Pro Skateboarder Sandro Dias Breaks Two Guinness World Records™ Descending from 22-Storey Building

 

| by Laurie Timmers |

Brazilian skateboarding pro Sandro Dias made history, breaking two Guinness World Records™ after dropping in from a 22-storey building in southern Brazil.

During the project, named Red Bull Building Drop, Dias hit a speed of 103km/h, skating from a height of 70m with a drop of 60m, which was measured from the lowest point of the ramp to the platform.

“The most important message I want to share is never give up on your dreams. This is a dream of more than 13 years that we’ve just achieved now, pushing the limits,” Dias reflected after the final drop.

With this feat, created in collaboration with Prada Linea Rossa, the 50-year-old Red Bull athlete brought to life a long-standing urban legend: transforming the building into the “Ultimate Skate Ramp” - a dream that has been shared for more than a decade through memes, fingerboard recreations, and even a spoof viral YouTube video 16 years ago.

The 80/20 Snapshot:

Record-Breaking Descent:

Sandro Dias skated off the Centro Administrativo Fernando Ferrari building in Porto Alegre, southern Brazil, breaking two world records for both the tallest drop-in, and fastest speed on a skateboard. He surpassed the records he had set during training sessions leading up to the day of the drop, when he achieved a drop-in nearly six metres lower, and reached a top speed of 90.8km/h.

Urban Legend Made Real:

For decades, the building’s ramp-like quarterpipe shape has sparked viral hoaxes and skate culture dreams - until Dias turned fiction into reality on September 25, 2025.

Ten Months of Preparation:

Through G-force, speed, and airbag safety training, the feat was the result of precise planning and calculated risk. Sandro trained with a 40 kg vest on a modified mega ramp, and hit 136km/h in airport tarmac speed tests.

Age-Defying Legacy:

While he turned 50 this year, Dias continues to push skateboarding’s limits, honoring its heritage and transcending any other contest or record. He said: “I always said this was something to benefit skateboarding as a whole, so I think this was a big achievement, and the visibility we got ends up helping everyone - and that’s the idea. It’s not about seeking fame, it’s about pushing the limits and creating opportunities for people.”

Deep Dive:

- Red Bull athlete Sandro Dias descended multiple heights along the Centro Administrativo Fernando Ferrari (CAFF), a 22-storey government building in Porto Alegre, performing a drop-in - a fundamental skateboarding move where the skater starts riding by placing the tail of their board on the edge of a ramp, and leaning forward onto all four wheels on the downward slope to gain momentum.

- In a bid to push the limits of his sport, Dias took on the challenge by riding off multiple platforms installed along the ramp at increasing heights, each serving as a drop-in point. He successfully rode down from 55, 60, and 65m, before reaching the maximum height above the ground of 70m.

- To step onto each platform, Dias was lowered numerous times from the building’s rooftop using rappelling equipment - a harness and a rope secured at the top - assisted by experts, fully exposed to the elements. Throughout the feat, Dias carried out a total of four attempts, all successfully executed on the first try. The skater’s final descent had never been attempted during training, underscoring his mental and physical fortitude as he ventured into uncharted territory.

- The final successful descent lasted eight seconds. Dias skated down from the maximum height of 70m with a drop of 60m, and reached a top speed of 103.8 km/h.

- Dias said: “The most important message I want to share is never give up on your dreams. This is a dream of more than 13 years that we’ve just achieved now, pushing the limits. Thank you to everyone who helped me and believed in my dream. Brazilian skateboarding should celebrate this huge accomplishment."

- Outfitted in advanced Prada Linea Rossa garments and accessories, Dias combined speed and safety with high-performance apparel. Designed to withstand the extreme demands of the feat, the innovative lightweight, heat-sealed textiles enhanced his comfort, mobility, and aerodynamic efficiency – all with a contemporary design inspired by the human body and its movement.

- Officials from the Guinness World Records™ were present on site to verify Dias’ feat and the records he set, awarding the Brazilian a certificate for “the tallest drop into a temporary quarter pipe,” and one for “the fastest speed skateboarding on a temporary quarter pipe.”

- To make the descent of the world's biggest ramp possible, plywood panels were constructed along the building’s outer curve. The concrete surface beneath was weathered and cracked from years of exposure, making it unsafe for skateboarding in its natural state. The temporary overlay not only protected the building’s façade but also allowed Dias to ride a smooth line from top to bottom, while fully utilising the building’s shape.

- Multiple safety measures were implemented to counter the potential risks associated with the feat, including MotoGP-style air fences - inflatable and energy-absorbing barriers designed to slow down riders in crashes - along the sides of the ramp. Additionally, 1,800 foam cubes were placed at the end of the ramp, allowing Dias to come to a safe stop. Dias’s body equipment also included a full-face helmet and a spine protector, neither of which is traditionally used in skateboarding.

- Dias began an extensive physical and technical training programme for the feat in January 2025. From G-force conditioning to wind-speed monitoring, the preparation was a mix of precision planning and calculated risk. Dias trained with a 40kg weighted vest while dropping into a modified mega ramp to adapt his balance to the strain of G-forces. He also conducted speed trials on an airport runway, becoming accustomed to riding at more than 136km/h on his skateboard.

- The skater shared: "I prepared myself a lot for this. It wasn’t easy, and the training was way tougher than this. That’s why I was so confident.”

- During Red Bull Building Drop, Dias endured a maximum G force of 3.9g, making him weigh around 280kg, which is also the weight that he experienced as the maximum ground reaction force - the push the ground sent back to him during the descent.

- Dias explained: “We know there are many factors that make up this scenario: first, the ramp itself, which had never existed before, with a mix of a lot of speed, a lot of G-force, weather conditions - it was very windy up there. I think I’ve gone high enough already, I’m satisfied, completely satisfied, and I believe this proves that we can push ourselves further.”

- The distinctive curved design of the CAFF building has long drawn comparisons to a giant skateboard quarterpipe, earning a reputation among locals as “the Ultimate Skate Ramp.” For years, it fuelled speculation in Porto Alegre’s skate community, inspiring memes, stories, and even a doctored video that showed a rider dropping down its side. Until now, it had remained just that: an urban legend.

- Having turned 50 earlier this year, Dias continues to be a prominent figure in skateboarding. In 2005, he became the first skater to land a 900 (a two-and-a-half rotational aerial spin that became a generational-defining trick) during an X Games competition. In 2006, the Brazilian clinched gold at X Games 12, and in 2012, Dias was nominated for the Action Sports Hall of Fame.

- Ryan Sheckler, a U.S. professional skateboarder who is also Dias’ mentee, friend, and competitor, praised him for his record-setting feat: “He's a skateboarder through and through. He has always been pushing the limits. He's always been going higher and faster than everybody. And at 50 years old, to be seeing something like this and making it a reality, it just shows the skate in his heart. I've always respected Sandro, and this puts it even higher.”

- For Dias, the milestone went beyond any contest or record, serving as both a contribution to skateboarding’s evolution and a tribute to its heritage. Tony Hawk, regarded as one of the sport’s greatest figures, also hailed Dias’ achievement: “If you look at the history of skateboarding, it continues to progress. It continues to keep getting better,” said Hawk. He continued: “We keep pushing the limits of height, of speed. And now Sandro has jumped ahead about five times everyone else. […] You can go even bigger than we ever imagined.”