USA breaks Guinness World Record: Longest distance paddled in a pumpkin

Oslo, Minnesota, USA – November 7, 2016 – Rick Swenson, 35, of Fergus Falls, Minn., paddled a 1,086-pound pumpkin for 26 miles on the Red River, breaking the Guinness World Record for the longest distance floated in a pumpkin.

Photo: Swenson, 35, of Fergus Falls, Minn., paddled a 1,086-pound pumpkin for 26 miles on the Red River, breaking the Guinness World Record for the longest distance floated in a pumpkin. 

The Guinness World Records world record for the most people in a paddle ball relay is 162 achieved by a team from Nike Digital Sport (USA) in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, on 20 February 2013.

Guinness World Records also recognized the world record for the most paddleballs controlled simultaneously; it is 7 and was achieved by Steve Langley aka The Paddle Ball King on the set of Lo Show Dei Record, in Milan, Italy, on 8 April 2011.

His wife, Erin Swenson, said her husband appeared to be having fun during the attempt. “Nothing really surprises me with Rick,” she said. “He just kind of has a sense of adventure.”

Swenson, a 35-year-old veteran of growing enormous pumpkins at his home in Fergus Falls, had been growing his boat – a Howard Dill’s Atlantic Giant – since March. Turning it upside down, he had carved out a small seat and decorated it with bright orange LED lights.

“I have no intentions of doing it again. Once is good enough!” said Swenson.