Because skateboarding is a relatively new sport, the range of possible tricks is still expanding each and every year. With large competitions like the X Games, there’s a good chance that at least one record will be broken during the event. Many of these world records can be seen in videos online and elsewhere thanks to the public nature of these events.
The world of skateboarding is full of pro skateboarders who are driven to push the bar with their tricks. Pro skateboarders are constantly working to improve their performance, shooting for more complicated tricks, bigger air, and more flips. Here are a few of the most well-known skateboarding records to date:
Longest skateboard. Although the lengths of the standard skateboard and the longboard are fairly standardized by now, there are some variations. For example, in 2005 three boys created and rode the world’s longest skateboard. Over 30 feet in length, it required all three riders at once to control the full length.
Distance. Many people use skateboards as their primary mode of transportation, riding several miles every week, although there are others who have made a name for themselves based on how far they have ridden. In 2008, Ted McDonald rode barefoot for 242 miles in 24 hours. Rob Thomson is another skateboarder known for distance. He skateboarded approximately 7,500 miles over two and a half years.
Speed. The fastest speed that can be attained on a skateboard has been measured at 63 miles per hour, set by Gary Hardwick back in 1998. However, there are multiple reports of faster, unmeasured speeds, of up to 80 miles per hour.
Spins. Spins are incorporated into many skateboarding tricks. In 2000 Richie Carasco broke the record for consecutive 360 degree spins, with 142. Tony Hawk is known for many records, including the first 900 degree spin, or two and a half complete rotations without landing, a feat that was first seen at the 1999 X Games. The elusive 900 degree spin is the goal of many pro skateboarders, as is the 1080 spin, which has not yet been attained.
Jumps. High jumps and jumps over long distances are something practiced by most professional skateboarders. In 2005, Danny Way became the first person to jump over the Great Wall of China on a skateboard. He is also know for many other skateboarding world records, such as the greatest distance jump (79 feet). Danny Way also invented the Mega Ramp used to set both of these records; this structure is likely the largest skate ramp every built. Danny Way’s other records include height out of a skateboard ramp (23.5 feet).
Ollies. The Ollie, in which the skateboarder flips the skateboard under them while in the middle of a jump, is arguably the most popular skateboarding trick. Although the record for the highest Ollie is officially 44.5 inches, set by Danny Wainwright, there are many claims of higher Ollies, up to 50 inches. In 2007, Rob Dyrdek completed the most Ollies in a row, with 215. In fact, Rob Dyrdek holds over 20 world skateboarding records, such as the longest rail grind (100 feet), and the highest jump into water with a ramp, at 10 feet and 8 inches.
