(BALLWIN, MO) A local group of inline roller hockey athletes are aiming to achieve a new Guinness Book of World Records benchmark this weekend.
Launched Friday morning, the skaters began their quest for 48 straight hours of continuous play at Midwest Sport Hockey at Queeny Park while raising funds for Make-A-Wish of Missouri and Kansas.
“Our goal is to raise $100,000 with this event which will help grant 10 wishes to local children facing overwhelming odds,” said event organizer Mark Turnipseed.
The skaters are attempting to break a five-year-plus record during the Memorial Day Weekend marathon. The current World record stands at 36 hours and 56 seconds that was set by Scorpions Inline Hockey Club in Otjiwarongo, Namibia in September 2016.
The locals plan to go way beyond that and grind for an additional dozen. Their mission began Friday morning at 9:53 am with the session’s first puck drop.
To tie the current record, the skaters will have to reach a timestamp of 9:53:56 pm Saturday.
The 48-hour quest will be completed Sunday morning at approximately 9:54 am.
Within the parameters, there will be a continuous clock with no stoppages alongside no intermissions. Skaters will compete in four-hour shifts and a new set of players will immediately insert themselves into the mix when shifts conclude.
Adding to the long haul, players not in shifts must stay in close proximity to the sport court in order to keep the game continuous, which results in some logistical challenges.
“They’re not allowed to leave the rink,” said Brian Miller, the director of marketing and communications with Make-A-Wish Foundation of Missouri and Kansas. “So we’ve got folks that are going to be on cots in the penalty box, in the locker room, on the rink floor.”
The event at Midwest Sport Hockey (570 Weidman Rd.) is free to the public and raffle drawings will be held to help raise funds.
If anything, expect the final score to be four digits combined.
By trade, he is a six-time, regional Emmy Award-winning news videographer/editor for KTVI/KPLR-TV. By hobby, he is a writer for Arch City Media, dating back to February 2014. Emphasis is on featuring and promoting local women's sports, but will cover anything that is not reported by traditional media outlets. Also a contributor to local concert reviews.
