Rock on! Man breaks stone-skipping record

updated 7:07 p.m. ET Sept. 30, 2007

FRANKLIN, Pa. - A Pennsylvania man cast a stone that skipped on water a whopping 51 times, shattering the old world record of 40.

Russell “Rock Bottom” Byars’ feat happened July 19, where the Allegheny River meets French Creek in Franklin, about 70 miles north of Pittsburgh. He estimated his stone traveled about 250 feet.

Before declaring him a record-holder, Guinness World Records experts analyzed film of Byars’ toss, checking the concentric circles in the water by each skip.

“I actually threw 40 stones that day, but that was the first skip that I threw,” Byars told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, which confirmed the record with Guinness officials.

The old record, set in 2002, was held by Kurt Steiner, 42, of Emporium.

More from msnbc.com World Blog: Anger and hatred on Urumqi streets Local governments face painful budget choices Family turns to Facebook in hunt for missing son World Blog: Ghana gets set for Obama’s visit  No-kill shelter nation? Maybe in 5 years  Irresistible! 9 gadgets we covet

MORE FROM WEIRD NEWS

Weird news Section Front

Tot plays hide-and-seek much too well It's not slang! Nev. court permits ‘HOE’ license Iowans rethink Jackson butter statue Cops: Man went naked to dental appointment Turtles on runway delay flights in New York Drunken man shocks Spain with his generosity Drunken badger disrupts traffic in Germany Half-naked motorist to cops: I lost my pants Teacher sorry for mock wedding to 4th grader Pit-spitting championship is all in the family Weird news Section Front   Add Weird news headlines to your news reader: