug Larsen
    Assistant Editor: Andy Morell
    Still haven’t subscribed to WIRED on CZcams? ►► wrd.cm/15fP7B7
    Listen to the Get WIRED podcast ►► link.chtbl.com/wired-ytc-desc
    Want more WIRED? Get the magazine ►► subscribe.wired.com/subscribe...
    Follow WIRED:
    Instagram ►► / wired
    Twitter ►► / wired
    Facebook ►► / wired
    Get more incredible stories on science and tech with our daily newsletter: wrd.cm/DailyYT
    Also, check out the free WIRED channel on Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, and Android TV.
    ABOUT WIRED
    WIRED is where tomorrow is realized. Through thought-provoking stories and videos, WIRED explores the future of business, innovation, and culture.
  • Zábava

Komentáře • 524

  • @DVD927
    @DVD927 Před 11 měsíci +1502

    I like this guy. Not hurting anyone, just doin his thang. Inexpensive hobby, gets you outside.

  • @dvklaveren
    @dvklaveren Před 11 měsíci +2374

    "A simple thing, through mastery, becomes a really visual, spiritual kind of art form. It's a way of making joy out of nothing, and that can't be valueless right?" Beautiful words.

    • @gus473
      @gus473 Před 11 měsíci +33

      Zen rock skipper.... 😎✌️

    • @Bricker68
      @Bricker68 Před 11 měsíci +12

      I was just coming to copy down the same thing!

    • @magnusop5773
      @magnusop5773 Před 11 měsíci +6

      That words reminds me of Miyamoto musahshi of Vagabond.

    • @ChickenSoupMusic
      @ChickenSoupMusic Před 11 měsíci

    • @Beanbag-qs4ju
      @Beanbag-qs4ju Před 11 měsíci

      Agreed

  • @RanmaSyaoranSaotome
    @RanmaSyaoranSaotome Před 11 měsíci +1256

    He's a great communicator with an element of wisdom to his words.

    • @20alphabet
      @20alphabet Před 11 měsíci +4

      C'mon man, the dude can't master a razor.

    • @RanmaSyaoranSaotome
      @RanmaSyaoranSaotome Před 11 měsíci +49

      @@20alphabet Maybe he's wise enough to realise appearances don't matter too.

    • @MRLONG758
      @MRLONG758 Před 11 měsíci +4

      It's the beard

    • @polton00
      @polton00 Před 11 měsíci +21

      @@20alphabet the type of dude to call people like this weird hippies, because they're jealous of peace and happiness

    • @DjZephy
      @DjZephy Před 11 měsíci +1

      Wow that was condescending af, I'll be sure to pass your message along to him one day and give him a "attaboy" on your behalf

  • @abdusco
    @abdusco Před 11 měsíci +683

    He has a very fitting last name: Steiner.
    Stein means stone in German, Steiner is like a stonemason, or a stone master, if you will.

    • @Tony2dH
      @Tony2dH Před 11 měsíci +86

      Stoner, if you will 😁

    • @raptor-pm3it
      @raptor-pm3it Před 11 měsíci +17

      In Norwegian it literally means stones

    • @sagetmaster4
      @sagetmaster4 Před 11 měsíci +4

      ​@@raptor-pm3itwhat about the Norwegian name Steinar? Any relation etymologically?

    • @TheAlmightySncks
      @TheAlmightySncks Před 11 měsíci +7

      @@sagetmaster4Regional accent variation of the same word. Means the same. :)

    • @Birdylockso
      @Birdylockso Před 11 měsíci +2

      I thought a stein is a beer mug.

  • @terriwetz6077
    @terriwetz6077 Před 11 měsíci +441

    So sad he lost his friend after such a short time together. He strikes me as a very introverted person but skipping rocks gives him both tranquility and a purpose.

    • @chevyDboyMike
      @chevyDboyMike Před 11 měsíci +19

      Seems like thats what he described in the video

    • @user-ik2ps1fu5e
      @user-ik2ps1fu5e Před 8 měsíci

      People with autism have odd special hobbies 🙂

  • @44mory
    @44mory Před 10 měsíci +59

    "Making joy out of nothing, and that can't be valueless." best words I have heard in a very long time, this guy is a real mensch...

    • @chickenbob562
      @chickenbob562 Před 9 měsíci +1

      is it an actual thing to say "mensch" or are you german?

    • @ccrisc100
      @ccrisc100 Před 6 měsíci

      ​@chickenbob562 Probably Jewish. "A mensch, in Yiddish, is a person of integrity, morality, dignity, with a sense of what is right and responsible."

  • @jopo7996
    @jopo7996 Před 11 měsíci +223

    This guy rocks!
    I almost skipped this video.

    • @kmw4359
      @kmw4359 Před 11 měsíci +14

      Groan ….😂😂😂

    • @leevancliffneridacampo7769
      @leevancliffneridacampo7769 Před 11 měsíci +10

      You did not!?🙃🤣

    • @modernmistyk4341
      @modernmistyk4341 Před 11 měsíci +11

      Two puns in just one comment! What a gas

    • @jaekn
      @jaekn Před 10 měsíci +4

      @@modernmistyk4341 Noone has said "what a gas" since 1968

    • @milire2668
      @milire2668 Před 10 měsíci +3

      @@jaekn u mean since 1945
      ...
      hol up!

  • @cinderwolf32
    @cinderwolf32 Před 11 měsíci +93

    How quickly he got her to do so well is incredible

  • @daniaguinaga1754
    @daniaguinaga1754 Před 11 měsíci +47

    "It's a way of making joy out of nothing and that can't be valueless, right?"

    • @blt5991
      @blt5991 Před 9 měsíci

      This. Indeed!!

  • @Godwinsname
    @Godwinsname Před 11 měsíci +22

    "It's a way to create joy out of nothing, and that can't be value-less." Splendid!

  • @jimmyispromo
    @jimmyispromo Před 11 měsíci +113

    This dude is just a genius and living his best simple life. Love it

    • @franzschubertv2874
      @franzschubertv2874 Před 10 měsíci +1

      It’s not who has the most that wins in life. It is who needs the least.

    • @EnigmaticAlien
      @EnigmaticAlien Před 9 měsíci

      Well in that regard I'm winning out of most people I know. @@franzschubertv2874

  • @nerd26373
    @nerd26373 Před 11 měsíci +151

    He’s throwing that rock like it’s no big deal. Kudos to him for having super strength.

  • @TheWineroute
    @TheWineroute Před 11 měsíci +64

    I grew up on Lake Michigan taught myself some skills but nothing like this....He's a genius. Kudos to the Director and Host!

  • @BarEscm
    @BarEscm Před 9 měsíci +21

    8:57 I love her amazement at her own throw. She really couldn't believe she could do it that good. Shows how important a good technique is.

  • @indy4516
    @indy4516 Před 11 měsíci +49

    Kurt has such great energy. I could listen to him talk all day. Great interview

  • @kurtduvel4345
    @kurtduvel4345 Před 11 měsíci +22

    His rivalry and relationship with Russ clearly meant a lot to him
    Follow your passion and you may find friends there to share it with

  • @Aragorn7884
    @Aragorn7884 Před 11 měsíci +76

    Imagine being a fish swimming, going about your day and _THIS_ guy comes around...

    • @slickstretch6391
      @slickstretch6391 Před 11 měsíci +10

      Not a problem. His rocks go over the top of the water.

    • @Aragorn7884
      @Aragorn7884 Před 10 měsíci +1

      ​@@slickstretch6391😵☠️🐟

  • @nbarealtalker
    @nbarealtalker Před 9 měsíci +21

    This just goes to show how literally anything in this world is interesting whenever you can find the human story behind it.

  • @spiralwhirlpool2366
    @spiralwhirlpool2366 Před 11 měsíci +38

    As someone who also enjoys rock skipping, his wisdom made it emotional when it shouldnt have been. Haha

  • @BillyLeeGoodman
    @BillyLeeGoodman Před 11 měsíci +21

    Okay this guy is officially the coolest guy!

  • @ThePumpkinToad
    @ThePumpkinToad Před 11 měsíci +40

    This guy gets it. I've been skipping rocks like this my whole life and a lot of these concepts have been sort of in the back of my mind, but now I will pay much more attention to the rock slope, my grip, twists, etc. Can't wait to use this to get better at rock skipping!

  • @WeWynne
    @WeWynne Před 10 měsíci +4

    The last time I saw my dad alive, was on his birthday. Ironically, we went to a local creek to visit where they placed my grandfather's ashes. We spent the afternoon skipping stones. I had video of it, but lost it when an old PC crashed and hdd died... skipping stones is one of my all time favorite things to do since I was a kid. Thank you for this video.

  • @nicknicksiren
    @nicknicksiren Před 11 měsíci +16

    What a cool guy. Respect his love for outdoors and his ability to communicate effectively. Cheers to him!

  • @ShadyRonin
    @ShadyRonin Před 11 měsíci +14

    I love this so much. The simple joy of him skipping stones is contagious.

  • @ThePeyboy33
    @ThePeyboy33 Před 9 měsíci +2

    I love seeing the joy on her face when she skipped a rock well. So pure

  • @beepboop8446
    @beepboop8446 Před 11 měsíci +17

    I've always tried skipping stones whenever we go to the beach. But I always end up with just 2-4 skips. Even though I always pick the most flat stone on the shore and add a spin to it. The best I ever got was like 8 skips. This video really helps and the person himself seems so wise and smart that it is very interesting to watch!

  • @deathbypigx3h
    @deathbypigx3h Před 11 měsíci +7

    This is like if Netero spent all those years practicing rock skipping instead of doing 10,000 punches of gratitude lol

    • @bnnguyenrw
      @bnnguyenrw Před 10 měsíci +2

      A man/woman of culture I see.

  • @ak_hoops
    @ak_hoops Před 9 měsíci +3

    More videos like this man! This was really dope. So glad you all did a long after recap.

  • @benreiter7218
    @benreiter7218 Před 10 měsíci +3

    This is a beautiful video. Thank you for creating it and featuring Kurt. I'm glad that I took 10 minutes to watch this and hear his story.

  • @ejkoslav
    @ejkoslav Před 11 měsíci +8

    In Bulgaria we call this "правя жабки" which is literally translated to "making frogs" and a better translation could be "making the stone jump like a frog". I love it since I was a kid doing it on the surface of the Danube river 😊

  • @jopo7996
    @jopo7996 Před 11 měsíci +7

    The neighbors on his lake are upset that it's only a foot deep now.

  • @UntilNextime
    @UntilNextime Před 11 měsíci +4

    I never thought skipping a stone required so much to think about. But Kurt is the greatest stoner ever with a demeanor and personality I admire. He'd be a friend for life where as all others have been met with my social anxiety doom.

  • @tylerharris6581
    @tylerharris6581 Před 11 měsíci +7

    I also have a rock skipping addiction! People called me crazy for bringing a crate of skippers with me to ponds or lakes, so this made me happy

    • @SOGYB
      @SOGYB Před 11 měsíci +1

      Skip on brotha

  • @childonfire1
    @childonfire1 Před 11 měsíci +2

    Dude should try playing disc golf. I would love to see him throw forehand!

  • @jopiluis3382
    @jopiluis3382 Před 8 měsíci +1

    What a humble person he is - he loves skipping stones and the greatness of it is demonstrated to everyone else the instant he throws a rock!

  • @BenjamintheTortoise
    @BenjamintheTortoise Před 11 měsíci +2

    He's a good dude with a beautiful heart

  • @SKAVSTADEATHCREW
    @SKAVSTADEATHCREW Před 10 měsíci +1

    One of the most pleasant characters i have ever seen a portrait of

  • @pkoppula
    @pkoppula Před 9 měsíci

    He seems a very wonderful person. And he had tears talking about his lost mate. Nice heartwarming video this one 💯👏🏽👍🏽

  • @rainbowoflight
    @rainbowoflight Před 11 měsíci +5

    I had no idea there were tournaments for this. Amazing.

  • @veitastic6866
    @veitastic6866 Před 9 měsíci +2

    What a kind and genuine person Kurt is. I love how he describes that it's really just a reason to get out into nature. You don't need to spend thousands of dollars on equipment, just a rock will do.

  • @S8NSAYS
    @S8NSAYS Před 8 měsíci

    A beautiful reminder of the importance of being present. Bravo.

  • @anonnymousperson
    @anonnymousperson Před 9 měsíci

    He seems like a nice, chill guy. I like him.

  • @adrianaluptak3832
    @adrianaluptak3832 Před 8 měsíci +1

    When i was a kid i had found the perfect skipping stone - flat and bright red. I used to throw it hundreds of times in the sea and always come back for it (because it was so bright red and easy to spot) it was such a great core memory for me that i decided to keep it and i have it till today

  • @Bobby12many
    @Bobby12many Před 11 měsíci +1

    To be simple is to be great - R.W.E
    Kurt Steiner seems like a truly great human and his passion is inspiring.

  • @RockSkippingPro
    @RockSkippingPro Před 6 měsíci

    Kurt should write a book. I'd love to hear more about his philosophies on life and rock skipping. Seems like a great guy!

  • @BirdsallDave
    @BirdsallDave Před 14 dny

    What a wonderful video! Brings back memories of my best friend in high school, who taught me how to skip stones in the pools of the Eel River in northern California more than 50 years ago.

  • @knw-seeker6836
    @knw-seeker6836 Před 7 měsíci

    Authentic down to earth person
    With an wonderful sense of wisdom

  • @majapa
    @majapa Před 11 měsíci +4

    I’m the best rock skipper among my friends, and most anyone I’ve come across in public… and I can’t hold a candle to this guy. Kudos!

  • @grocerygrip
    @grocerygrip Před 10 měsíci +1

    Now that's how you take a childhood memory into a passion. Kurt has taken me back to my childhood. I wanna skip rocks again!!

  • @Mutantcy1992
    @Mutantcy1992 Před 9 měsíci +2

    I love skipping rocks, grew up doing it. Never was anything too impressive, probably 20 skips was my peak, but my goals tended to be different. I wanted to skip all the way across a river, wanted to skip ridiculous rocks, ones that were shaped "wrong" for skipping, ones that were so large that even a single skip was a huge accomplishment.
    But Kurt's ideas about rock shape make total sense and he has some preposterously nice rocks to skip with. It was funny to see the host shocked at her immediate success. She probably has never used such great rocks before.
    Wish the video included Kurt skipping a rock that was basically made to *not* be skipped, but hey

  • @seasong7655
    @seasong7655 Před 11 měsíci +4

    We need this guy on the slowmo guys

  • @Harshcarrot5309
    @Harshcarrot5309 Před měsícem

    Honestly just seems like a super nice wholesome guy. I enjoy skipping rocks and now I am going ro use some of these pointers to try and get some really good skips. Honestly you gotta enjoy the little things in life.

  • @p.s.tea.w
    @p.s.tea.w Před 11 měsíci

    a beautiful coverage, mr. Steiner, you rock! 😎

  • @D3ft0ne
    @D3ft0ne Před 9 měsíci +1

    The way of making joy out of nothing... this gave me weird goose bumps! So well said.

  • @boxes_full
    @boxes_full Před 15 dny

    I watched the video to learn about slipping stones instead I got insight into a profoundly wise individual. He seems so down to earth and real. It gives me hope as an introvert the way he describes his revolutionary connection with Russ.

  • @marklorant1906
    @marklorant1906 Před 11 měsíci +7

    He's the Keanu Reeves of rock skipping.

  • @DeanJayJackmanJr
    @DeanJayJackmanJr Před 11 měsíci +1

    Id like to see this guys forehand in disc golf.

  • @bryancorts5389
    @bryancorts5389 Před 10 měsíci

    Thats cool to watch! Thanks for sharing

  • @cucamongaduke3600
    @cucamongaduke3600 Před 11 měsíci

    The algorithm did me well today. What a fantastic and beautiful story.

  • @lindachen5179
    @lindachen5179 Před 3 měsíci

    love this. Thank you so much and about the value of connection, physics and beauty of stone skipping- and getting to see how a few specific tips really changed the interviewer's (reporter's) throw. "I couldn't surf, but I could surf as a stone."

  • @musicandaffection6363
    @musicandaffection6363 Před 9 měsíci

    Being able to have blunt conversations are amazing

  • @MidooHadi
    @MidooHadi Před 11 měsíci +2

    Sensei! A true professor right here

  • @smftv
    @smftv Před 10 měsíci +1

    My brother and I had a pond in front of our house growing up, and we skipped rocks all the time, but we had to comb the neighborhood for stones because they weren't readily available like by a seashore.
    Neither one of us ever came close to his record or the flat type of stones he used, but we did get skips in the 20's, and we were seriously impressed with that!
    Ah childhood, and keeping that spirit alive. 😊

  • @cgbreeki849
    @cgbreeki849 Před 11 měsíci

    He talked about how part of what it's all about is getting outside, and that couldn't be more true. Stone skipping is what made me begin to develop a deep appreciation for nature. It started with that first WIRED video on the topic. Oh man, good old 2019.

  • @dalliswillard1843
    @dalliswillard1843 Před 11 měsíci +1

    I needed this. Seems like a great person.

  • @ThePathOfEudaimonia
    @ThePathOfEudaimonia Před 10 měsíci

    The science, art, and mastery of stone skipping! I love it!

  • @frits8986
    @frits8986 Před 11 měsíci

    This is fascinating stuff. Found myself smiling at his left-right hand and flip the stone over explanation

  • @cheweperro
    @cheweperro Před 10 měsíci +1

    He sounds like a zen master, talking about flow. About mindfulness, awareness, presence. About being in the moment
    Love it

  • @kandredfpv
    @kandredfpv Před 11 měsíci

    Can't help but love guy. Just so down to earth, finding pleasure in such a simple thing and spent time perfecting it. I too love a to skip stones and have got my kids into it. Great cheap fun.

  • @andrewkielbasowycz1915
    @andrewkielbasowycz1915 Před 8 měsíci

    just a cool dude, who finds all the beauty in his simple passion

  • @debrachambers1304
    @debrachambers1304 Před 11 měsíci +1

    6:33 "and also a years long rivalry"
    "MADARAAA!"
    "HASHIRAMAAA!"

  • @keithhepworth4934
    @keithhepworth4934 Před 10 měsíci +1

    One of my favorite memories was when I was eight. My brothers and I spent part of the day walking along the shores of Jackson Lake in Wyoming looking for perfect stones and then skipping them. Of course, my oldest brother had the best throws.

  • @TheDemonGamerOfFleetStreet
    @TheDemonGamerOfFleetStreet Před 11 měsíci

    One cool and nice and bright guy.

  • @LadyYoop
    @LadyYoop Před 11 měsíci

    This is so awesome. I've skipped many a rock, but had no clue it got so intense. Hat's off!

  • @clay2889
    @clay2889 Před 11 měsíci

    This was so wholesome. Kurt is awesome!

  • @Pshady
    @Pshady Před 10 měsíci

    In a world of quick cut loud but short vertically cropped videos I enjoyed this calm, 10 minutes of beautiful and educational video.

  • @bsmith8564
    @bsmith8564 Před měsícem

    I did a 17 counted by my Grand Dad at Kron's beach on Madeline Island lake superior when i was twelve. He smiled and told every one back at the farm house about it. I miss you George.

  • @UntilDeathDoUsPart-ur1gf
    @UntilDeathDoUsPart-ur1gf Před 9 měsíci

    Masterfully Skilled + Excellent Communicator = One Of A Kind!

  • @strawberyjustice
    @strawberyjustice Před 9 měsíci +1

    i've been skipping rocks during the summer over the last 3 years. nowhere near this yet but it's been fun to see the progression!

  • @disc-golf
    @disc-golf Před 11 měsíci +1

    We gotta get this guy playing disc golf!

  • @dunkleosteus430
    @dunkleosteus430 Před 9 měsíci

    He's one of the coolest people I've ever seen in a video.

  • @neymarthegoat8246
    @neymarthegoat8246 Před 10 měsíci

    this is emotional

  • @tjblackforest69
    @tjblackforest69 Před 9 měsíci

    What a great attitude

  • @pokemonovice9758
    @pokemonovice9758 Před 9 měsíci

    This was freaking wholesome!

  • @basmus
    @basmus Před 9 měsíci

    Such a good explaination for a beginner! I'll definetely try it out when I'm at a nice lake the next time

  • @cvn6555
    @cvn6555 Před 11 měsíci +2

    Was at a lake with my best friend and his dad back in the early 80's. We were skipping stones, feeling pretty good if we got more than four. The dad let one rip and it did something I had never witnessed before or after- it skipped about 16 times then just started to spin on top of the water as it travelled away. Couldn't begin to estimate just how many "skips" it was. Totally blew our minds.

  • @marcellosalis5063
    @marcellosalis5063 Před 9 měsíci

    "Making joy out of nothing."
    Best quote ever.

  • @simonbe
    @simonbe Před 11 měsíci +14

    Wow, I love stoneskipping but I am usually at the Baltic Sea. So with the waves it is just luck to get good throws. Interestingly, you describe all the stuff I discovered for myself ^^
    What I really enjoy doing is, to try skipping 'unskippable' stones as good as possible. Sure I won't skip a perfect sphere. But what about a cube 😂

  • @TheGoobler
    @TheGoobler Před 11 měsíci

    What a wonderful mind and a wonderful man

  • @Socosfortes
    @Socosfortes Před 9 měsíci

    this needs to become a formal sport, with proper skip stones production and tournaments and all

  • @stubees88
    @stubees88 Před 9 měsíci +1

    I've just fallen in love with this man. Happiness within simplicity. Gonna skim more stones.

  • @stateofmissouri5651
    @stateofmissouri5651 Před 11 měsíci +1

    What a down to earth guy.

  • @Cwildyoutube
    @Cwildyoutube Před 10 měsíci

    This guy rocks. What a legend.

  • @danielwestphal6941
    @danielwestphal6941 Před 11 měsíci +1

    I've been skipping stones for all my life, and it's such a cool way of spending time by the water. A very social one at that. I've had so many times where people come up to me and ask about it, or they wanna learn, or some kids join and they make it a competition. It's very fun to teach people a fairly useless but mindful thing.

  • @alexszlanina7548
    @alexszlanina7548 Před 8 měsíci

    ".. I guess, one thing I don't do is think about how I'm thinking when I'm standing up there .. I feel it, let it go.. and it's all good." .. Love it.

  • @Peilla
    @Peilla Před 10 měsíci

    Looks like a solid forehand hyzer flip!

  • @crikch
    @crikch Před 10 měsíci

    very interesting video, you can tell the guy has a lot of passion and love for stone skipping

  • @keksimus__maximus
    @keksimus__maximus Před 11 měsíci +1

    What a nice guy

  • @thoinkingboi
    @thoinkingboi Před 11 měsíci +1

    Keep things simple in life and enjoy every last second of it

  • @ashleylydbrook5047
    @ashleylydbrook5047 Před 8 měsíci +1

    Chemical Brothers new video features this guy. "Skipping Like a Stone"; awesome video, awesome tune!