Jakob Herrmann smashes Killian Jornet's record
Last weekend, in Radstadt, Austria, Jakob Herrmann climbed 24,242 meters on his skis. This was 756 meters further than the previous record, held by Killian Jornet. He skied more than six laps of Mount Waddington ( 4019m).Herrmann didn't just climb this extraordinary distance in 24 hours, the lap that had been prepared for him to attempt this feat was 2.55km long. This meant that in order to achieve his goal, he needed to ski 68 laps, which worked out at around 170km. That's some pretty fast transitions!
The previous record on touring skis was 23,486 vertical meters, set in February 2019 by Kilian Jornet in Molde, Norway. The Spanish exceptional athlete and Herrmann have competed together twice in the Pierra Menta ski touring race.
"A 24-hour record is something very special. The monotony of the movement is within you and synchronizes with your breathing and heartbeat," comments Kilian Jornet on Herrmann's recent athletic achievement. He further assesses the record, stating, "I think for athletes accustomed to running fast, it is important to start a bit slower because after 10-12 hours, especially at night, conditions become tougher. The excitement of the first hours is gone, the energy from food is barely there, and the muscles start to ache a bit. These are the moments when it is crucial to maintain the pace. Jakob has done that, and I am happy for him and congratulate him on the new record."
Herrmann took only short breaks to eat rice and potatoes. In addition to isotonic drinks, gels, and bars, he relied on homemade banana bread. He was supported on the slope during his record attempt by partners, friends, and family. The professional ski mountaineer from Werfenweng has been part of the DYNAFIT athlete team since 2019. Last winter, Herrmann achieved success with victories at the ski touring competitions Mountain Attack and Erztrophy, as well as two Austrian championship titles.
Congratulations To Jakob Herrmann!