Gordon Tom draws back a slingshot outside a downtown Marysville building on April 23. The lifelong local entrepreneur is promoting the sport of slingshotting as his latest venture and hopes to form a club of enthusiasts in the Yuba-Sutter area.

 

MARYSVILLE, CA (MPG) - Marysville’s unofficial historian and perpetual idea man, Gordon Tom, has never been one to sit still. From raising chinchillas in his 20s to launching pedal go-kart races through the streets of historic downtown, Tom has spent a lifetime turning unconventional ideas into lasting local experiences.

Now, at an age when most slow down, Tom is aiming high—literally—by introducing the international sport of slingshotting to the Yuba-Sutter area.

“Slingshotting is simple, cheap, really cheap, and fun,” said Tom. “Where else can you get into a sport for less than $20?”

Slingshot shooting—yes, the same handheld Y-shaped frame made famous by mischievous cartoon characters—has evolved into a precision sport with serious global traction. In countries like China, slingshot culture is thriving, with an estimated 20 million owners and over 700,000 actively engaged participants. Competitive leagues, specialty equipment, and YouTube influencers have turned backyard fun into a worldwide community.

“In China our national sport is ping pong, and what I think they’re trying to do now is get slingshots into the Olympics,” said Tom. “It was popular here when I was a kid in the 40’s and I know it’s still popular because I go every week to check out the stores to see if anybody’s sold anything. Well, they’ve been selling them, especially around Christmas, a lot of people are buying them.”

Tom’s current goal is to start building a network of local slingshot enthusiasts. With a core “club” in place, he would then work to secure an indoor shooting gallery and potentially organize sanctioned competitions.

“All you need is a little skill and lots of practice,” said Tom.

Gordon Tom holds a binder labeled “Golden T Slingshot Shooting Gallery,” his latest project aimed at introducing slingshot sports to the Marysville community. The longtime entrepreneur has begun documenting his vision and designs as he looks to form a local club and build a following around the precision pastime.

A Lifetime of Left-Field Innovation

For those who know Tom, this latest endeavor is par for the course.

At 23, Tom became the area’s first chinchilla farmer—an unusual but lucrative venture he pursued purely to fund his love of dune buggy racing in Southern California. When the fur industry began to fall out of favor, he exited just in time, pivoting to bring off-road vehicles and later professional remote-control car racing to local tracks.

“My tag line has always been ‘timing, opportunity, and focus,’” explained Tom. “You need alignment with all three to make something be successful.”

He later launched adult pedal go-kart races through the streets of historic Marysville, an event equal parts nostalgia and competition. Participants pedaled through downtown in a mix of hilarity and grit, another example of Tom’s signature blend of fun and community involvement.

Even his quieter pursuits have a creative flair. A self-proclaimed photo documentarian, Tom has amassed a significant visual archive chronicling Marysville's lesser-known people, streets, and stories. He's even served as an inventor, dabbling in product development by creating “Tom’s Polishing Cloth”—a fabric designed to be so effective, you’d only need to buy one in your lifetime.

“I guess I made the product too good, not really the best business plan,” Tom said with a laugh.

Whether it’s a racecar, a cloth, or a slingshot, Tom has a knack for spotting gaps in the local scene and filling them with something unexpected—and unforgettable.

“I keep saying this is going to be my last big project, but we’ll see,” said Tom. “I'm inviting everyone to come out and help start an old-new sport with me!”

Those interested in learning more about slingshotting or joining Tom’s growing group of enthusiasts can reach out via text to 530-218-1677. Be sure to include name, age, and city of residence.