Monday, January 16, 2012

  Most consecutive days skiing: Rainer Hertrich sets world record (Video)

Copper Mountain, CO, USA -- Rainer Hertrich, a 29-year snowcat operator at Copper Mountain, strapped into his telemark skis every day for 2,993 straight days (more than eight years) and 98 million vertical feet - setting the new world record for Most consecutive days skiing, according to World Record Academy (www.worldrecordacademy.com).

  Photo: Rainer Hertrich has skied every single day for 2,993 straight days and 98 million vertical feet (over eight years) - setting the new world record for Most consecutiv days skiing. Photo: AP ( enlarge photo )

The Guinness world record for the longest time spent skiing non-stop is 202 hr 1 min by Nick Willey (Australia) at Thredbo, New South Wales, Australia.

Guinness World Records also recognized the world record for the longest downhill skiing race: 25.6 km (15.91 miles), at the annual "Schlag das ASSinger" organised by the municipality of Nassfeld Hermagor (Austria) The race starts at Gartenkofel and finishes Tröpolach, Austria.

  According t the SummitDaily, the 29-year snowcat operator at Copper Mountain, strapped into his telemark skis every day for more than eight years, until when a cardiac arrhythmia (or irregular heartbeat) prevented him from hitting the slopes.

  "I was shooting for 3,000 days, which was only a week away. Or, what I really wanted to do was hit 100 million vertical in a hundred months, which would have been Feb. 29," Hertrich said.

 "I made some sacrifices work-wise and was really gunning for it. It was totally within reach, until this happened."

  The Summit Daily News also noted that "Guinness World Records has already confirmed that Hertrich will ultimately be the record holder for "accumulated vertical descent in consecutive days for telemark skiing.

   "Strangely, Guinness World Records differentiates between telemark and alpine, so Hertrich will not hold the record for 'skiing' in general, but that's something that will be up for discussion now that the streak is over."

  "Not only is he a character, but he brings new meaning to the word commitment," said Chris Runyon, spokesman for Copper Mountain.

 "Hertrich has kept skiing with separated shoulders, bruised ribs and many days of knock-you-off-your-feet sickness. It seemed like nothing was going to stop this Fu Manchu skiing machine. That's why we were all extremely surprised to hear that was in the hospital. Everyone at Copper wishes him a speedy recovery, and we know he'll be back on the slopes to finish his goal."  

  "I'm bummed I missed 3,000 days by a week, but whatever, Hertrich recounted in an interview.
  "I'm proud I made it this far. Every year was a challenge. When I look at the whole picture, it doesn't seem like anything. But when you break down the years, it's amazing. I really don't think anyone will ever attempt it."