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Pumpkins Fly Again At Pocono Raceway

A Punkin Chunkin sanctioned event happening Columbus Day Weekend at the Pocono Raceway


Long Pond, PA – WEBWIRE

Made famous by the Punkin’ Chunkin’ event seen on the History Channel each fall, slinging pumpkins through the air has become a very popular pass time and this year the Pumpkin Sling is one of two sanctioned Punkin’ Chunkin’ event.

The Last Fling Pumpkin Sling landed at Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, PA for the first time last year and it returns again Columbus Weekend October 10-11, 2015. Giulia Grotenhuis, organizer of the event, comments, “Over 25 teams will once again be competing in the kids and adults divisions over the Columbus Day weekend with their trebuchets and catapults launching pumpkins over a thousand feet.” Made famous by the Punkin’ Chunkin’ event seen on the History Channel each fall, slinging pumpkins through the air has become a very popular pass time and this year the Pumpkin Sling is one of two sanctioned Punkin’ Chunkin’ event. Teams will not only be competing for Pumpkin Sling bragging rights, but qualified teams will have their distances submitted for 2015 world championship ranking.

Grotenhuis continues, “This is the sixth year of our Last Fling Pumpkin Sling event which we held at Pocono Raceway in the Pocono Mountains when we lost our site in New Jersey. We once again have been well received with sponsors and participating teams who support the concept of brains meeting brawn in a hands on educational experience that is great fun.” She continues, “Most of our teams including the returning champions will be competing, but we continue to have new entries from the surrounding Pocono Mountain region.”

Pumpkin slinging is the art and science of creating a machine designed to throw a two to five pound pumpkin as far as possible. That can include trebuchets, catapults and air cannons. The Last Fling Pumpkin Sling focuses on the first two with demonstrations by Sir Chunks A Lot that hurl pumpkins in excess of 2,500 feet. Teams spend the year building and modifying existing designs to become the champions. Grotenhuis said, “Thanks to the efforts of the Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau and local businesses including Pocono Raceway, our event becoming a sanctioned event for the championships is a big development.”

The Last Fling Pumpkin Sling will be held Saturday and Sunday from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm each day at Pocono Raceway and will include pumpkin slinging, food vendors, mini human powered pumpkin slings and a children’s area where mini pumpkin sales will benefit by The East Stroudsburg Salvation Army, and Harmony Historical Society race cars. The event will be hosted by Gary Smith of Pocono 96.7’s “Gary in the Morning.” Tickets for the event are $7 in advance for adults and $4 for children ages 5-12. Under 4 are admitted free. Parking is $5 per car which will benefit scholarship programs for students. 

Grotenhuis continues, “I started this event for the kids. It builds their STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) skills and promotes teamwork. It has grown to be a success because of their dedication, creativity and desire to keep throwing their pumpkins ever further. We have had teams start with one machine and now grown to become three teams made up of younger siblings of our original participants. It is rewarding to see their love of pumpkin slinging translate into life skills that bring together brain and brawn.”

For Pumpkin Sling information go to the website at PumkinSling.com, facebook.com/PumpkinSling and twitter.com/PumpkinSling. Sponsors of the 2015 Pumpkin Sling include Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau, Pocono Mountain Adventures, Harmony Press, Northampton Community College, Adams Outdoor, Pocono 96.7, George TV, Vollers, Harmony Speedway, CR Shotwell Landscape Management, Bushkill Group Inc., and The Journal of the Pocono Plateau.

 


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