New Kitesurf Guinness World Record

British kitesurfer Jake Scrace set a new Guinness World Record by reaching 1,587 feet in a kitesurf tow-up above the iconic Needles, Isle of Wight. Scrace was pulled skyward by paramotor pilot Chey Anich in a world-first stunt before cutting loose at altitude and gliding back down to the sea. The flight almost doubled the previous record of 908.7 feet.

“Up there, it was about trusting the team, the conditions, and just going for it,” noted Scrace. “The sense of freedom was incredible and I’m buzzing that we got the record on the first attempt. I’m already thinking about what the next stunt could be and where we can go with it.”

The attempt was months in the making and carried out with a 30-strong crew including safety divers and film specialists. The feat was verified to Guinness World Records exacting standards using drones, bodycams, altimeter readings, as well as GPS-enabled smartphones recording altitude and flight path, and synchronized footage from take-off to water landing.

The record comes in the same year that Guinness World Records marks its 70th anniversary of documenting remarkable achievements worldwide.