When most people his age are thinking about slowing down, Thomas "Racer Tom" Hart is reaching heights that defy imagination. The 64-year-old Utah resident has officially broken the Guinness World Record for vertical feet skied in one year, clocking an astounding 16,038,376 vertical feet between November 2024 and November 2025. This marks his fourth world record and his third time surpassing his own previous achievement.

What makes Hart's accomplishment even more remarkable is the sheer joy that fueled it. Over 285 days of skiing, he traveled from his home mountain of Snowbasin Resort to destinations across California and spent 54 unforgettable days in the Chilean Andes during what he calls "the most fun summer of my life." His adventure wasn't just about numbers on a tracker. It was about community, connection, and an unshakeable passion for the sport he loves.

The record-breaking year brought Hart more than just personal achievement. During his travels to Mammoth Mountain in California, he met the woman who would become his girlfriend, and together with friends from various resorts, they chased winter across the Southern Hemisphere. While most skiers were storing their equipment for the summer, Hart and his companions were carving fresh tracks in Chile, proving that adventure knows no season.

Hart's dedication is nothing short of extraordinary. Many days began before sunrise and ended when the lifts stopped spinning. He maintained this rhythm through a 36-day consecutive skiing streak in Colorado and countless open-to-close days at resorts across the western United States. Yet Hart emphasizes that this year felt less like a grueling challenge and more like an extended celebration among friends.

"The first year, I thought it was going to be kind of an arduous, difficult task, but it was so fun," Hart shared. "This year, it's been even more fun because I've met so many like-minded people and avid skiers, not only at Snowbasin, but at the other resorts." The skiing community embraced his journey, with celebrations marking major milestones and resorts tracking his progress with genuine excitement.

Why This Inspires

Hart's achievement reminds us that our most fulfilling chapters can come at any age. At 64, when society might expect him to wind down, Hart is writing a story that inspires skiers of all ages to pursue their passions without limits. His journey demonstrates that when we commit to what we love, we don't just achieve personal goals. We build communities, forge meaningful relationships, and discover joy in unexpected places.

Perhaps most inspiring is Hart's perspective on this record. Unlike his previous three records, which he always knew he could surpass, Hart believes this one represents his true ceiling. Rather than viewing this as a limitation, he sees it as the perfect culmination of an incredible journey. He plans to continue skiing not for records, but simply because he loves it, surrounded by the community he's built along the way.

Thomas Hart's 16 million vertical feet stands as a testament to human potential, the ageless pursuit of passion, and the beautiful truth that the best adventures often include finding love, friendship, and boundless joy on the journey.