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Published: July 01, 2008 12:01 pm    print this story   email this story   comment on this story  

Spitters ready for World Championship contest

MSPV event a PV Fourth tradition

By Jeff Shultz
Managing Editor

From New York to California and all points in between, above and below, communities have included watermelon seed spitting contests as part of their festivals and celebrations.

But there is none like Pauls Valley’s World Championship Watermelon Seed Spitting Contest, slated for this Tuesday’s Fourth of July festivities in Wacker Park.

This annual tradition was started in 1957 by Daily Democrat publisher Ken Reid and since then the competition has grown in popularity and fame.

The event has put Pauls Valley on the map by being mentioned in Ripley’s Believe It or Not and the Guinness Book of Records and is featured as one of the questions in the popular Trivial Pursuit board game.

This Friday seed spitters will have a chance to propel watermelon seeds at Thompson Field with one lucky contestant taking home the championship trophy.

Anthony Ygumans spit his way to the 2007 World Watermelon Seed Spitting Championship last year by spitting a watermelon seed 34 feet, 3 inches during the Fourth of July festivities at Thompson Field.

Sabra Landers took the Women's Division with a winning spit of 30 feet, 1 inch and came in second place.

Registration for this year’s contest gets underway at 6:00 p.m. with the big contest to begin at 7:30 p.m. in front of the main stage at Thompson Field.

There are six age groups competing in the contest: Male and female, 12 and under; male and female, ages 13-18; and male and female, 19 and older. Each person is allowed three tries with the best one recorded.

First, second and third prizes will be awarded in each category.

The world record for watermelon seed spitting is held by Jack Dietz of Chicago, who launched a seed a distance of 66 feet 11 inches in March 1989.

For those of you who want to get in some extra training for this sport, just follow these tips:

1. Place a watermelon seed on your tounge.

2. Stand or sit upright, facing forwards and purse your lips together. Lift your pursed lips towards your nose and keep it there for five counts, relax and repeat five times.

3. Pucker your lips slightly and when in this puckered position try with your mouth muscles to bring the corners of your mouth together as close as possible. Keep lips in this position for five counts, relax and repeat five times.

4. Take a deep breath and spit.

5. Wipe your mouth with a towel.

6. Repeat.

It is recommended you be alone when performing this exercise as the flying seeds could put someone’s eye out if they are projected with any

Also, it is recommended you have a towel or cloth on hand to keep yourself dry during the training period.

Finally, remember the words of one champion seed spitter, “If you lose in a watermelon seed spitting contest, then you are wimpy, wimpy, wimpy.”

“But, if you happen to win, then you’re a blowhard.”

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Photos


A young contestant in last year’s Watermelon Seed Spitting Championship takes a bit of watermelon as she prepares for her turn at the seed spitting line. (PVDD file photo by Mike Arie) None/ (Click for larger image)

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