Vancouver Island man looking to set 3 Guinness World Records on an electric mountain board
Bradley Smith has been electric skateboarding for the past nine years, a passion he says was "addictive" from the first time he tried it.
That passion, combined with personal tragedy, has led him to the path he's on today.
In 2019, Smith’s life took a turn he never saw coming.
“I recently lost my father to cancer,” said Smith.
Experiencing his father lose his battle with the disease changed Smith's perspective on life.
“I guess I needed that to just finally say, 'You need to follow through with what you want to do with your life,'” said Smith. “It was a big wake-up call.”
He has now branched out to electric mountain boarding and is pursuing a goal he has been contemplating for some time: challenging three Guinness World Records.
Beginning on June 1, he will attempt to set a new world record for the longest journey on an electric skateboard. He will also attempt to set a record for the longest journey in a 24-hour period on an electric skateboard and the longest journey in a single country on an electric skateboard.
In total, Smith expects to board 3,500-kilometres over the span of a month.
“(I'm) going from Saskatoon back to Victoria following the Trans Canada Trail,” said Smith.
He says the 24-hour record will be the most challenging to beat.
“Standing on the board for a long period of time is taxing,” said Smith.
Another challenge: Each charge is good for around 140-kilometres, meaning he is going to need to plan his stops accordingly.
“This is the most motivated that I’ve ever seen him,” said Nina Savino, Smith’s partner.
She is part of a team that has been working behind the scenes on logistics. Her role has also been to figure out what Guiness needs in order to set those new world records.
“(We've been) going through all the paperwork, reading through all the agreements and the rules that Guiness had put forth,” said Savino.
Come June, the team will be on Vancouver Island and Smith will be making the journey alone, but he says he feels as though his father – an adventurous man who taught him to always follow his dreams – will be there, along for the ride.
“That’s why I chose the month of June,” said Smith. “It’s his birthday and it’s right next to Father’s Day, so he’ll definitely be with me.”
Bradley Smith rides his electric mountain board. (CTV News)
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Robert Pickton to remain in medically induced coma until later this week: police
Serial killer Robert Pickton will remain in a medically induced coma for at least the next few days following an attack in a Quebec prison Sunday, according to police spokesperson Hugues Beaulieu.
Charlie Colin, founding member of the pop-rock band Train, dies at 58
Charlie Colin, bassist and founding member of the American pop-rock band Train, best known for their early-aughts hits like 'Drops of Jupiter' and 'Meet Virginia,' has died. He was 58.
'Five feet nothing': Pickton's safety likely behind Quebec transfer, says ex-prison judge
When serial killer Robert Pickton was transferred from British Columbia's Kent Institution to a maximum security prison in Quebec about six years ago, correctional authorities gave no public explanation or confirmation at the time, citing privacy.
'I feel betrayed': Ottawa-area customers out thousands of dollars warn of bad faith contractor
A group of people from eastern Ontario and western Quebec is issuing a warning about Dennis Walker and his company Vue Windows.
Fancy pigeon outfitted in custom diaper has free rein in B.C. family home
When Chrissy Chin volunteered to take in a fancy pigeon abandoned on a park bench, she never imagined she would one day be ordering custom-made diapers for the bird – who lives in her house and has become a member of the family.
'We'll need all hands on deck': Details emerge after deadly boat crash near Kingston
Police say they have wrapped up their on-scene investigation into a deadly boat crash in eastern Ontario as details of the incident begin to emerge.
WestJet planning new fare category for travellers willing to forgo carry-on bag
WestJet Airlines plans to launch a new cheaper fare category that would be available to travellers willing to fly without a carry-on bag.
5 dead and at least 35 hurt in Iowa tornado: officials
Five people died and at least 35 were hurt as powerful tornadoes ripped through Iowa Tuesday, with one carving a path of destruction through the town of Greenfield, officials said.
Woman found dead in Lake Ontario in 2017 matches identity of missing person in Switzerland
Genetic genealogy has helped Toronto police identify a woman who was found dead in Lake Ontario in 2017.