SB attempts Guinness record for largest backward walk
Video evidence of Sunday's backward walk will be sent to the Guinness Book of World Records, which will determine whether it broke the world record of 1,107 people set in 2014 in India.
More than 1,000 people participated in Sunday's attempt to break the Guinness world record for "Largest Backwards Walk." Their dogs, however, didn't quite get the idea. KENNETH SONG/NEWS-PRESS PHOTOS
More than 1,000 people confounded State Street onlookers Sunday morning by walking, from De La Guerra Plaza to West Arrellaga Street.
Backwards.
“Why are they walking backwards?” one onlooker asked her friend.
Event organizer Cameron Benson said the walk was “Just for fun,” but that didn’t stop Dos Pueblos High School track standouts Arthur Radulov, 16, Logan Beckstrand, 16, and Foster Young from taking three of the top four finishes. Russian sprinter Ruslan Saidulin joined the boys among the top finishers.
“We ran the mile before this, our legs our dead. We’re super tired,” said Arthur, who pointed out the State Street Mile finished shortly before the walk.
Mr. Benson said the charity walk was an officially sanctioned attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the “Largest Backwards Walk.” The current record is 1,107 people, which was set in India in 2014.
“The purpose was just to have fun. It’s a great opportunity for the community come together to do something fun. Records are meant to be broken so we’re taking a shot,” said Mr. Benson.
He explained that after the walk, he will send video evidence to Guinness officials, who will take around four months to validate the results.
Proceeds from the entry fees will benefit the Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office crime victims fund.
“If for whatever reason a defendant is unable to pay restitution, which is where it’s supposed to come from, and it’s not available from the state, we have our own internal fund for helping people relocate if they have to, counseling and therapy things like that,” said District Attorney’s Office spokesman Dayton Aldrich.
Leading the backward march up State Street were a group of drummers from the La Colina Junior High School marching band.
“That hurt really bad,” said Itzel Cruz, 13, as she set down her drum just past the finish line.
“It sucked, you get super sweaty. And when you go backwards that far while carrying all the stuff, your legs lock. It was pretty fun though,” added Hunter Johnson, 12.
Their bandmates Erik Topete, 13, Russell Huff, 13, and Anthony Feliciano, 12, also participated. The group was supervised by teacher Stephen Hughes.
Nicole Erickson of Santa Barbara finished the walk with her children Arlin, 9, Millie, 10, and her husband, Ryan.
“We like the Guinness World Records book,” said Millie. Arlin added that the toughest part of the walk was trying to go as fast as possible without falling.
