Industry News
Thomas “Racer Tom” Hart has pushed downhill skiing into territory few thought was possible. The 64-year-old North Ogden, Utah, resident has officially broken the Guinness World Record for the greatest vertical distance skied downhill in one year for the fourth time, marking his third time surpassing his own previous benchmark.
Guinness certified the record on December 19, 2025. Between November 30, 2024, and November 30, 2025, Hart skied a staggering 16,038,376 vertical feet. The total more than doubles the distance from his first record-setting effort just two years ago and places his latest achievement far beyond what most endurance skiers believed achievable.
“I skied a total of 285 days, which included 54 days in South America in Chile, which was definitely the most fun summer of my life,” Hart wrote in an email to SnowBrains.
Hart, a retired real estate broker, has spent the past several seasons building toward this moment. Last year, he eclipsed 11 million vertical feet, already a number that defied comprehension. Rather than slowing down, he kept skiing, traveling across hemispheres and stacking vertical well into fall. By the time the yearlong window closed, he had cemented what he considers an untouchable mark.
This record run relied heavily on Snowbasin Resort, where Hart logs the majority of his laps, but it also included stints at Snowbird, Brighton, Mammoth Mountain in California, and a two-month trip to Chile during the Southern Hemisphere winter. That Chile trip came together organically after time spent skiing with friends at Mammoth, including the woman who is now his girlfriend. Together with friends from both resorts, Hart continued chasing winter while most skiers were putting their gear away for the summer.
Throughout the year, Hart maintained an almost relentless routine. Many days began before sunrise and ended when lifts stopped spinning. He skied open to close for weeks at a time, including a stretch of 36 consecutive ski days in Colorado. The effort required not only physical endurance, but consistent health and favorable snow conditions, both of which cooperated throughout the year.
Hart describes this latest season as his most enjoyable yet, fueled by the people he met along the way and the shared energy of skiers who recognized what he was chasing. Celebrations followed major milestones, including gatherings at Snowbasin and recognition from resorts and pass networks that tracked his progress. “The first year, I thought it was going to be kind of an arduous, difficult task, but it was so fun,” Hart told the Standard-Examiner.. “This year, it’s been even more fun because I’ve met so many like-minded people and avid skiers, not only at Snowbasin, but at the other resorts.”
While the record now stands higher than ever, Hart does not expect to attempt another yearlong vertical challenge. He believes this mark represents his personal ceiling. “I genuinely believe that I can’t break this record,” Hart admitted. “That’s the big difference between this record and the previous three. I always knew I could break the previous records, but this one, I don’t think I can—and I’m not planning to try.”
For now, Hart plans to keep skiing simply because he loves it. His calendar includes more time at Snowbird, a return to Mammoth, and extended stays in Chile, where he has become involved with a helicopter skiing operation through close friends. The idea of chasing an endless winter continues to appeal to him.
What stands out most about Racer Tom’s story is not just the scale of the numbers, but the joy behind them. His record is less about statistics and more about persistence, routine, community, and a deep love for skiing. At an age when many athletes slow down, Hart has redefined what is possible, one chairlift ride at a time.
