Guinness World Records Sollefteå 2002.07.19-20
A short Account about the Parasail Marathon Records in Sollefteå Sweden July 2002.
It all started about a year ago. We have a sport association for people with a handicap called (in English) Wet & Dry.
We have a lot of activities not only for handicapped people but also for people without a handicap. Some of the activities are Parasailing, Water-skining, Climbing and Go-Cart.
In the Winter we have Sit-Ski and Ski-Cart.
In April 2001, we made a decision to try to set a record in parasailing. We contaced Guinness to get the rules. During the time eastern 2001, when we received teh rules, we tried to get sponsors for the attempt. It was diffecult of the fact that we couldn´t specify the attempt. In Novber 2001 we managet to get the final sponsors so we could continue to make the plans for the attempt.
We decided to make the attempt on 17:th of July 2002
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The equipment the sponsors donated was follows.
Boats, MarinDiesel Sweden
Transport and Assistance, GlobeMarine, Sweden
Parashutes, Cloud Hooper USA and Permobil Sweden
Harness, SkyTeknik Sweden
Diesel, Råsjötorv Sweden
Clothes, Craft Sweden
Food, Hallsta Berget Hotell Sweden
Mobile phones, Nokia Sweden
Two way radios, Nokia and Peltor Sweden
Dokumentation Equipment, Digakon Sweden
The people involved in the attempt was as follows.
Berne Persson, the eventual record holder.
Mats Lidström, Driver Head-boat
Jens Wörman, Driver Head-boat
Joacim Persson, Co-driver Head-boat
Charles Wörman, Co-driver Head-boat
Magnus Lidström, Driver Service-boat
Anders Lundin, Co-driver Service-boat
Support team from Graninge Waterski Club
Tomas Danielsson
Michael Norlen
Fredrik Bergwall
Dennis Eriksson
Ted Olows, Controller and timekeeper
Leif Wörman, Controller
Elin Roman, Controller
The day befor the attempt, we gathered the equipment and the people involved, at the lake Graninge, in Sollefteå Sweden. We tested all equipment and did a test-tour with no problems.
The weather report from the nearest airport Midlanda, Sundsvall 15 miles from Graninge, said that the weather on the 19:th, should be good with a few showers. We all got to bed and it was no problem for me to fall asleep. Sweat dreams................
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After breakfast on the 19:th we gathered at the starting-poit at 9 o´clock. Checked the equipment and made the final decisions.
The start should be at 11.45 The start should happen from ashore. The length of the rope should be 100 meter. Driver and Co-driver should be replaced every 2 hours. The boat was to be filled up with 400 liter of diesel in the start. To get us 10 hours drive to the next fill up. In every fill up, 200 liters was to be added.
Before start I made a final visit at the toilette.
At 11:45 We started from ashore. It all went well. Two more steps and I would have wet my shoes. During the afternoon the weather was as the report said it would be. People started to show up at the shore and waved to me and shouted. Later on the evening they started to light fires along the shore. It was very nice for me to se these fires during the night.
The first fill up took place about eight o´clock in the evening and it all went well. The diesel was pumped in plastic cans and were dellivered out to the boat. At the boat, the fill up was made by hand.
Every fill up during the attempt went well, and was never a problem. The only problem we had with the equipment, was instumenal failure in the boat. It did not effect the attempt.
About 8:30 in the evening the wind stared to blow. After a while the rain came. Until that moment it all went well. Now it began to be harder. I got cold and my face got wet. The urine condom started to leak. It´s nice while it still is warm, but when it´s cold it feels like hell. All communications got througt mobile phones and two way radio, and that helped a lot during the night. To get the time going, I also had a radio so I could listen to music.
2 o´clock in the morning I got into a tuff period. The crew was thinking of stopping the attempt. While we were talking on the radio I couldn´t talk strait. I started to slur my words. All because of the weather. My temperature had gone down. To rise they sent up coffee and towels and a plastic bag to cover my legs. When I recovered I could guide the boat to better weather because of my higher position. All to avoid the worst rain. The winds were also a bit of trouble for us. To hold me in a constant level, the driver had to match the wind with the accelerator. It was tuff. The driver wanted me high above the water, but I wanted to go closer to the water. It was warmer there. To facilitate for the driver I had a flashlight to show my position. The night went on with chat with the crew and listening to the radio. 5 o´clock in the morning breakfast was served. Sandwiches and hot coffee. After that I felt a little bit better. But I was still freezing. With the morning-light came the spectators. And all of a sudden it felt better, they shouted and waved their hands. It was a real kick, that helped me during the last hours of the attempt. A couple of minutes befor the record was set, we did a last trip in front of the audience, then we decided to end the record. We did it. We set the record. The total time became 24 hours and 10 min. Even the end was a grate success. I managed to land between seats in the Service-boat.
After that I was taken ashore among a lot of people, who wanted to congratulate me. Flowers and speech by representatives from Sollefteå municipality. Lots of cheers and a lot of hugs. After that I spent a lot of time the Sauna. Nice and Warm.
A grate thanks to the sponsors.
A grate thanks to the Crew.
Without these it would not have been possible to set the World Records.
Berne Persson
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....Berne Persson,53
-who broken the world record in Parasailing by being in the air for 24 hours and 10 minutes.
....Why a World Record?
-I have been doing this for 3 years and got the idea in April 2001, then it took some time before ive got the rules for the record. Nobody belivied me before i bought the boat last year.
....What do you think about 24 hours in the air?
-I dont know, nothing particular,it was raining the hole time.
....Did you ever thought of giving it up ?
-Never. About 02.00 PM the boys on the ground was a little bit worried becasue i was mumbling when i talked to them in the radio and thats a sign that your about to blackout. Ive got some rainclothes and towes,so i managed to stay up. I also had a radio so i listened to music as the time went by...
....Why do a man pull a stunt like this?
-Its probably only we in wheelchairs, doing this kind of crazy things, i think its a way of proving your self...
....At last, what do you wish for right now ?
-A great dinner....
....Record accepted...
-Congratulations - your record has been approved as an official Guinness World Record. You will receive your complimentary Guinness World Records certificate shortly.
Article Aftonbladet
This is a clip of my Guinness World Records in Parasailing Marathon
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