WATCH: A Whistler man has achieved what no other skier has accomplished. Pierre Marc Jette has unofficially broken the world record for skiing the most vertical feet in a year. Jordan Armstrong explains.
A self-described “professional ski bum” has achieved what no other skier has accomplished.
Pierre Marc Jette unofficially set the world record for most vertical feet skied in a 12-month span today, eclipsing the mark of 4,175,108 vertical feet set by a couple of British skiers in 1994.
Since the start of the ski season, he’s gone up and down thousands of times, averaging 25 runs a day. A film crew has documented his exploits so the result can be declared official.
The record is more than just for bragging rights – it’s to raise money for the Alzeimer’s Society of British Columbia.
He has raised approximately $6,500 for the society so far. A silent auction will be held on March 16 in Whistler in an effort to raise more money. You can donate to Jette’s cause here.
“I lost a family member and another has the symptoms right now. They live back east and that’s my way to reach out for them,” said Jaffe.
“You can do anything you want, and right now what I really want to spread the message that we need to raise money..so we can find a cure.”
There’s no rest for Jette though. Having set the record in just four months, he plans on continuing skiing in Whistler until the season ends before heading down to South America to continue adding feet to the record.
“It feels really really good to be at this point so fast, but I know I have long ways to go. I’m not going to let my focus down,” he says.
– With files from Yuliya Talmazan and Jordan Armstrong