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BY MARK WORGAN

Spanish skateboarder Diego Poncelet has become the fastest skateboarder in history, reaching 151.83 km/h (94.34 mph) in a standing position to claim a Guinness World Record.

The 27-year-old Red Bull athlete and two-time downhill world champion broke the previous record during his first day of testing, reaching 146.88 km/h.

However, he believed he could go faster and waited five days for more favourable weather conditions before returning to Route du Port in Les Éboulements, in Quebec’s Charlevoix region, where he surpassed 150 km/h.

The record-breaking run took place on 22 September 2026 on a closed section of road, with a Guinness World Records adjudicator present.

“I never truly admitted to myself that my real objective was to get to 150km/h. I was scared that it wouldn’t be doable. But I realised that I couldn’t lie to myself – at 146.88km/h, I wasn’t satisfied yet. It was only when I got that 151k/h that I was completely ecstatic,” Poncelet said.

“What will it feel like? That was the main drive, the search for a feeling no one had known before. I was convinced that experience could only happen if I reached into the 150s.”

The achievement followed years of preparation involving aerodynamic testing, physical conditioning, equipment development, road analysis and meteorology. Poncelet’s goal was not simply to beat the existing record, but to discover whether a skateboarder could exceed 150 km/h while standing and retain enough stability to control the board.

His pursuit of speed began before he discovered downhill skateboarding. An early ambition to become a Formula One driver eventually combined with his passion for skateboarding, leading him to explore speeds rarely associated with the sport.

Wind-tunnel sessions in Geneva helped refine his posture and establish how long he could maintain an aerodynamic position before physical strain became a limiting factor. He also worked to improve his torso mobility and neck flexibility, aiming to shape his body like a wing and reduce air resistance.

At maximum speed, even small movements risked destabilising the board. Poncelet relied on subtle adjustments to control his descent, crouching to accelerate and standing to slow down.

His compact position also restricted his view of the road ahead. He therefore relied on his memory of the route and its painted white lines, having memorised each corner in advance. At such speeds, he said, there was little time to make conscious decisions.

Every part of his equipment was developed with speed and performance in mind. His suit featured textured fabrics designed to help airflow follow the contours of his body, reducing turbulence and aerodynamic drag. A spoiler structure on his back provided a defined point for the airflow to separate and allowed him to tuck his hands underneath.

Prada Linea Rossa worked with Poncelet to develop his footwear and gloves. His seamless, three-dimensional knitted shoes featured an asymmetrical design intended to improve stability at the front while reducing air resistance at the rear. An inner sole using D3O technology helped absorb road vibrations, while an integrated rubber sole lowered his position and maintained grip on the board.

His gloves and protective pucks were designed to streamline airflow while allowing him to put his hands on the ground to drift in an emergency.
At the centre of the attempt was Poncelet’s signature 9.81 Skateboards professional model, which he had ridden on roads around the world.

The board was fitted with Seismic wheels, bearings and grip tape, and enclosed in a custom aerodynamic carbon-fibre fairing for the record attempt.

Choosing the right road was another crucial part of the project. Poncelet spent years searching for and testing potential locations in countries including Austria, Ireland and Canada, assessing gradients, surfaces, road length and weather conditions.

Route du Port was ultimately selected for its steep descent, reaching a maximum gradient of 18%, and an approximately 600m stretch of sustained straight road. The route is around 2.2km long.

The hill also held personal significance. British downhill skateboarder Pete Connolly set the previous world record there in 2017. Connolly died from cancer in 2025, and Poncelet’s project has served as a tribute to him.

“I’ve spent countless nights looking at maps trying to find something better, especially when I was told that it was too damaged and consequently did not see it as an option. I went crazy trying different roads, but at some point realised that it could not be beat. There’s no other road in the world like it, so I went to check it out and see if it could still be ridden,” Poncelet said.

The attempt relied on a team of friends, family and experienced advisers. Industrial engineer and former world champion skateboarder Martin Siegrist analysed Poncelet’s riding position and designed three-dimensional aerodynamic fairings to reduce air resistance.

Fellow downhill skateboarder Grégoire Schab drove the Porsche 911 chase car used to document the descent. Porsche supplied the 911 and a Porsche Cayenne Electric safety car, as well as supporting driver training.

“Following Diego at these speeds, it’s super scary. As a skater myself, when I see this beast of a road, the steepness is intimidating because as soon as you drop, there’s no braking, so you have to go all the way through. It’s a total send,” Schab said.

Weather conditions remained one of the biggest challenges. Poncelet’s uncle, meteorologist Miguel Sánchez Cuenca, who works at the highest levels of America’s Cup sailing, monitored the wind to identify a suitable opportunity.

The road runs through a valley alongside the St Lawrence River estuary, where the surrounding geography influences wind direction.

Southwestern winds are common in the area, but the attempt required a tailwind to help Poncelet reach his target. Crosswinds were also a concern because of the instability they could cause.

“The Charlevoix road sits in a valley alongside the St. Lawrence River estuary, which causes wind to funnel in a very particular way. There is a general tendency of southwestern winds, which is the opposite of the tailwind needed for Diego to achieve his goal, and while headwinds slow you down, crosswinds can be even worse as they cause unpredictability and instability,” Sánchez Cuenca said. “The wind was one of the most important parts of the project, and finding the right window was a difficult process. For the 151.83 km/h run, we had 10–14 km/h of tailwind from the northeast during a short window as the wind was turning, which we managed to take advantage of at the perfect angle.”

The brief period of favourable wind allowed Poncelet to make his final attempt and reach 151.83 km/h, setting the new Guinness World Records benchmark for the fastest skateboard speed achieved in a standing position.