Swiss Set Record in Cherry-Pit Spitting

V I E N N A, Aug. 8 -- It may not be an Olympic discipline — yet — but the Swiss are proud of it.

It’s cherry-pit spitting, and the Swiss proudly claim the world record, in both the men and women’s categories.

And they take it very seriously: both the new world record holders have been spitting at the competition level for 10 years, according to Lucien Mosimann, president of the aptly named Swiss Spitting Association — which claims some 600 members and holds up to six competitions each year.

Competitors may bring their own cherries. The American varieties are favored, if hard to get, because the pits are rounder and smoother, making them easier to handle, spitting aficionados say.

Each contestant is allowed five cherries to chew in each round. Finalists require not only good spitting skills but also a cast-iron digestive system. By the time they reach the elimination rounds, they will have consumed a whole bowl of cherries.

Record Spit

At this weekend’s event, held in Attiswill, Thomas Steinhower set the men’s mark by spitting a pit 83 feet, 9 inches — beating the old record by 2 feet 7½ inches. On the women’s side, the pit heaved by Conchita Kohler traveled 62 feet, 4½ inches — smashing the previous record by a full 8 feet.

The records allowed Switzerland to claim the world cherry pit-spitting titles back from their American holders.

Both competitors come from Brugg, a small town in Aargau Canton, where there is not much else to do in winter.

The organizers, being Swiss, are keen to emphasize that after the competition, they make sure all the pits are picked up.