Meet BC's weird and wonderful Guinness World Record holders

BC is home to many incredible things: the Rocky Mountains, the wildlife, the ski scene, the food, and, of course, the people. However, what many may not even realize is how unique and talented people in this province are.

In a statement provided to Daily Hive by the ultimate record-breaking facts and achievements site, the Guinness World Records, BC holds more than 40 records for random and wacky achievements.

Here’s a list of the extraordinary BC folks who broke a Guinness World Record.

Most spins of skateboards under each foot

This achievement is one no one in the world has been able to break on record for over 40 years. In 1979, Kevin Harris was recorded for the most two-board 360s, that is, the most consecutive spins of a skateboard under each foot simultaneously. He was able to spin a combined total of 1,032.

This record was documented at that year’s Canadian Skateboard Championships at the PNE.

Fastest 100 m running on all fours (female)

While not achieved by a Canadian, this one happened on BC soil. American Julie Holland ran the fastest 100 m on all fours for a female in only 22.99 seconds.

She broke this record in Vernon in 2021.

Most vertical feet skied in one calendar year (male)

Of course this record was made in BC!

Between November 22, 2014, and May 10, 2015, Pierre Marc Jette skied the most vertical feet in one calendar year for a male. He achieved to ski over 6,025,751 feet Whistler.

Longest 720 ramp jump on skis

Another epic record was recorded in Whistler at Blackcomb Mountain when Joey Spencer was recorded to complete the longest 720 ramp jump on skis measured at 88 feet and 5.02 inches and in 2012.

Lowest vocal note (female)

In early 2021, country music singer and songwriter Joy Chapman from the Fraser Valley in BC achieved the lowest vocal note by a female, which is 34.21 Hz (C♯₁).

Most bottles played

In 2015, 172 musicians were organized by the Jim Pattison Group Partners at the Pride Executive Conference in Surrey to play the most bottles in a musical performance. The group played using 1,100 bottles.

Largest collection of sunglasses

Vancouver’s own Lori-Ann Keenan holds the record for the largest collection of sunglasses in the world, which consists of 2,174 items in a variety of sizes and colours.

Keenan was recognized by the record books in 2019.

Puzzle cubes and hula-hooping

Victoria resident Josiah Plett earned a spot in the Guinness World Records in 2021 after solving the most rotating puzzle cubes while hula-hooping. A few days later, Plett also held the record for most rotating puzzle cubes solved one-handed while hula-hooping, which is 531.

Farthest distance to pull a vehicle with meat hooks in the back

In 2011, Burnaby Q. Orbax broke the record for what can only be called a very unusual talent.

Orbax was recognized by the record books for the “farthest distance to pull a vehicle with meat hooks in the back.” He pulled it 366 feet and six inches as part of the two-person comedy sideshow act, the Monsters of Schlock, at the Pacific National Exhibition (PNE) in Vancouver.

Most animal traps released on the body in one minute

A few years later, Sweet Pepper Klopek of the Monsters of Schlock was able to beat the record for the most animal traps released on the body in one minute, with 37 traps in 2016 at the PNE.

Longest time to spin an American football on one finger

Sandeep Singh Kaila from Abbotsford holds the record for spinning an American football on one finger for 27.63 seconds. He achieved this last summer. 

In 2021, though, he also set a record for spinning a rugby ball on one finger at 35.33 seconds (surpassing his previous record of 23.21 seconds.)

Most people painting blindfolded simultaneously

In 2022, Chetwynd Community Arts Council gathered 320 people to paint blindfolded simultaneously and broke the record for the most people painting blindfolded simultaneously.

Most people performing a drum roll online simultaneously

The Legacy 150 Celebrations Society brought together 581 people for a pretty noisy show — and won the record as the most people performing a drum roll online simultaneously on July 1, 2021.

Largest Pez dispenser sculpture

At five feet by five feet by seven feet, the Aberdeen Centre in Richmond broke the record for the largest Pez dispenser sculpture in the world. 

On June 30, 2016, the stunning sculpture was displayed. It was designed by artist Dio Wong (based out of Tokyo) and several local community members.

Tallest snapdragon

New record: Tallest snapdragon. Canadian Vern Fast grew this whopper in his garden over the course of a year. After surviving winter in British Columbia, it reached 224.79 cm (88.5 inches) pic.twitter.com/EhNW508hls

— Guinness World Records (@GWR) February 13, 2018

In 2016, Vern Fast of Surrey grew the tallest snapdragon in the world at 88.5 inches.

Most people using virtual reality displays simultaneously

In Vancouver in 2017, Mobileye was about to gather 1,867 at the 2017 YPO EDGE Event to break a record for the most people using virtual reality displays simultaneously.

Longest charcuterie board ever

A BC catering company became an official Guinness World Record holder just last month. Sheila’s Catering constructed a 500-foot charcuterie board, which was covered with lavish cheeses, meat, and fruit to make history as the “longest charcuterie platter/board” in the world.

According to the event page, the platter could be enjoyed by 1,200 people.

@charcuterieonthepier Officially the worlds Longest Charcuterie Board in the world!!!!! Sheilas catering, you did an incredible job!!!!! #sheilascatering #charcuterieonthepier #whiterock #cheeseandmeat #guinnessworldrecords #whiterockbc ♬ Pink Lizzie – 🎧

Tallest tower of Guinness World Records books

Russell Books in Victoria stacked the tallest tower of Guinness World Records books in the world, which stood at 19 feet and 8.22 inches when they set the record in 2019.

@guinnessworldrecords

Steady…steady! Tallest stack of Guinness World Records books 📚 6 m (19 ft 8 in) by Russell Books in Victoria, BC, Canada 🇨🇦 #booktok

♬ Peace – Official Sound Studio

Largest spice painting

Preethi Vijay has been painting for almost eight years. During that time, she says she hasn’t shied away from experimenting with her paints.

This artist from Surrey said she started to experiment with a new art form — working with spices like turmeric and chili powder.

So, she strived to create the largest spice painting on record.

Most chest-to-ground burpees in one hour (female)

Issy Watson of Victoria loves a challenge.

So in 2021, she sought to train and hold the title for the most chest-to-ground burpees in one hour for a female recorded. She got to a total of 829.

Longest journey by car using alternative fuel

With biodiesel and vegetable oil, Tyson Jerry drove from Columbia, South Carolina, on November 15, 2009, and finished in Vancouver on May 4, 2010.

With the Driven to Sustain team’s support, he made the record for the longest journey by car using alternative fuel at 48,535.5 km.

According to the Guinness World Records site, Cloe Whittaker joined Jerry for parts of the trip and provided ground support throughout the journey.

Fastest time to cycle trans-Canada mainland (WUCA) (male)

It took Chris Bruckner 13 days, three hours, and 49 minutes to make his record – the fastest time to cycle trans-Canada.

Between June 30 and July 13, 2019, Bruckner took on the challenge to raise funds and awareness for the Canadian Mental Health Association.

Largest tetrapod exoskeleton

“PROSTHESIS” is nearly 13 feet tall and more than 18 feet wide, making it the largest tetrapod exoskeleton in the world.

It was created by Jonathan Tippett in BC’s Sea to Sky area on September 26, 2018.

Most consecutive unicycle backflips on a trampoline

About 20 years ago, Cameron Fraser held on to his record after completing two consecutive trampoline backflips while sitting on a three-foot-tall unicycle at the Garden Auditorium in Vancouver.

Fastest cycle across Canada by a relay team

Team H2, made up of five people, holds the record for the fastest cycle across Canada by a relay team after they managed to cycle from Halifax, Nova Scotia, to Vancouver in eight days, eight hours, and 14 minutes in 2007.

Oldest female to sail around the world (solo and non-stop)

At 77 years old, Jeanne Socrates (from Victoria) became the oldest female to sail around the world solo and non-stop on September 7, 2019.

She holds the record for the oldest person to sail single-handedly worldwide as a female.

Oldest curling player

At 102 years old, Lola Holmes holds the record for the world’s oldest curling player. She earned her title when she competed in a Vancouver Ladies Curling Club game in March 2020.

The first time she ever curled was when she was 24 years old, and she returned to the sport when she was 80, living in Vancouver.

Fastest time to swim the length of Okanagan Lake

In July 2016, American Adam Ellenstein continuously swam the entire length of Okanagan Lake and did so in record time — 40 hours, 57 minutes, and 11 seconds.

In the two days he swam, he covered a distance of 106.6 km wearing a wetsuit and swimming north to south. 

Longest lapsed time between performances by a high school band leader

According to the Guinness World Records site, Dal Richards achieved the longest lapsed time between performances by a high school band leader, which is 75 years, after performing as band leader at the Magee Secondary School in Vancouver in 2012.

Longest ice skating trail

 

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The Lake Windermere Whiteway is a 30-km-long skating and cross-country skiing trail that’s one of a kind, and you have to see it at least once.

Located in Windermere, nine hours from Vancouver and three hours from Calgary, this trail was named the longest in the world by the Guinness Book of World Records in 2014.

The trail measures 29.98 km.

Longest cable ferry

According to Guinness World Records, the longest cable ferry in the world is found here in BC and is operated by BC Ferries.

Since March 18, 2016, the Baynes Sound Connector, the channel between Denman Island and Vancouver Island, has held the record, measuring two kilometres.

Fastest crossing of Canada on foot (female)

Ann Keane ran across Canada from St John’s, Newfoundland, to Tofino in 143 days between April 17 and September 8, 2002. In that time, she covered a total of 7,831 km and ran for all but three of the days.

She now holds the record for the fastest crossing of Canada on foot by a female.

Largest circuit training (multiple venues)

In 2012, Cowichan Sportsplex set up 10 venues across the province and hosted 2,780 participants in the largest circuit training at multiple venues.

Longest duration juggling three objects whilst suspended upside down

In 2010, Quinn Spicker attempted to juggle three objects while hanging upside down at the PNE Auditorium in Vancouver. And with 12 minutes and 50 seconds, he beat the record for the longest duration juggling three objects while suspended upside down.

Most softball catches in one hour by a pair

In 2019, Canadians Larissa Franklin and Katelyn Ross threw 2,278 softballs in Maple Ridge and have since held the record for the most softball catches in one hour by a pair.

Longest marathon playing table hockey

Jason Kurylo, Robert Richard Tarzwell, Brent Corba, Jamie Macdonald, Chris Withers, and Derek Macdonald set a record and had a weekend they’d probably never forget.

For 30 hours in 2013, the group played table hockey, the longest-recorded marathon.

Largest collection of uncut banknotes

The largest collection of uncut banknotes belongs to Leigh Follestad of Penticton.

According to Guinness World Records, she has 212 sheets from 51 different countries which represent 124 denominations as of 2013.

Largest underwater press conference

The largest underwater press conference consisted of 61 journalists who dived to a depth of over 32 feet to attend the press conference held by Eric J Pittman to promote the release of his new book Emails from a Nut!!! at Crystal Pool in Victoria in 2006.

Longest marathon handbell ringing

The longest continuous time a person played the handbells was 28 hours, 50 minutes, and 21 seconds by Joe Defries at the Penticton Convention Centre in 2005.

What do you think is the most impressive record-breaker? Let us know in the comments.

This piece was originally published in October 2023. 

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