Salmon Distance
About this event
Two-handed distance with the big rod.
Salmon Distance is the heavyweight overhead event. Casters use a two-handed rod up to 15 feet (460 cm) with a powerful shooting head of up to 55 g. Both hands drive the rod through a long overhead stroke — there's no free hand for a haul — and the heavy head pulls the thin running line behind it, shooting far down the court.
The lane is a straight lane 5–10 m wide and at least 70 m long. Casters get 8 minutes, divided into two rounds of 4 minutes. The longest valid cast wins, measured from the stand to the fly, rounded down to the nearest half metre. Ties are broken by the second- and third-longest casts.
Official World Records
Official World Records have only been tracked since the 2024 World Championships in Åhus, when separate Men's and Women's record categories were first established under the new rules. Earlier results listed below may exceed these values but are not eligible as official records.
All-time best athletes
Men
| # | Athlete | Nation | Score (m) | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dmitri Borovkov |  | 71.0 | 2018 · Cumbria, UK |
| 2 | Eirik Hernes Larsen |  | 67.5 | 2018 · Cumbria, UK |
| 3 | Steinar Røstad | | 66.5 | 2022 · Gaustablikk, Norway |
| 4 | Harald Økern Jensen | | 65.5 | 2012 · Fagernes, Norway |
| 5 | Vidar Næss | | 65.0 | 2018 · Cumbria, UK |
| 6 | Niklas Eriksson |  | 64.0 | 2018 · Cumbria, UK |
| 7 | Magnus Hedman | | 63.5 | 2018 · Cumbria, UK |
| 8 | Stein Grønberg | | 63.0 | 2012 · Fagernes, Norway |
| 8 | Martin Nøkleberg | | 63.0 | 2026 · Vinadio, Italy |
| 8 | Blaine Lyon |  | 63.0 | 2026 · Vinadio, Italy |
Women
| # | Athlete | Nation | Score (m) | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Anita Strand | | 59.0 | 2018 · Cumbria, UK |
| 1 | Anna-Karin Wiklund | | 59.0 | 2022 · Gaustablikk, Norway |
| 3 | Maxine McCormick |  | 57.5 | 2018 · Cumbria, UK |
| 3 | Tina Mengkroken | | 57.5 | 2018 · Cumbria, UK |
| 5 | Birgit Hansson | | 56.0 | 2018 · Cumbria, UK |
| 6 | Anna Hedman | | 55.5 | 2026 · Vinadio, Italy |
| 7 | Tone Martinsen | | 55.0 | 2018 · Cumbria, UK |
| 8 | Marina Gibson | | 53.5 | 2018 · Cumbria, UK |
| 9 | Christine Josephsen | | 53.0 | 2018 · Cumbria, UK |
| 9 | Lisa Isles | | 53.0 | 2018 · Cumbria, UK |
Veteran
| # | Athlete | Nation | Score (m) | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nils Øyvind Mæhle | | 62.0 | 2022 · Gaustablikk, Norway |
| 2 | Chris Korich | | 60.5 | 2022 · Gaustablikk, Norway |
| 3 | Henry McLaughlin | | 59.5 | 2018 · Cumbria, UK |
| 4 | Larry Allen | | 59.0 | 2018 · Cumbria, UK |
| 4 | Gari O. Aikio | | 59.0 | 2026 · Vinadio, Italy |
| 6 | Esa Raudasvirta | | 58.5 | 2022 · Gaustablikk, Norway |
| 7 | Steve Rajeff | | 57.0 | 2026 · Vinadio, Italy |
| 8 | Luca Prono |  | 56.5 | 2022 · Gaustablikk, Norway |
| 9 | Thorgeir Gustavsen | | 54.0 | 2018 · Cumbria, UK |
| 9 | Kristoffer Olstad | | 54.0 | 2022 · Gaustablikk, Norway |