Following a literal and metaphorical uphill battle, a Sundre resident postponed his attempt to break the record for distance travelled on in-line skates but remains determined to try again next year.
Following a literal and metaphorical uphill battle, a Sundre resident postponed his attempt to break the record for distance travelled on in-line skates but remains determined to try again next year.
"My trek was not a success or a failure but just something I need to work harder to complete," said Brent Walisser.
After being unable to garner some volunteer support to help him embark on his attempt late this spring, he undauntedly decided to hit the road regardless. But without any kind of crew to help carry equipment, Walisser was on his own. That meant hauling behind him a small cart with a big load of about 135 kilograms (or about 300 pounds), which is a massive burden for one person trying to travel an accumulative 9,000 kilometres on in-line skates.
"That's probably a record in itself," he said about pulling the cart as far as he did.
Starting just outside Olds, Walisser eventually made his way out to Golden, B.C. by early June, representing a total distance travelled of about 400 kilometres. But he stopped by plenty of other places along the way, including Crossfield, Carstairs, Calgary, Cochrane, Ghost Lake, Canmore, Banff and Lake Louise, which he had never before visited.
To make ends meet as he went along, he would tackle the odd job including landscaping work, which led to a back injury in Golden that largely led him to decide it was time to come home — for now.
"I ended up waiting two days for it to heal and it was not getting any better so I received a ride back to Sundre."
More than a month after coming home, Walisser said he's gone back to doing odd jobs like landscaping to keep in shape and that his back is improving.
The current record for distance travelled by in-line skates is held by Peter Boegelein from Germany. He travelled 8,596 kilometres. Walisser said he had been in contact with the record-holder, who told him to be prepared to make several attempts to set a new record.
"I thought he was exaggerating, but he wasn't."
But Walisser remains focused on trying again.
"I know that I'm going to make another attempt," he said, expressing his gratitude and appreciation for everyone who lent a hand during his travels this summer.
"I had a lot of help from different places and people (along the way)."
He described his initial attempt to break the world record distance travelled on in-line skates as "an amazing battle."
"For the first little while it was a huge struggle," he said, explaining that he was falling drastically short of the distances he'd hoped to travel in one day because of the additional weight he was lugging behind him.
Once he started progressing further into the mountains from the foothills, Walisser said each hill was "a whole other ball game" that he tackled "one blade at a time."
With the weight pulling him back going uphill, he averaged little more than 10 strides before needing to catch his breath.
"That was the battle part of the whole situation."
But sometimes, taking a break was the silver lining in an otherwise exhausting endeavour.
"The amazing part is you can stop any time you want."
As you travel along and see something that catches your eye such as a river, wildlife or pristine landscape, you can just stop and take in the moment, he said.
Additionally, Walisser said he met a lot of good people on his travels. He confessed that exposure to a number of First Nations tribes completely shattered negative preconceived stereotypical impressions he had of the culture and that he now has a totally different outlook for which he's grateful.
"There were more native people (than others) who helped me out and offered me food and water," he said, adding they were equally kind with their words.
So despite not setting a new record, Walisser said his experience was nevertheless rewarding.
"I was really down about it — that I didn't make it — but at the same time I'm proud I made it that far with that much weight."
Looking ahead to next year, Walisser hopes to have some help on the road but understands how much of a time commitment that would represent for a volunteer.
"Worse comes to worst, I'll do it on my own," he said, explaining that his plan would be to drive his truck, park it, travel approximately 15 kilometres on in-line skates before returning to the truck and driving it back up to the point he reached on skates.
In other words, using that approach would have meant his trip to Golden, B.C. would have racked up about 800 kilometres as opposed to 400. But at least it would have been without hauling a heavy cart.
"I'm looking forward to not carrying the 300 pounds (next year)," he said, adding he also plans to spend less time working odd jobs in the communities he stops over in.
"Blading hundreds of kilometres and doing back-breaking work is not the way to go to break the record," he said.
Aside from wanting to set a new record, Walisser previously said that he also wants to raise awareness regarding his dream to one day establish an outreach ranch that will offer a helping hand to youths as well as adults who are experiencing challenging times but are also serious about getting their lives back on the right path.
Anyone who is interested in helping Walisser is welcome to contact him at 587-444-0441.
