Skateboarder Leticia Bufoni loves to break records - and she's added to her collection with her most dangerous stunt yet!
The 29-year-old São Paulo native, who now lives in Southern California, pulled off a skateboard grind out the back of a plane that was flying at an altitude of 2,750 metres (9,022 feet) in an epic stunt that's gone down in history.
The incredible feat bagged her the record for the highest skateboard grind outside the back of a flying aircraft.
Leticia hopped on board a C-130 Hercules, the same airplane used in the Fast & Furious movie franchise, armed with a parachute of almost 20 pounds (9.1 kg) and her skateboard, before grinding out of the back while it was in flight.
The memorable moment - on 30 August 2022 in Merced, California, USA - was captured by Craig O'Brien, the same skydiver that jumped with Tom Cruise in Mission: Impossible – Fallout.
She also recently claimed the record for largest skatepark built in an aircraft and flown.
With the help of California Skateparks designer and builder, Joe Ciaglia, she unveiled the park measuring 41.95 square metres (451.54 square feet) on 30 November 2022.
Leticia already held the record titles for the most skateboard street gold medals won at the X Games (street, female) - five total - and most medals won in X Games summer disciplines (female) - 12 total.
Her passion, discipline, and impressive talent make her one of the most influential women in skateboarding.
Growing up, she enjoyed playing sports in the streets of her hometown, São Paulo.
However, she visited California for the first time to compete at the X Games at 14 years old, and, from that moment on, skateboarding became her passion and her life.
Fearless Leticia is not scared of going beyond the limits. Her dream is to make a positive impact in sports by innovating with new ideas and tricks.
In partnership with Red Bull Brazil, she decided to intensify her physical and mental training to break an epic record.
Leticia pulled off the “feeble grind”, an ambitious trick that combines a 50/50 and boardslide trick while in the air. In doing so, Leticia invented a new trick for the skateboard scene.
“It's crazy to think that I'm the first person to skateboard inside a plane and do a feeble in the air. That’s something I didn’t know was possible or not. I’ve never skateboarded on an airplane. I didn’t know that this project would take such a huge proportion as it took,” said Leticia.
Bufoni trained for the skydive aspect of the project with legendary Bull Air Force member, Jeffrey Provenzano, who was extremely impressed by her talent.
Congratulations Leticia - here’s to many more records!
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