For nine years, Orne’s Candy Store has hosted their annual Rock Skipping Contest, where kids (of all ages) come and see whose rock can boast the most skips.

The Boothbay Harbor footbridge was lined with hundreds of spectators cheering on their favorite contestants. Several teams attend the event wearing matching T-shirts, such as “Team Tornado Alley” and “The Perch Island Skip-pers.”

This year’s winner in the girls division was Julia “Jewels” Clark with 11 skips. In the boys division Michael “Magma Mike” Guertler took home the trophy again with 27 skips (Michael has won for several years).

In the women’s division Mary “Skip Master” Stuart won with 19 skips, and for the men – which had the most entries at 32 – Jason “Loose Cannon” Harrington took home the win with 26 skips.

Winners take home a trophy, a certificate worth a pound of fudge from Orne’s Candy Store, and the title of winner for one year. Of course, to hold onto it, they will need to return in 2013 to skip again.

Every skipper has a different technique. Some contestants stand on the edge of the shore, while others wade into the water up to their knees or farther. Some make sure they wet their stone, and some wind up for their throw looking like they’re pitching a baseball.

Every skipper picks a fun name to use, which follows them throughout the contest and is announced by Arthur Webster (the emcee for the event) when it’s their turn.

Just a few of the nicknames this year were Granite Glass, The Geologist, Rutland Rocker, Jenny from the Rocks, Rockette, Gilderoy Rockhart and Deep Six. One contestant, dubbed Juggling Jim showed off his skills before he threw by juggling his three rocks. When his turn was over he turned to the crowd and said “better stick to juggling.”

Proceeds from the event go to help the Boothbay Region Food Pantry.