Racine cup stacking tournament, sport stackers race against clock
Sport stackers race against clock
Some of the country's fastest cup stackers were in Racine for the "Wisconsin Winter Stack Up" on Saturday, Jan. 25.
RACINE, Wis. - Some of the country's fastest cup stackers were in Racine for the "Wisconsin Winter Stack Up" on Saturday, Jan. 25.
Wisconsin Winter Stack Up
What they're saying:
The tournament was held at Olympia Brown Elementary School. More than 100 stackers of all ages, including stackers with Team Wisconsin and Team USA, competed against the clock to stack and unstack cup formations.
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"All these kids are trying to qualify for the junior Olympics this summer, and they can also set state records – even world records," said Lisa Berman, director of USA Sport Stacking.
"It's just addicting. I love doing it, it's so fun," said participant Tom Johnston. "I run, so my life is all about times and getting faster, so stacking is no different."
Sport stackers compete at the Wisconsin Winter Stack Up
This was the Wisconsin Winter Stack Up's second year. The World Sport Stacking Association sanctioned the event.
"I have so many close friends that I've made from it, even across the world," Johnston said.
What is stacking?
The backstory:
Sport stacking is a competition in which competitors stack specially designed cups up and down in set patterns, Berman said.
According to the World Sport Stacking Association, the school-based competitions take place in thousands of school and club programs across 54 countries.
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Speed Stacks Inc., which sponsors WSSA competition, said "sport stacking" began in the early 1980s and gained national attention in 1990 after a segment on "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson."
The company said a university study by Dr. Brian Udermann, a University of Wisconsin-La Crosse professor, found stacking improves hand-eye coordination and reaction time by up to 30%. Additionally, the company said sport stacking helps develop bilateral proficiency – or equal performance on both sides of the body – which helps with awareness, focus, creativity and rhythm.
Sequencing and patterning, which Speed Stacks said are also elements of sport stacking, can help with reading and math skills.
The Source: Information in this report is from FOX6 News interviews, the World Sport Stacking Association and Speed Stacks Inc.