Sling Experience Olympics of Competitions
Do you think you have what it takes to win an award from one of the competitions at the Sling Experience? We offer several different competitions throughout our event, including lighting competitions, audio competitions, donut competition, exhaust competition and much more. As one of the premier Slingshot events in the world, we strive to continuously improve our competition formats and judging to ensure our competitions are fair, judging is consistent, and most of all, FUN!
The Sling Experience is a proud supporter of the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation. Team Slingin for a Cure!
More about competition process....
Please use the links below to register for each competition in advance, to help expedite our process, and ensure you are accounted for before the competition starts. Each competition section below will contain more information on the rules and format for each competition. Due to the massive turnout of Slingshots at our events, all competitions require an entry fee, to ensure that we are judging only those who desire to compete and hope to win a trophy. Please respect all competition judges, ensure they have space to work, and comply with their requests. Our full event timeline can be found here – which includes competition start times. Please try to be in the event space at least 30 minutes before each competition is scheduled to start, and check in with an event coordinator at the main tent. Only paid competition entrants have a chance to win one of our larger trophies or championship belts, and have their picture posted on our website in the “Winners Circle”.
We also award several other trophies during our event for “Sling Experience Standouts”, so be sure to stick around for our award ceremonies. You never know what you might win, and EVERYONE has a chance! Register for each competition by clicking the link below in each competition description.
Competition Details and Registration......
Each section below has information and rules about the competitions. You will also find a link for the registration for each competition.
Please note that each competition registration cost online does go up $10 each on April 4th, 2025, one week before the event start on April 10th, 2025. Pre Registering for one or all the competitions you plan to participate in gives the planning committee an understanding of how many contestants to plan for.
Audio Competition
2025 Sling Experience Audio Competition:
Points are counted on:
2025 SUTV Scorecard
2025 Slingshot Sound Spot Standings
7 Audio Competition Classes.
Friday: April 11th 2025 (Inspection 4:30pm, Competition starts 5:30pm) Flyweight, Featherweight, Lightweight will compete
Saturday: April 12th, 2025 (Inspection 2:00pm, Competition starts 3:00pm) Welterweight, Middleweight, Heavyweight and Super Heavyweight will compete.
Sling Experience CLASSES:
• Flyweight: (6) Speakers up to 6.5″ Mids & (1)-10″ Subwoofer (Must be in the stock tub)
• Featherweight: (8) Speakers up to 6.5″ Mids & (1)-10″ Subwoofer.
• Lightweight (8) Speakers up to 8″ Mids & (2)-10″ Subwoofers.
• Welterweight (10) Speakers up to 10″ Mids up to (2)-12″ Subwoofers
• Middleweight (18) Speakers up 12″ Mids up to (2)-13.5″ Subwoofers
• Heavyweight: Up to (32) Speakers/ Subwoofer(s) (no size limits)
• Super Heavyweight: (33) or more Speakers / Subswoofer(s) (no size limits)
Separate Compression Horns will go against your total speaker count. Coaxial Speakers will count as 1 speaker. Tweeters will not go against your total speaker count. NO TRAILERS OR SEPARATE GENERATORS ALLOWED FOR ANY CLASSES.
All Slingshots that pull into the ring will be subject to inspection. If found cheating you will be disqualified for that class, and will have to re-register for the correct class. No refunds will be given for disqualifications! In any situation anything is questioned. The final say will be decided by the Judges and Sling Experience committee.
Champion of each class will be awarded the Sling Experience 2025 Belt for the competitive class they won. We will require a minimum of 3 contestants of each class to compete for a Belt.
For the Audio Competition, we will be awarding trophies or championship belts to the first place winners of each weight class only. However, Sling Experience have now added multiple additional trophies to give out for the “Loudest Slingshot”, “Best Bass”, “Unique Audio Modification”, “Most Underrated” etc., across any weight class.
Slingshot DJ Battle
Time to turn up the crowd! The Slingshot DJ Audio Battle is a competition where a small group pre-selected contestants take turns playing songs, until one winner is selected. Judging is based on song selection and the ability to entertain and move the crowd. While typical Audio Competitions are more technical in nature, this competition is about fun and entertainment. Get your playlist ready, know your audience, vibe off of the person who played before you, and get that crowd dancing!
The Main Slingshot DJ Battle on Friday night will only have room for 6 contestants, who will be pre-selected. Reach out to Storm Mansell on IG or FB if you are interested. Your Slingshot Audio system must be pretty loud, in order to be heard by everyone. Contestants will take turns in a circle playing music for 3-4 minutes each. The facilitator of the competition will tell you when to start or stop playing. Do not stop your music until the next contestant starts their music, to keep a continuous flow of music going and create a party atmosphere. If your Slingshot cannot play for a technical reason, or you are not ready, you may be skipped for that round. Each contestant will get to play for at least two rounds. Random participants from the crowd will be called upon to help determine the winners. Two finalists will battle it out in the end to determine the ultimate DJ Battle Champion for Sling Experience 2025 and take home the large trophy.
Once we have 5 primary contestants locked in, there will be a Slingshot DJ Battle Warm Up Competition late Thursday night in the Sling Experience main parking lot, where others can compete, and the winner of that competition will make it into the final match on Friday.
(Due to limited space and specific rules, unfortunately this competition is not open to random public entrants, please contact Sling Experience event coordinator if you think you have what it takes to put on a show.)
Clarity Audio Competition
Sling Experience Clarity Audio Competition:
Purpose:
The Clarity contest will test the slingshot ability to produce clear articulate music content without distortion. The Slingshot clarity should be as close to reality, or “like-being-there”, as possible. The competition wont consist of weight classes. Louder does not equate to better.
First Round
Acapella / Vocals only
Time: 1 min 30 seconds
What is Acapella ?
Music performed by a singer or a singing group without instrumental accompaniment.
Second Round
Instrumental
Time: 1 min 30 seconds
What is a music instrumental?
A piece of music performed with instruments with no vocals. No vocals means no lyrics or poetry spoken or sung. However, some song can have repeat one word or have sound effects such as humming, short portions of the hook, and excited utterance, are still considered instrumentals.
Exhaust Competition
Please come see an event coordinator at the main tent 30 minutes before the competition is scheduled to start. Exhaust Competition Contestants will be asked to line up in the main competition area. Each contestant will be asked to rev their engines for a set duration of time, usually 15-25 seconds. Please look for a judge to tell you when to stop.
Crowd will be asked to help judge who makes the final cut, and who is eliminated. Each participation may be asked to rev their engines multiple times, or at the same time as another Slingshot. Via process of elimination, two or three final contestants will give it one last shot, and the judges / crowd will pick ONE winner as the Exhaust Champion. Only Slingshots with a Slingshot engine will be allowed to participate / win the final award.
What are we listening / looking for in an Exhaust Champion?
- Overall volume – Loud and Proud!
- Tone – The deeper the better
- Consistency – No rattle, or drastic changes in tone throughout the RPM range
- Fire – You may get bonus points if your exhaust can spit fire
Lighting Competition
NEW LIGHTING 2025 COMPETITION RULES
Everyone with lights on their Slingshot will be asked to turn on their lights. Please remain in your parking spaces unless you are instructed to move by a judge or event coordinator. If space allows, we may have all Registered Lighting Competition contestants line up and “parade” in front of the main tent and show off their lights for the crowd. Judges will select winners for several categories such as “Brightest Lights”, “Most Original Lighting Modification”, “Cleanest Lighting Design”, etc. Only Slingshots parked in our main event space will be judged for standout trophies and only registered contestants will be eligible to win the larger awards. Categories can be added and changed, and anyone can win one of our “Sling Experience Standout” trophies, so be sure to participate!
Various criteria will be factored in when determining Lighting Competition winners:
1. BRIGHTEST LIGHTS – Judges will walk around and look for the brightest lighting. Quantity of lights does not factor in, but the luminance of each bulb is more of a factor.
2. INSTALLATION – Judges will walk around Slingshots looking for any exposed wires, or obvious defects in installation, like glue showing, improper fitment, etc. Faded / off-white or yellowed light strips may receive a lower score than fresh, “smoked out” light strips.
3. LIGHT SHOW – If your Slingshot can perform coordinated patterns, put your Slingshot on “Show Mode” for the judges. If your Slingshot can react to music, contestants may be asked to perform their light show one at a time, so the music doesn’t interfere with others. Color coordination, unique light movements, and wow factor will all be part of the scoring.
4. CLEAN DESIGN – Style points, sometimes a clean looking install looks better than a Slingshot flooded with too many lights. A Slingshot with strategically placed lighting may score higher in this category than a Slingshot with light strips covering every line of the machine.
5. QUANTITY OF LIGHTS – This category is where “more is better”. Based on visual observation, judges will look at lights installed all over the Slingshot to try to determine who has the most lights.
6. UNIQUE MODIFICATIONS – Did you do something unique, that no one has done before? Do you have a game-changing modification? Put lights in a place that no one else has? Show us!
Show & Shine
All participants must be in our main event space. Only registered / Premium Parking will be eligible for our larger awards, and the main “Best in Show” award. Please try to be in parked in place 30 minutes before the competition starts. Judges will go around and look for individual category winners, such as Best Paint or Wrap, Sling Experience Choice, Best Wheels, Best DIY/Customization Mod, Most Patriotic, Best Conversion, Best Engine Bay, Over the Top, etc. Please pop your hood if you want your engine bay to be considered. Anyone can win a potential “Sling Experience Standout” award, so please stick around for the winner announcements!
What makes a “Best in Show” Slingshot?
First and foremost, your Slingshot has to grab the attention of large groups of people. We are looking for the Slingshots that draw a crowd, and stand out from the crowd. This award is about the Slingshot itself, and not the owner, not attendance time, or any other personal accolades. Things we consider for a Best in Show Slingshot:
- Cleanliness / Shine – Clean them up and wipe them down! Makes sure your Slingshot is as clean as possible. Judges may wipe their finger across an obscure spot to be sure.
- Paint / Wrap / Theme – Is the entire Slingshot painted? Texture delete? Unique and challenging paint job or wrap?
- Coordination of Accessories, Interior – Do the seats match the color theme of the Slingshot closely? Interior upholstery / floormats matching? Steering wheel, pedal covers, shift knob, dash, console, brake cover… everything should coordinate closely. Any other external accessories or props?
- Wheels – Do the wheels grab attention? Are they unique and match the design of the Slingshot?
- Engine bay – Turbo, supercharger, or engine swap? Engine accessories color matched to the rest of the Slingshot?
- Major Customizations or Custom Fabrication – Did you do anything massively unique to the Slingshot? Front-end conversions? 4 wheel modifications, stretched 4 or 6 seater?
- Crowd Reaction – Judges may ask for the crowd to help judge which Slingshot they think is best.
Donut Competition
The Donut Competitions at the Sling Experience are always amazing and entertaining! Participation will be limited. At your own risk. Click below to fill out your application. There will be only ONE winner awarded for this competition. Listen for announcements at the event for additional details.
What makes a good donut competition performance?
- Control – Ability to manage your Slingshot in a tight space while the tires are spinning
- Keeping it Tight – Ability to do tight full circle donuts
- Ability to Change Directions
- Style / Energy – Put on a show for the people, get the crowd hype!
Competition "Winners Circle"
Sling Experience Winners 2022 - Houston, TX
Audio Competition 2022
Heavyweight – Tonia Coston Black Mamba
Audio Competition 2022
Middleweight – Tonia Coston Black Mamba
Audio Competition 2022
Featherweight – Elizabeth Lea Saldivar
Audio Competition 2022
Lightweight – Bill Morrise
Exhaust Competition 2022
Champion – Allan Granados
Lighting Competition 2022
Lighting Grand Champion – Nuthouse
Show & Shine 2022
Best in Show – Batman – Monique Hill
Push Drag Race 2022
We did not have a Push Drag Race in 2022. However, get your teams ready for 2023 and be sure to register!!
Slingshot DJ Battle 2022
Champion Anthony Duncan
Donut Competition 2022
Champion – Kenny Edwards
Runner Up – Monique Hill
Sling Experience Winners 2024 - Houston, TX
Audio Competition 2024
Coming Soon
Audio Competition 2024
Coming Soon
Audio Competition 2024
Coming soon
Audio Competition 2024
Coming Soon
Exhaust Competition 2024
Coming Soon
Lighting Competition 2024
Coming Soon
Show & Shine 2024
Coming Soon
Push Drag Race 2024
Coming Soon
Slingshot DJ Battle 2024
Coming Soon
Donut Competition 2024
Coming Soon
Sling Experience Winners 2023 - Houston, TX
Audio Competition 2023
Heavyweight
Audio Competition 2023
Middleweight
Audio Competition 2023
Welterweight
Audio Competition 2023
Featherweight
Audio Competition 2023
Lightweight
Exhaust Competition 2023
Winner will be listed here
Lighting Competition 2023
Winner(s) will be listed here
Show & Shine 2023
Best in Show
Winner will be listed here
Push Drag Race 2023
Winner will be listed here
Slingshot DJ Battle 2023
Winner will be listed here
Donut Competition 2023
Winner will be listed here
Huge Congratulations....
Huge congratulations to all the contestants of the Sling Experience competitions. We recognize the passion and hard work you put into your slingshots!! Every year these slingshot builds get bigger and better! We love seeing everyone’s creativity! If you have ideas on how to make the Sling Experience competitions more fun! Feel free to each out to the Sling Experience planning committee team members with your ideas. We welcome all your feedback and will take it all into consideration.