A dance across the ice: the most 360 spins on stilt skates in 30 seconds

Feats of athleticism can come from a wide variety of different skills. Balance, strength, and speed were all used masterfully in the record-breaking attempt for the most 360 spins on stilt skates in 30 seconds. 

Alisa Pilishenko broke this record full of confidence, excitement (despite some small nerves) and covered in a classic figure skater sparkly outfit. Her experience as a figure skater helped her twirl a triumphant 34 times in half a minute with her stilt skates. Impressively, Alisa was able to balance on stilts that were over 45 cm (17.71 in) tall, as per the requirements and parameters of the record. Moreover, her athletic abilities are shown through the momentum and speed she is able to build with pre-attempt spins, as for the actual attempt Alisa could only use one foot. 

The type of stilt used, the stilt skates, originated in a performance context. Minnesota-based Strauss Skates company, invented the skates to allow skaters to be elevated. These style of skates were used in the Minnesota's travelling ice show and eventually even in some Disney on Ice performances. These skates have become quite a point of interest for the public and some are displayed in the National Museum of Roller Skating in Nebraska.

Alisa’s record-smashing journey on the ice 

Alisa grew up in Ukraine and is a professional figure skater. Although familiar on the ice, much of Alisa’s training for this record was done in roller skates away from rinks. Many of the ice-skating rinks in Ukraine had been destroyed in the ongoing war with Russia. Alisa said she only had a few hours to train on the ice prior to her effort.  
 
Sometimes to get a chance to practise, Alisa had to travel from her home to Kiev and Dnipro. To get to those practice zones she would travel over 500 km (310 mi). Her efforts culminated in her 27 January record-breaking skate.  
 
Often in sports it is a sort of self-motto that motivates an athlete to continue pursuing greatness, but for Alisa it is her passion: “I don’t have any philosophy, I just enjoy the process. I just really like challenges. I like the preparation process. It is always very interesting... it’s so incredible. I can’t believe it.”  
 
The skills that Alisa (in part) developed and honed in on for this Guinness World Records title also seemingly have been a useful part of her skating life as a whole, as she has used it in artistic performances both before and since her attempt.  
 
Hard work and a strong motivation to succeed has landed Alisa in Guinness World Records history!