Fly Morocco 2011 - Latest hang gliding adventure in Africa set world record

Fly Morocco 2011 - Latest hang gliding adventure in Africa set world record

Born from the epic Fly Namibia expeditions of 2008-2010, Fly Morocco is the latest hang gliding adventure in Africa aimed at breaking world records and flying big distance. Organiser Erick Angles will be blogging here for the duration of the expedition

The group of top French hang glider pilots has set up camp in the super dry deserts of Morocco. Armed with trikes to aerotow themselves into the big skies of the Maghreb in Africa they plan to fly for a month. Their goal is simple: World Records!

Basing themselves near Ouarzazate, 75km south east of the Atlas mountains in the sub-Saharan plateau that runs into the main desert itself, the expedition will be the first we know of to try big distance flying in the area.

The terrain is dry and rocky with ravines and escarpments criss-crossing the barren landscape. The airmass is generally dry this time of year, giving high bases and good climbs.

If the flying turns on, big distances could be flown, with even longer retrieves if pilots land in any of the vast tracts of uninhabited land.

Blogging from the sub Sahara for XCMag.com is Fly Morocco organiser and pilot Erick Angles. He will be filing daily reports here as and when he can – check back to this page every day for updates from the edge of the Sahara.

The first ULMs and dollies are built and in place. At the end of the afternoon we made our first flights amongst superb colours. It’s magnificent. It’s just like the moon of Tatooine in Star Wars IV, which is no surprise as it was filmed here. It’s a completely incredible landscape. In Ouarzazate we found the film studios used by George Lucus and visited them on foot as we are in the TMA airspace.

We are in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by one of the most beautiful mountain ranges in the world. The Atlas is right in front of us. Mont Mgoun (4,060m) the second highest peak in the range is only 100km away as the crow flies.

Read More

Narayan Krishna Mahajan Rappelled across a 1200 Feet Deep Valley set Limca Book of Record

91 Year Old Man Rappelled across a 1200 Feet Deep Valley set Limca Book of Record

Age is no limit for Narayan Krishna Mahajan.

The ninety-one-year old set a new high inspiration for people of all age groups by climbing a mountain 3,500 above sea level without any help or assistance, but for a walking stick as an occasional aid.

He tied himself to ropes, and rappelled from the top of the peak to the peak of another hill in India's western state of Maharashtra on Sunday (February 20).

Mahajan said that he performed the adventure to instil the new age youngsters to be motivated to engage in outdoor sports and actions.

'I don't consider myself as old, because I believe that if one's attitude is strong, the body would also be fit. The body should be maintained healthy since childhood. I have done this to boost the morale of the youngsters and they don't get scared and participate in such activities,' Narayan Krishna Mahajan said.

Mahajan said that he was not aiming to set a world record but only with an intention to encourage people to have a healthy and active lifestyle.

'Don't sit within the confines of your house, before the computer and television. Come out on the ground and play games like hockey, football, go for trekking, climb mountains and stay healthy. Then you will stay healthy at old age as well,'

Narayan Krishna Mahajan Rappelled across a 1200 Feet Deep Valley set Limca Book of Record Video

Read More

Oldest man to climb the largest Kilimanjaro mountain set Guinness World Record

Mount Kilimanjaro began forming in Africa's Great Rift Valley around a million years ago. George Solt, from Buckinghamshire, has not been around for quite as long as that, but at the age of 82, he has become the oldest man to climb the world's largest free-standing mountain.

    Oldest man to climb the largest Kilimanjaro mountain Photo

Mr Solt took on the challenge with his son, daughter-in-law and three grandchildren, one of whom is 12 years old, in memory of his wife, Jen, who died last year. The money he raised by doing the climb will go towards Willen Hospice in Milton Keynes, where his wife spent her final days. "It's great, I can say I'm a world record holder and have done something no one else has ever done," Mr Solt said.

                           Kilimanjaro mountain Picture

It took the group six days to get up and two days to get down Kilimanjaro. Mr Solt had prepared for months, using weights, cycling hard and walking. The hardest part about the challenge, he said, were the "headaches, nausea and plain tiredness". When he reached the top of the 5,895m peak, Mr Solt said, he was "totally blank and exhausted. I was just glad to be able to turn around and get down again".

But it was then that he encountered the most difficulty. He said the descent was "absolutely awful, I was absolutely wrecked. The bottom half was the worst, in the wet rainforest, it was very slippery, the next day I couldn't even walk down the hotel steps".

His 52-year-old son didn't make it to the summit: "He just suddenly went absolutely bananas and had to be taken down and was extremely ill on the way down but right as rain the minute he got to the bottom."

Mrs Solt had been a keen climber too, mountaineering until she was 80, but suffered from altitude sickness, which meant the couple did most of their climbing in Europe, rather than on higher peaks such as Everest.

Mr Solt is five years younger than the Frenchman Valtée Daniel who, at 87, claims to be the oldest man to have climbed the mountain. But Mr Daniel's climb has never been recognised by the Guinness Book of Records, who insist on certain rules being followed in order for a climber's claim to be accepted. In particular, the record attempt has to be verified by independent witnesses, must be filmed and photographed as well as meticulously documented in a logbook.

Mr Solt reached Kilimanjaro's Uhuru peak on 14 July 2010, and is now resting at home, waiting for Guinness World Records to verify his climb.

Read More

World's Smallest Wingwalker set World Record - Indian Stunt Man Kiran Shah

          World Shortest Indian Stuntman Kiran Shah photo

World's Smallest Wing walker set Guinness World Record 2010 - Indian Stunt Man Kiran Shah

Actor and stuntman Kiran Shah has appeared in Star Wars, Lord of the Rings and Indiana Jones — and now he's become the world's Smallest wingwalker.

The 4ft 1in star braved speeds of 120mph at 1000ft to complete his record breaking feat.

And the 53-year-old performer, who doubled for Frodo in Lord of the Rings, said this was his most exciting adventure yet.

Strapped to the wing of a 1940s Boeing Spearman biplane, tiny Kiran completed a ten-minute wing-walk.

He said: "It was great, I loved it - but next time I'll pick a warmer day.


"It was very cold up there. The wind was coming at me all the time and I could hardly lift my arms because of the g-force."

Kiran added: "I was nervous until I had the safety briefing.

"Once I know what I'm doing it's ok - it's the same with any stunt.

"I'm not bothered by heights because I've done high falls before. Flying is no problem for me either.

"I love any kind of action. The more dangerous the better."


Experienced pilot Martyn Carrington flew the plane for Kiran's record attempt at Aerosuperbatics in Cirencester, Gloucs.

He said: "Flying with someone Kiran's size is a pilot's dream - you hardly know he's there.

"With someone bigger, the resistance and drag increases and it can be a bit trickier.

"He did really well up there. Conditions were good but there was a bit of wind and it was bumpy and cold.

"Kiran enjoyed himself though. I kept looking up to make sure he was still with us and he was lifting his arms and waving.

"He's certainly broken my personal record for the smallest passenger - next time we'll do a loop-the-loop with him."

Kiran was born in 1956 in Nairobi, Kenya, and moved to India when he was 12.

He began studying film in India but interrupted his studies when his father's health caused the family to move to England, where Kiran's brother had already settled.

His breakthrough into the film world came in 1976, when he was asked to do stunts in the film Candleshoe.

Kiran's career took off from there and he appeared in more films, TV commercials and videos.

He appeared alongside Tom Cruise in Legend, was Frodo's stunt double in Lord of The Rings, and worked on worldwide smash The Chronicles of Narnia.

Kiran has held the Guinness World Record for the 'shortest professional stuntman currently working in film' since October 2003.

Mary Oladapo of Guinness World Records said: "Kiran once again proves that size isn't everything even the smallest of people can achieve the greatest of things.

"To be recognised by Guinness World Records as the Shortest Stuntman and now the Shortest Wingwalker is testament that Kiran's one of the world's greatest stunt performers, regardless of size!"

Read More

Fastest Vertical Run set Guinness World Records by Tony Berglund - Swedish

Fastest Vertical Run set Guinness World Records by Tony Berglund - Swedish

Swedish Adventurer Tony Berglund Sets a new World Record for the Fastest Vertical Run, as he ran the 100 Meters Down the Front of a Skyscraper in Vasteras in 34.76 Seconds

The record involved running 100 meters down the front of a skyscraper in central Vasteras, face down using a rope.


Fastest Vertical Run Tony Berglund Picture

Tony Berglund beat the former world record in Vertical Run, of 36.25 seconds set by Britain's Steve Jones. The record was supervised by Guinness World Records' own adjudicator from London on site in Vasteras.
"This is a once in a lifetime achievement. Especially because we had to postpone the attempt one day due to heavy winds. I was confident I could beat the record and everything worked out just as planned. I defeated the forces of nature and my own fears", Berglund said.

In order to make the attempt possible the skyscraper had to be extended which made it the third highest skyscraper in Sweden for one day. A 20 meter high framed structure was temporarily built on top of the skyscraper and made it over 100 meters tall.
Berglund also had to use a specially constructed carbon dioxide cooled rappelling device to prevent the rope from melting by the heat created by the high speed.


In order to make the attempt possible the skyscraper had to be extended which made it the third highest skyscraper in Sweden for one day. A 20 meter high framed structure was temporarily built on top of the skyscraper and made it over 100 meters tall.
Berglund also had to use a specially constructed carbon dioxide cooled rappelling device to prevent the rope from melting by the heat created by the high speed.


Tony Berglund - Fastest Vertical Run Guinness World Records 2010 Video

Read More

Adventurer Sets Sea Trial for World Record Human-Powered Ocean Crossing from Canada to Hawaii

February 4, 2010 -- Speaker-adventurer Greg Kolodziejzyk, the holder of two world records, will attempt to become the first person ever to travel from Canada to Hawaii under his own power. Using a custom designed pedal-powered boat christened ‘WiTHiN,’ Greg will begin his epic 4,800 km (3,000 mile) journey from Tofino, B.C., to Honolulu, Hawaii on July 1, 2010. His solo trip is expected to take between 50 to 80 days. This February 15th Greg will conduct a sea trial off the coast of Victoria, B.C., to further test WiTHiN. The Discovery Channel is documenting the project for future broadcast.
Greg already holds two human-powered world records. One is for the most distance covered by human power on land (1,041 km/647 miles). The other record is for the greatest distance covered by human power in one day on water (245 km/152 miles). For this record attempt in July, which he’s dubbed ‘Pedal The Ocean,Greg will pedal unassisted for up to 16 hours per day. All alone he will battle storms at sea, and risk capsizing, as he pedals through one of the most desolate stretches of ocean on the planet.

Greg is undertaking this daunting challenge to inspire young people to be more physically active, and to raise money for a related cause; Kimberlee's Bikes for Kids. For every mile Greg pedals across the ocean, Kimberlee's Bikes for Kids will donate one bicycle to a child who can't afford one. If he makes it all the way to Hawaii it could mean 3,000 bikes for 3,000 kids! Individuals, corporations and others are encouraged to help by pledging $50 for each mile pedaled at pedaltheocean.com/charity.php. Every $50 raised buys a bicycle for a child.

Human Ocean Crossing video



"This will be the most difficult and dangerous world record attempt I have ever pursued," said Kolodziejzyk, age 48. "It will be the ultimate test of human power. Through it, I hope to inspire others to do both extraordinary and ordinary things every day using their own power. Tapping into our human power is good for the environment, essential for our health, and it sends the right message about physical activity to our children."

For the last four years, Greg has been planning ‘Pedal The Ocean’ and building and ocean-testing his craft. Designed by world record-winning naval architect Stuart Bloomfield, and Pedal The Ocean chief engineer Rick Willoughby, the small boat is made of carbon fiber. In good conditions it is capable of traveling up to 8-9 Kilometers Per Hour (kph).

Source: prweb

Read More