Watch the World’s Largest, Guinness Record-Breaking Firework Show
The successful launch follows a thwarted attempt to break the Guinness World Record in 2019.
Tim Borden succeeded in breaking the Guinness World Record for the world’s largest firework in 2019 last weekend. What’s a better metaphor for the importance of perseverance in life than a huge ball of colorful fire erupting into the sky and beating a world record after several attempts?
Borden’s attempt to break the record never came to fruition in 2019 after an incident stopped him and his team from launching. However, with the successful launch this past weekend, his gigantic 2,797-pound firework becomes the biggest to have been set off in the world.
The previous attempt, which took place on February 10, 2019, was scuppered when the 2,500 pounds of pyrotechnic materials exploded inside the mortar before being launched.
On February 8, 2020, however, the successful launch of Borden’s firework from Howelsen Hill in Steamboat Springs, Colorado made him the holder of a world record.
He used a custom-built, 26-foot long mortar to launch the record-breaking 62-inch shell a mile into the air. The initial explosion, as can be seen in the video above, is huge, momentarily lighting up the nighttime in an eerie phosphorescent color.
The previous Guinness World Record was held by the United Arab Emirates, where a 2,397-pound shell was successfully launched for New Year’s celebrations in January 2018.
While Borden’s firework might look slightly smaller than expected in the video, bear in mind that it was filmed from a large distance. Comparing it in size to the size of the nearby mountain gives an indication as to what it must have been like to experience the event in real life.
“We invested hundreds of hours into this project, and we anticipate that we will enjoy the satisfaction of this success for months to come,” Borden told the Denver Channel.
“People are already asking us, ‘What’s next?’ I really can’t answer that question, other than to say, whatever it is, I hope to do it with this same bunch of guys.”