Evinrude has announced a Guinness World Records title for the most barefoot water-skiers pulled behind a single boat. Powered by three 300-horsepower Evinrude E-TEC G2 engines, 32 performers entered the water at Wolf River in Shawano, Wisconsin to break the record. Completed on September 10, 2017, the official Guinness World Records title was awarded in March 2018.
"Over 75 people came together on a cold September morning, including coordinator Brad Keuschel and driver Jason Hook from Badgerland Water Ski Show Team, to put Evinrude’s horsepower and our team’s athleticism to the test,” said Eric Gran from Shawano Ski Sharks Team, Big Pull coordinator. “At the end of the day, we walked away with a Guinness World Records title for 32 barefoot water-skiers on the water at the same time behind 900 hard working Evinrude ponies!” To achieve the title, all water-skiers were required to remain barefoot for a minimum distance of 300 meters. The competitors made it 450 meters before the course ended.
“Evinrude was founded right here in Wisconsin nearly 110 years ago, and we’re still breaking world records,” said Tracy Crocker, senior vice president and general manager, Evinrude. “We’re proud to build engines that give our customers top power and torque while keeping our air and waters cleaner than any other outboard engine manufactured today. As the Big Pull demonstrates, Evinrude’s engines don’t compromise on speed or performance and give today’s boaters, and future generations, the opportunity to pursue their own adventures.”
In addition to earning the title for the most barefoot water-skiers pulled behind a single boat, Guinness World Records recently awarded titles for Evinrude powered efforts including most strap doubles, water-skiing simultaneously (22 couples, 44 people) and most sit-down hydrofoil riders towed behind a single boat (28 people). Both titles were earned during the 2017 Chain of Records event in Winter Haven, Florida. The Big Pull group consists of performers from Evinrude sponsored water-ski show teams. Big Pull has been setting water-ski records since 2006. National records have been set for the largest pyramid, ballet line, strap doubles line, trios line, conventional doubles line, and the biggest barefoot line. Guinness World Records titles that are currently held include the largest human water-skiing pyramid formation (2013) and now the most barefoot water-skiers pulled behind a single boat (2017).
For more on Evinrude, click to our article and review on the Evinrude iDock joystick piloting system.