The magical Ian Stewart: from chainsaw juggling to fantastical upside down tricks

By Sarah Payne
Published 08 April 2025
Split screen picture of Ian Stewart working on his blindfold and upside down record.

To be able to wield magic at one’s hands is an impressive feat, let alone when one is upside down. That is just one record of the multi-talented Ian Stewart. Ian is a man who prides himself on being able to perform impressive magic tricks in a multitude of different locations and styles. The Canadian magician’s skills and willingness to try new things has led him to break a total of 16 records (both presently and previously held). 

Beyond his record-breaking, Ian has established himself as a successful performer, juggler, and escape artist. Moreover, some of his achievements and talents have been seen by thousands of eyes as they were televised. Ian has appeared on a plethora of shows: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Late Show with David Letterman, America’s Got Talent (though not every performance was televised), Penn & Teller: Fool Us, and more.  

Abracadabra: Ian’s journey with magic begins 

Ian looking at a book that is on fire.

Ian looking at a book that is on fire

“I can still remember the streamers coming out of his mouth, and the rabbit coming out of his hat,” Ian said reflecting on watching a magic show at his pre-school when he was three years old. “I made the decision then that I would be a magician!” 

Like so many record breakers before him, Ian found his love for his respective talent early in his youth and luckily for him, he had a solid support system around him that fostered his enjoyment of magic and interest in learning. For instance, his father learned some tricks to amuse Ian and his sibling and was able to convince his brother to give him some funds for his first magic kit, a Fisher Price one. Notably, Ian’s early skillset came in handy when it came to his fulfilling future with Guinness World Records, as his earliest tricks were mostly in the colourful-tied-ribbon trick subset and these very tricks were used in some of his record-breaking stunts.   

Ian’s magic also was a great community builder, as he started performing for kids while in middle school, specifically, at children’s birthday parties. Later on, he performed his way through pilot school, with the money he received for his performances helping support the costs of education. Around his high school years, Ian’s performance resume expanded to include juggling, escapes, and even some hypnosis. The first of the previously listed categories would end up being the skill to help Ian get his first record.  

Ian’s aforementioned willingness to expand his horizons and dare to go all the way led him to his record-breaking future.  

Notable records 

Ian juggling chainsaws while standing on hay.

Ian juggling chainsaws while standing on hay

“The reason I started breaking magic records was because I was up very late one night talking to a magician friend. He asked why I had never broken a magic record."

Ian continued: “We looked up the records on magic and I thought it may be possible to break one. I started practising and eventually decided to just try and break the most difficult one.” 

Ian noted that the most difficult record for him to break was the most magic tricks in one minute. Ian was able to achieve this triumph in May 2024 with an impressive 52 completed tricks. Not everything can be won in one go; Ian attempted to break this record the previous year and despite his best efforts was only able to tie with the previous winner, Martin Rees, with 42 tricks.  

While not as challenging for the pro-magician, other impressive records include most magic tricks performed whilst suspended upside down in one minute at 19 tricks in total. The tricks performed were diverse including the colour changing cloths, objects like flowers duplicating, the coin through rubber trick, and many more.  

Ian’s knack for juggling comes in full swing in his multiple records involving chainsaws like the most consecutive under leg chainsaw juggling catches and the most consecutive chainsaw juggling catches, which are 20 and 105 respectively. For the latter record, he beats the previous record holder, Janne Mustonen, by seven catches. This victory over Janne came after she broke his 2011 record (94) by 4. Due to Ian’s experience with juggling, he has stated that overall, these types of records are easier for him to break than others, especially the under the leg trick.  

Amongst Ian’s magic tricks lies the appropriately named trick-shot subset. One record he broke with a lot of precision was the most balloons burst with a single bolt shot from a crossbow backwards title. Despite shooting backward, Ian was able to pop 13 balloons. 

Just as Ian was able to successfully break many people’s records, he is not imperishable to other individuals’ efforts. While Ian once held the record for most magic tricks performed blindfolded in one minute, the title was eventually passed to Alwin Roshan who defeated Ian’s effort totaling 39 with a record-setting 43. 

Life as a multi-Guinness World Records title holder  

“When I was in elementary school, the school library had the Guinness Book Of World Records [what it was titled at the time].  I’d spend hours reading it and seeing the amazing feats inside.  It never occurred to me at that time that I’d ever be able to break one record, let alone multiple,” Ian said of his history with Guinness World Records.   

With Ian’s talents and efforts, he has made an ever-impactful stamp on the world of record breaking and the Guinness World Records community. Moreover, Ian’s performances and record-breaking attempts bring fun and entertainment that can bring family, friends, and magic-fanatics alike together.  

“It’s been 14 years since I broke my first record, and I still get excited when I see my picture in the book, on the website or on the YouTube Channel.  It reminds me that with hard work, anyone can do great things!”