There are not many actions that haven't been the subject of a world record attempt, and ladders are no exception. Two motorcycling border patrol guards, who are also part of the motorcycling stunt team 'Janbaz' from India set a new record on the 24th of April 2018, when they rode continuously for 10 hours, 34 minutes and 27 seconds perched atop a ladder and a pole attached to their Royal Enfield Bullet bikes. The men broke the previous record, also held by Indians, which was 9 hours, 4 minutes and 5 seconds, set by the Indian Army.
An Australian man holds the record for the longest time balanced on a closed stepladder, 6 minutes and 16 seconds. The record was set in 2015 and although performers from the Cirque du Soleil do balance on ladders, and for longer, those are specially designed ladders and they also perform tricks, making the balancing act on a closed step ladder all the more impressive.
Slovakian Pavol Durdik holds several records, all based around bouncing a ping pong ball off everyday objects while balanced on a step ladder on one leg wearing sunglasses. It's unlikely he will see these titles contended, as it is an unusual set of actions that most people are unlikely to attempt to recreate.
Many other records involving ladders revolve around balance, whether that is balancing on the ladder, or balancing the ladder on a body part (usually the chin) while doing something else. Close behind is the trend of climbing up and down a ladder quickly, sometimes while carrying another item. Ladder climbing records typically use a set duration of 24 hours within which to set the record, allowing for standardisation of attempts across the world. The team record is held by the Isle of Man Fire and Rescue service, who achieved a distance of 114.17 km in 2012, with a team of ten. During the climb the team also broke the 8 hour and individual distance records although the 8 hour title was claimed in 2014 by firefighters in Ashford, Kent. The individual title was then reclaimed by Keith Saunders, also a firefighter, in 2014 at the Salisbury Fire Station. The individual female record is held by Barbara Nustrini from New Zealand, who climbed 11.5 km over a 24 hour period while attempting a group record attempt.
The longest ladder ever made was 41.16 metres (135 feet) tall and built from wood. It was created at the Handwerks Museum in St Leonhard, Austria, in 2005 and has 120 rungs. The ladder was not designed to be used for any purpose but is on display as an example of craftsmanship and dedication.
There are a lot of ways to set a record using a ladder and we're sure there will be some creative ideas flowing now. If you are considering setting a new world record with a ladder make sure you stay safe – the motorcycle stunt riders and firefighters, who set many of these records, are highly trained and experienced, so their actions should never be emulated by the average person. Some of the less perilous records are more reasonable to attempt, like those which involve doing something whilst on a ladder, and could be a new pastime for anyone needing to achieve something new. If you decide to attempt anything be sure to let us know, and do consider getting your record setting ladder from us.
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