Alastair Galpin
took to world record-breaking in
2004 after being inspired by a record-setting rally
driver in Kenya. What began as a hobby soon escalated
into an active publicity pursuit. Today, he promotes the
work of social and environmental causes. For these
purposes, the most fitting game plans are chosen; then
world titles are attempted and frequently created.
Sustaining sponsor
If you would like regular exposure from Alastair's activities, become his Sustaining Sponsor:
- A range of attempts annually
- Your brand in multiple media
- Distribute your own media releases
- Receive product endorsements
More details about sponsorship opportunities
Special thanks
|
Behind every world record attempt is the expertise of professionals in their field. Their success underpins Alastair's. |
| They are listed here |
Most chopsticks snapped in a minute: 68
This is the story behind my Guinness World Record™ for the Most chopsticks snapped in a minute.
It was almost time to go snapping. But I couldn't
think that far ahead just yet. First, I needed to plan a multitude of
things to enable me to attempt this world record. I'd been dreaming of
making this attempt for several months and now I had the chance to do
just that. How exciting. Even the thought of arranging witnesses, a
venue, the chopsticks and all the evidence had me hyperactive with
delight.
Week after week went by. During this time, I
scoured shops in the city for chopsticks. But not just any new ones –
no, I was determined to source used ones! Yes, that is strange, and the
idea even seemed strange to me at first. That was until I learned how
the forests of the Amazon Basin are being cleared for things as
simplistic as, well, chopsticks. I couldn't contribute to that by
snapping dozens. So, to minimise my impact, I picked saliva-speckled
pairs of freshly used chopsticks out of sushi bar rubbish bins, and got
staff collecting more for me. Some of the looks I got were bizarre, but
when I explained the world record aspect, I generally received a warm
smile. And that was all I wanted: help to collect the items I needed.
I stored the chopsticks outside my house because
I didn't fancy tens of strangers' drying saliva lying around my lounge.
Almost a month passed as I collected and counted chopsticks with tiny
coloured bits of chewed food stuck to them, and stuck together by the
glue created from food sludge mixed with saliva smears. What a pleasure
it was to look at all this, especially when I was hungry – which is
often. But I needed to keep that world record goal in mind, so I
controlled myself when working with the sickening mess lightly coating
the thin end of each chopstick I handled.
Then, much to my relief, I saw I had enough
chopsticks to attempt the world record. The only repulsive part about
that was I'd be gripping the chopsticks in my bare hands. Oh no! But I
had to do it, because nothing will get in the way of my passion for
world records. I called up a charismatic personality I know not far
from me and asked if his family would like to see a few world record
attempts in their front garden.
“Hold on – I'll ask!” was the excited reply. And
sure enough, daughter, wife and a friend all agreed this could be
interesting. I was booked. And I was hooked, it seemed. Because I kept
wanting to snap a chopstick or two in preparation each time I passed
the stored bag. But somehow, I managed to control myself and left them
all alone – apart from regular practising - until the big day arrived.
My assistants and I were greeted by a roomful of
ladies, all keen to see this action they'd been told about. I grunted
and smiled bashfully, thinking it was more like high-energy work for me
and convenient entertainment for them. I was escorted out to the back
of the house where I practised one last time; I'd been snapping
chopsticks on a regular basis by then, so I was confident in my
abilities anyway. I nodded to the very active home owner and he helped
move a table to just inside the property's front gate. We left this
open so anyone could wander off the street and prove to us just how
inquisitive humans can be.
I laid out the chopsticks in neat patterns,
taking into consideration how my wrists would need to move repetitively
in order to work at speed. Although I thought some chopsticks would
stick to the table by the remnants of saliva on them, that didn't
happen and I was glad to discover it. Once the required admin had been
seen to and the timekeeper had instructed me to begin, it was a fairly
straightforward process: snap, advance, snap... Probably the toughest
part was making myself continue, even though my wrists and forearms
were stinging from the hyperactivity. But it was literally all over in
a minute as determined by the trusty stopwatch.
I
stood back from the hunched stance of an
automated speedy snapping machine I had briefly adopted. My hands
dangled at my sides, throbbing and tired. I breathed for a moment in
silence, gathering my thoughts. I wasn't aware of any passers-by who'd
stopped to see this uncharacteristic behaviour taking place, but if any
had, I bet they'd have told the next person they came across. I caught
myself in thought, knowing it was not time to rest yet. There was a
little more admin to do and I needed to capture the essence of the
event right then. It only took a few minutes and we were joking among
ourselves at what I'd just spent roughly a month working towards. The
others couldn't believe what I dedicate my time to!
Chopstick halves lay strewn across the table, and
around the grass. The odd part-stick even landed as far away as
alongside the flower beds. I looked up, having regained my energy and
being ready to pick up all the randomly fallen half-chopsticks. It was
then that I remembered the ladies hanging out of several bedroom
windows, watching my crazy antics with great interest. We exchanged
glances and I could see they were definitely amused.
More than merely amused, I was now focused on
getting this world record attempt's evidence posted to the judges
because what I really wanted was another prized certificate. It had
been a swift and simple event, but one that I would be immensely
pleased to receive the result for: yet one more world record to add to
my increasing list.
And, I'll let you know, list is getting long.
It's so long, in fact, that when I lay all my world record certificates
end to end, the line is longer than my house! Fantastic. That's what I
live for.