Spaniard Diego Poncelet Becomes World’s Fastest Skateboarder

A skateboard, a steep road and a speed of 151.83km/h. Spanish downhill skater Diego Poncelet has set a new Guinness World Records title for the fastest skateboard speed achieved in a standing position, reaching 94.34mph on a closed road in Quebec, Canada.

The 27-year-old Red Bull athlete achieved the feat on 22 September 2026, at Les Éboulements in the Charlevoix region. It was the culmination of years spent chasing a seemingly improbable target: breaking the 150km/h barrier.

Poncelet initially surpassed the previous record during his first day of testing, but the conditions were not ideal. He waited another five days for a favourable window before making his record-breaking descent.

“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,” he said. “It was only when I got that 151km/h that I was completely ecstatic.”

The run may look like a feat of nerve, but reaching that speed required meticulous preparation. Poncelet spent time in a Geneva wind tunnel refining his posture, while training to improve his flexibility and hold an aerodynamic tuck under extreme conditions.

At full speed, even a small movement can affect stability. Crouching helps him accelerate, while standing increases drag and slows him down. His compact riding position also limits his forward vision, making memorisation of the route essential.

His equipment was developed with the same focus on reducing resistance. Textured fabrics helped manage airflow around his suit, while a specially designed spoiler on his back provided a cleaner aerodynamic profile. Prada Linea Rossa, an official partner, worked with him on aerodynamic footwear and gloves. His signature 9.81 Skateboards model, fitted with Seismic components, was enclosed in a custom carbon-fibre fairing for the attempt.

Finding a suitable descent took years of searching and testing routes across several countries. The chosen road stretches approximately 2.2km, with a section featuring an 18 per cent gradient sustained over 600m.

Wind proved equally critical. Meteorologist Miguel Sánchez Cuenca, Poncelet’s uncle, helped identify the brief window that delivered a 10–14km/h tailwind from the northeast. A Porsche 911 chase car documented the descent, while a Porsche Cayenne Electric served as the safety car.

There was also a personal motivation behind the attempt. Poncelet was inspired by British downhill skater Pete Connolly, who set the previous record of 146.73km/h on the same hill in 2017. Connolly, who died from illness in 2025, had encouraged him to pursue the 150km/h milestone.

With the new mark, Poncelet has pushed the limits of downhill skateboarding further than before – turning a childhood ambition into a record measured in fractions of a second and kilometres per hour.