WARRINGTON skiier Callum Mackenzie has achieved an incredible feat of endurance to break a world record but said he was 'naive' in not realising how difficult it would be.
After months of training, the 26-year-old Chill Factore snowsports instructor completed his attempt for the 'greatest vertical distance skied up and downhill in 24 hours (indoors)' in style.
He climbed the UK's longest 180m indoor slope of the Trafford snow centre 200 times, totalling a vertical height of 12km in the 24-hour period.
Twelve hours into the challenge, he told the videographer: "I'm on lap 73. Feeling it in my hips, in my bum, my quads, my hamstrings, my calves, my lower back. But apart from that, I'm going strong."
Mackenzie, who fulfilled a long ambition to become a ski instructor after studying at Birchwood College and then taking on an apprenticeship with the PE department, succeeded with a Guinness World Record team in attendance.
Throughout the challenge, Mackenzie was monitored by both a group of adjudicators and a highly accurate professional GPS tracking device.
For the final distance figure to be valid, the GWR team precisely measured the altitude of the starting and finishing point of each run.
This data was then cross referenced by the adjudicator’s logbook and GPS traffic to verify the final figure.
In total, Mackenzie was out on the snow for a total of 22 hours, only accruing a short five-minute break for every hour he skied.
For the purposes of this world record, Mackenzie was unable to use ski lifts or any form of assisted skiing.
He wore skis when he was climbing back up the slope at all times.
To do this, Mackenzie used a special type of skinned ski and heel lifts to ensure he did not slip.
Despite being a seasoned skier and a Chill Factore instructor for three-and-a-half years, the world record attempt required months of intense preparation.
He had been training since the first national coronavirus lockdown, sticking to a punishing daily routine which included runs, walks, cycling and home flexibility and strength workouts.
“The challenge was definitely a lot harder than I expected, both physically and mentally," he said.
"I was a little bit naive going into it but I got there in the end and I’m just so happy to end 2020 on a high!
“I would like to thank Chill Factore for supporting me and allowing me to do the record there.
"In the future I’d love to take on a couple more records on this slope. If I do, I’d like to do them for charity, specifically DSUK, to raise money and awareness for adaptive skiing.”
Chill Factore chief executive Morwenna Angove said: “Callum’s world record is nothing short of incredible – it’s something that all skiers, whether you’re a professional or amateur, can appreciate.
"This is the second time an individual member of our team has brought home a GWR, and I can’t think of a better way to celebrate the fact that the Chill Factore is open once again than with this achievement."
For more information or to book a session at Chill Factore visit chillfactore.com/
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here