Fastest
Vertical Run - world record set byTony Berglund
VASTERAS, Sweden -- Swedish Adventurer Tony
Berglund sets a new World Record for the Fastest
Vertical Run, as he ran the 100 Meters Down the Front
of a Skyscraper in Västerås in 34.76 Seconds.
The World's
Fastest Vertical Run involved running 100 meters down
the front of a skyscraper in central Västerås, face down using
a rope.
"This is a once in a lifetime achievement.
Especially because we had to postpone the attempt one day
due to heavy winds. I was confident I could beat the record
and everything worked out just as planned. I defeated the
forces of nature and my own fears", Berglund said.
In order to make the attempt possible the
skyscraper had to be extended which made it the third highest
skyscraper in Sweden for one day.
A 20 meter high framed structure was temporarily
built on top of the skyscraper and made it over 100 meters
tall.
Tony
Berglund also had to use a specially constructed carbon
dioxide cooled rappelling device to prevent the rope from
melting by the heat created by the high speed.
The
previous Guinness world record for the Fastest
Vertical Run was 36.25 seconds, held by Britain’s
Steve Jones on the Spinnaker Tower in Portsmouth, UK, on 16
March 2009.
Rap Jumping/Vertical Run originates from
an old military technique called rappelling. In the late 1960s
the rappelling technique transformed into vertical run and
was used to lower troops from helicopters as safely as possible
into hot drop zones under heavy fire.
The technique is currently used by both
military and police during operations in order to forcibly
enter buildings during combat or ongoing hostage situations.
During the late 1980s a commercial operation was started in
Australia where the technique was launched as a pure adventure
experience.
Sponsors
The chief sponsor was Mälarenergi Stadsnät and
the other sponsors are Vestmanlands Läns Tidning, Exit US,
Loopia,
Vigo Anderson, Mimer and ICA Supermarket Skrapan.
The event was organized by Tony Berglund AB,
Västerås & Co, Citygalleriorna, Västerås Citysamverkan, Fallskärmsklubben
Aros, Västerås Klätterklubb, Frema, Nehrer Event,
Peak Experience, Remshagen Mediaproduktion, CHE-Produktion,
Blue Sky AB, Mälardalens Brand- och Räddningsförbund,
Polisen Västmanland, Ambulanssjukvården Västmanland,
First Plaza Hotel, Västmanlands Lokaltrafik and Västerås Stad.
