"The longest journey by pumpkin boat (paddling) is 73.50 km (45.67 miles), and was achieved by Gary Kristensen (USA), in Oregon, USA, on 12 October 2024," the Guinness World Records says.

"Gary has grown giant pumpkins since 2011. In 2013, he carved his first boat-sized pumpkin to compete in the West Coast Giant Pumpkin Regatta. In 2024, he finally grew a pumpkin large enough for this record attempt."

"Gary Kristensen, a Happy Valley man who has been growing giant pumpkins since 2011, started converting his gargantuan gourds into boats into 2013 to compete in the West Coast Giant Pumpkin Regatta, which he has won for the past four consecutive years,"  the UPI reports.

"Kristensen hollowed out a pumpkin he dubbed Punky Loafster this year to take on his longtime goal of breaking the Guinness World Record for the longest paddling journey by pumpkin boat.

"His 45.67-mile journey down the Columbia River, which took him more than 26 hours, aimed to break the previous record of about 39 miles."

"October means cooler weather, crunchy leaves and harvest spice lattes. And for some, it’s a time to showcase spectacular giant pumpkins – and even break a Guinness world record. Gary Kristensen of Happy Valley paddled nearly 46 miles in a giant pumpkin along the Columbia River earlier this month,"  the Oregon Public Broadcasting reports.

"“There were 30 to 35 mile per hour winds about four or five miles into our trip,” he said. “We started at Bonneville Dam, and the waves were pretty intense coming over the top of the pumpkin. I was filling up with water.”

"Fellow giant pumpkin grower Jim Sherwood can also boast his own gourd award. The Mulino resident has grown his fair share of giants over the years. The self-described extreme gardener won the National Pumpkin Weigh Off in California this year. His entry, nicknamed “Hank the Tank,” tipped the scales at nearly 2,500 pounds."

"From October 12 to 13, Kristensen, a real estate appraiser from Happy Valley, Oregon, spent 26 hours paddling his enormous gourd down the Columbia River," the Outside Magazine says.

"He completed 45.67 miles, which the Guinness World Record recently accepted as the new record for a category titled “longest journey by pumpkin.” Kristensen told Outside that the arduous journey was a true test for any paddler—especially when gusting winds kicked up.

"Growing pumpkin watercraft is a science, Kristensen explained. For a long distance paddle, on a river like the Columbia, with boat traffic, wind, and waves, you want a larger gourd, to give yourself more space to stretch, and more room to take on water without sinking. You also want the pumpkin to be as long and symmetrical as possible, with a flat bottom and smooth skin."

"“There was a lady in our giant pumpkin growing club who set the record many years ago, somewhere around 16 miles I believe,” said Kristensen. “I’ve always thought it’d be kind of cool to do that. I had an extra pumpkin in my yard this year that looked like it would be good for a long journey, so it felt like the right time to go for it,” the Paddling Magazine says.

"“We were supposed to have a 15-mile-per-hour tailwind, what ended up happening was a 35-mile-per-hour tailwind. The waves were crazy big. We ended up having to stop only three hours and 45 minutes into the trip to wait out the waves on the beach. Water had been coming over the side of the pumpkin, almost sank it.”

"Paddling a pumpkin boat for 46 miles is no walk in the park. To prepare for the trip Kristensen trained by kayaking every weekend and running every day. While kayaking, he would put pool noodles around the kayak for additional resistance, but according to Kristensen it is still not anything like paddling a pumpkin."

"Gary Kristensen set out to break a long-awaited Guinness World Record on October 12. Not only did Kristensen complete the longest paddling journey in a pumpkin boat, but he also grew his own 1,224-pound pumpkin to make this record possible,"  the Sports Illustrated says.

"Kristensen further explained his challenges on this trip by stating, "We were supposed to have a 15-mile-per-hour tailwind. The waves were crazy big. We ended up having to stop only three hours and 45 minutes into the trip to wait out the waves on the beach. Water had been coming over the side of the pumpkin, almost sank it."

"For safety measures, Kristensen was joined by support team, although he was the only one in the pumpkin boat. As with any paddling trip, he carried safety equipment with him and wore a properly fitted PFD."

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