Impossibility Challenger '09

On November 14th, 2009 the Waitakere Trust Stadium in Auckland will become an arena for challenging the so-called impossible. Thanks to the generous sponsorship of the Trust Stadium, potential record-breakers from around the world will converge on Auckland to try and break as many world and Guinness records as they can on a single day. This event is the first of its kind in Australasia and will also be the first time that the Impossibility-Challenger has taken place outside Europe.

From the strenuous to the fabulous, almost every conceivable record is open to being attempted at this unique event. Previous Impossibility-Challengers have included the fastest mile on stilts, 11 hours playing the cello and the world record for continuous laughter (1 hour 40 minutes). We believe that with the Kiwi “can-do” attitude, this is a fantastic place to hold the event and many locals will be keen to put their skills to good use by attempting individual or group records.

In addition to watching the action unfold, members of the public will be able to participate in a simultaneously-held event called the Self-Transcendence Games with an emphasis on pure fun. This will include numerous outdoor events for all the family like the longest softball throw and 4 metre relays for kids.

The coming event has attracted great interest internationally from members of the elite “Guinness club”. Already confirmed is Ashrita Furman from the USA, who holds more Guinness records than anybody else on the planet. New Zealand will also receive its first visit from Pakistan’s Zafar Gill, holder of the Guinness world record for “heaviest weight lifted with ear”. In January 2009 in Lahore he lifted 73kg of gym weights hanging from a clamp attached to his right ear. Mr. Gill hopes to lift an even heavier weight at the Impossibility-Challenger in November.

The Impossibility-Challenger series was founded in the 1980’s by Sri Chinmoy (1931-2007) whose own athletic prowess was demonstrated through weightlifting and running. His philosophy of self-transcendence says that we are all capable of going beyond our preconceived limitations to transform the seemingly “impossible” into reality.

So come along for some fun and games. Who knows you might become part of a world record yourself!