Fostering Community Through Slingshot Sport

Chad Carabello began shooting slingshots in 2012.  He spent a few years building slingshots as a hobby, inspired by the artistic expression and craftsmanship on display through online slingshot forums.  As a co-organizer of the Swamp Stomp slingshot gathering from 2012 – 2023 a deep appreciation for the simple joy and accessibility of slingshots has instilled a desire to help ensure the longevity of our sport and community.

My name is Liz, and I started shooting a wrist rocket in 2008. Through YouTube, my husband and I were introduced to a different kind of slingshot, the slingshot Forum, and the Slingshot Community Forum in 2015. We attended our first slingshot tournament in 2015 and found it to be a group of amazing and welcoming people. Two of my goals in the slingshot community are 1-to help create a space that is accessible, safe, and fun for children and youth. 2-to encourage everyone who already shoots slingshots to come to an event—whether you are just starting, or you are concerned you may not be “good enough,” to come to a tournament or event anyway—there is a space for you. There is something both wonderful and powerful about real-life interactions with people in nature, shooting slingshots together, and I hope you come and join us.

My name is Matthew Neyman, and my serious interest in slingshots began in 2014.  I had used slingshots as a child, but lost interest due to my lack of accuracy.  A result of my poor technique, and probably also only using rocks as ammo.  But in 2014, I found a YouTube video about making a slingshot.  Up until this point, it had never occurred to me that one could make a slingshot.  I mean, I was aware of natural slingshots like Dennis the Menace carried, but I never thought to make one.  So off to the shop as fast as my feet could carry me, and a few minutes later, I was holding my first plywood fork.  I then cut up one of the wife’s exercise bands and donated a used leather glove for the pouch, and I was shooting marbles off the back porch that evening.   

Not too long after that fateful day, I found out one could melt down used HDPE plastic and make a slab suitable for slingshots.  I was hooked and have been making frames ever since.

I got into tournament shooting soon after finding the hobby again.  From group meet-ups at the legendary Blue Skeen’s Virginia farm to the East Coast Slingshot Tournament to the first World Cup Tournament in Italy.

As a board member I’m looking forward to helping tournament and club shooting prosper in the USA

My name is Patrick Richardson and for nearly as long as I can remember I have had a slingshot. I have only been on the slingshot forums and attending tournaments since 2018. I even helped loosely organize and start the Tennessee Slingshot Gathering back in 2020. I am more recently on the National Slingshot League’s board as a board member and the Director of Public Relations.

I am very grateful to be part of slingshots as a whole and to be in the NSL, and I am even more excited for the growth of the sport. I look forward to serving in whatever capacity that I may in the future and to see what we can build together.

My name is Tim Foster, my journey with slingshots began, as many other did, by being given a wrist rocket as a child and sent out to sling rocks around for the summer. As an adult I randomly came across Jorge Sprave on Youtube and learned he had attended ECST in 2011. I wanted to meet Jorge and learn more about slinging, so off to ECST 2012 I went and have attended every year since. I still enjoy making and shooting slingshots as much as ever. I have made the greatest friends through this hobby since that first event. I look forward to every slingshot event and to see the community continue to grow and evolve. You can expect to find me at every ECST, HHST, and AIM!