On a sunny Saturday in May, the lake called and Wilson & Dorset answered. We joined Lake Hāwea Station for the first-ever Aotearoa Stone Skimming Championship - a brand-new event raising funds for Melanoma New Zealand, a cause that needs no introduction in this country. We couldn't say no.
The winners of the Men's and Women's categories took home a trip to the World Championship in Scotland. Alongside the wildly competitive skimming, a silent auction and raffle added to the fundraising. Of course, we couldn't pass up the chance to add The Stone Set to the auction line-up.
We love things that bring people together in nature without too much fuss. And there’s something primal and primal about throwing a stone across the water and seeing how far you can get it to skip.
Our own Charlotte, from our Arrowtown store, was right in the mix, throwing for Wilson & Dorset in the Open Women's. Three stones each. One hour to find them. Each one had to fit through a three-inch ring called the Skimometer, or it was out. Charlotte didn't earn the flights this time, but she came away with the W&D’s first-ever stone-skimming credentials, and more importantly, helped raise some much-needed funds for Melanoma New Zealand.
Just past The Hide, on the shore of Lake Hāwea, a VIP tipi sat looking straight out over the water. Benches were draped in sheepskin, with extra Shaggy Bean Bags, footstools, and Stone Sets scattered around for guests to settle into between heats. Right in the middle of it: the Giant Ruby Shaggy Bean Bag in Mt Gold. Crowd Goes Wild presenters Jay Reeves and Anna Wilcox dropped by and sank in. The rest of the time, she was buried under children, as intended.
A bluebird day, but one with plenty of chill - and a reminder that sheepskin works outdoors for a reason. Hats off to Lake Hāwea Station and the organisers for putting on an incredible event, and to everyone who skimmed, watched, or bid for Melanoma New Zealand.
