Adventure-seeking couple discover stunning scenery on record-breaking highest paddleboard
A thrill-seeking couple trekked towards the top of the world to break a record while paddleboarding together.
Carlos Cardemil Poffal and Laura Andrea Torres Pereira (both Chile) achieved the highest altitude to paddleboard at an astonishing 6,370 m (20,898 ft 11 in) above sea level as they took in the stunning scenery of Copiapó, Chile.
The athletes wanted to combine their love for mountaineering, paddleboarding and each other in one epic record-breaking trip.
Carlos, a 51-year-old dentist, and Laura, a 48-year-old who works in the legal profession, have barely spent a day away from each other since they met seven years ago.
“We are partners in life and partners in adventure,” Carlos told us.
“Over the last seven years, we have climbed mountains, explored remote places, and challenged ourselves in extraordinary environments. Every expedition has strengthened our trust in each other, and this Guinness World Records title is the result of years of teamwork, commitment, and a shared dream.”
Their journey began with an expedition to Licancabur Volcano, near San Pedro de Atacama, where they climbed the volcano and reached its beautiful crater lake.
Carlos said: “When we finally reached it, we were amazed by its beauty, the silence, and the incredible energy of that place.
“Standing there, we looked at each other and asked, ‘What if one day we could paddle in a place like this?’
“That simple moment changed everything.”
It was then that they realized just how momentous the occasion could be.
Carlos continued: “We realized we could combine our two greatest passions - mountaineering and paddleboarding - and create a challenge that had never been attempted before.
“From that day on, our dream began.
“For us, this was never only about breaking a world record. It was about proving that extraordinary dreams often begin with a single moment of inspiration.”
Carlos and Laura have both been paddleboarding for around eight years while continuing to develop their mountaineering experience.
Read about more incredible expeditions like this in our Sports and Fitness section.
Even though they’re both incredibly fit, this record attempt still required months of physical conditioning, altitude acclimatization, technical preparation, and detailed logistical planning.
Carlos said: “Because we climbed without porters, we carried every piece of equipment ourselves all the way to 6,370 metres above sea level. Physical endurance, mental strength, and teamwork were essential throughout the expedition.”
Once they got there, Carlos says the experience was “simply unforgettable”.
He said: “Paddling on a lagoon at 6,370 metres above sea level was the realization of a dream we had carried in our hearts for years.
“When we finally stepped on to our boards, we felt incredibly strong - almost invincible.
“After everything we had experienced, reaching our goal filled us with overwhelming emotion.”
He added: “The scenery was sublime.
“The lagoon was surrounded by snow-covered mountains, endless peaks, blue skies, and complete silence.
“There was an indescribable feeling of peace. For a few minutes, time seemed to stop.
“It felt as though nature had allowed us to become part of something truly extraordinary. It is a memory that will stay with us forever.”
Carlos and Laura are brimming with ideas for more records they can set in the future, so we’re pretty confident this won’t be the last we see of them.
For this record, the couple want to thank Club de Montaña Esmeralda, filmmaker Claudio Vergara, who documented the trip for them, and Juan Carlos Villarroel, Cristian Godoy, Albano Toro and Cristian Rojas for their support and for acting as witnesses.
They’d also like to stress that their expedition had no commercial sponsors or brand support and that they completed the trek without any porters, carrying all of their own equipment.
Carlos said: “This achievement means much more than breaking a world record.
“We accomplished it through hard work, sacrifice, perseverance, and the support of friends who believed in our dream, even when it sounded crazy.
“There were moments of extreme cold, exhaustion, uncertainty, and fear.
“But there was something stronger than all of that: the conviction that dreams do not come true by waiting for the perfect moment - they come true when you dare to take the first step.”
With their record, the couple send a message to chase your dreams no matter what.
“We believe that the greatest limits are rarely found in the mountains,” Carlos said. “Most of the time, they exist only in our minds.
“Once you dare to cross them, you discover you are capable of much more than you ever imagined.
“If our story inspires even one person to take the first step toward an impossible dream, then this achievement will have an even greater meaning.
“We were not the strongest people. We were not the ones with the greatest resources. We were simply the ones who refused to give up.”