Clever family crushes longstanding childhood record for most stairs descended by a slinky
It’s a classic adolescent experience – launching a slinky off the top of a staircase, and watching it spring down the steps until it eventually loses momentum.
And if you’ve ever made a bet about how long the toy’s spiralled trek will last, we’re guessing that you wouldn’t want to challenge the Ohio-based Luchsinger family (all USA), who have figured out a way to calculate the record-breaking amount.
Last May, the family of Joe, Christelle, and five-year-old Axel took the notorious Guinness World Records title for the most stairs descended by a slinky with an epic total of 53. They almost doubled the longstanding record of 30, set by Marty Jopson and Hugh Hunt (both UK) back in 2014.
In an interview with the Yale School of Medicine – where Joe is a fourth-year resident – the neuroscience researcher explained that he and his wife were inspired to take on the record for their son Axel, who is admittedly “very early in his slinky career.”
“I've always had a soft spot for them, but hadn't played with one in years,” said Joe.
“Our son Axel is at the age where everything needs to be the biggest, fastest, or most extreme version of itself,” he continued. “He'd recently discovered slinkys and knew I had attempted a record before, so naturally he wanted to know the record for most stairs descended by a slinky.
“When we looked it up and saw the existing record was 30 stairs, it seemed beatable.”
With the logical approach of a medical student, Joe prepared for the attempt like a scientist – testing multiple commercially available slinkys for their stamina before settling on a six inch (15 cm) rainbow slinky from Amazon.
They also considered several locations throughout the state to make the drop – including near an old dam – until they landed on the stairs at Otterbein Stadium in Westerville, Ohio.
Finally, on 14 May, the Luchsingers were ready for their big attempt.
They recruited an independent witness on the track to serve as their videographer, before marching to the top of the stadium to make the giant drop.
With the rainbow slinky firmly positioned at the steps of the upper deck, Christelle gave the toy a push, and Axel cheered as it whirled its way down the stairs in the direction of the field!
And after an impressive total of 53 stairs, the exhausted toy finally ran out of steam, securely past the finish line and far enough to take the record for the excited family.
So congratulations to the Luchsingers for breaking this incredible title – you are all Officially Amazing!