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Man Makes 24km Vertical Climb on Skis In 24 Hours to Break World Record

Published : 01-Feb-2024 07:20

A professional ski mountaineer, Jakob Herrmann, has set a new world record by ascending a total of 24,242 vertical metres in 24 hours.

This beat the previous record of 23,486 vertical metre set by Kilian Jornet in Norway five years ago by 756 vertical metres.

Herrmann completed his epic task at his home ski area of Radstadt in Austria where he made 34 ascents of a 710 metre vertical ascents. Each climb was 2.5km long for a total of 85 kilometre (53 miles) of uphill skiing by distance.

"A 24-hour record is something very special. The monotony of the movement is within you and synchronizes with your breathing and heartbeat," commented Kilian Jornet on Herrmann's achievement, adding, "I think for athletes accustomed to running fast, it is important to start a bit slower because after 10-12 hours, especially at night, conditions become tougher. The excitement of the first hours is gone, the energy from food is barely there, and the muscles start to ache a bit. These are the moments when it is crucial to maintain the pace. Jakob has done that, and I am happy for him and congratulate him on the new record."

Herrmann, who is sponsored by Dynafit, didn't stop to sleep and took only short breaks to consume rice, potatoes, isotonic drinks, gels, energy bars and homemade banana bread. He was supported on the slope during his record attempt by partners, friends, and family.

"It has always been a dream of mine to be on touring skis for 24 hours straight and see how many vertical meters I can achieve," said Herrmann, adding, "I just wanted to know what limits one can reach and how far beyond you can go. I have a great support team around me, and I love simply skiing for hours. The most challenging part was skiing overnight with 14 hours of darkness. Now I am overjoyed and proud that I made it."

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