Records are made to be broken, and after a 4 year break, I took this challenge on again pushing the boundaries of balance and bravery. “What’s scarier than balancing a lawnmower on your chin?” you might ask. Try doing it while the blades are spinning! This is a quest for a Guinness World Record that was almost achieved four years ago at the X-games in Boise. Despite holding a running lawnmower on my chin for 3 minutes and 52 seconds, the attempt was disqualified over a technicality—no bag on the mower.
After that attempt, Ashrita Furman upped the balance mark to 7 minutes and 2 seconds. The bar was raised, quite literally, as I had to balance not just a lawnmower but also a bar with a tennis ball on one side and 40 pounds of weight in the air. Months of rigorous training in strength, skill, and endurance were about to be put to the test.
With cameras rolling from every angle, the moment of truth arrived. Pain and determination were etched on my face as I surpassed my previous mark and kept going, every second ticking by like an eternity. At 9 minutes and 17 seconds, the physical toll was overwhelming meaning I didn’t get to my 10-minute stretch goal, but the record was set, bringing my total to 165th record in the 2024 quest to hold the most concurrent Guinness World Records. With the target now at 180 (Silvio has recently lost a couple), the journey continues. Follow along as I aim to become the ultimate world record holder.