In 2017, British skater Peter Connolly stood on his longboard at the top of a steep road in Quebec, Canada, crouched low, and let gravity do the rest. By the bottom, the radar gun read 91 mph (146 km/h). That makes him the fastest person ever to ride a skateboard on a real road.
Downhill skating like this is a serious sport. Riders wear leather suits like motorbike racers and full-face helmets. They scout the road for cracks and gravel for days before a run, because a single bump at this speed can launch them into the air. Some riders practice falling on purpose so they know how to slide if it happens.
At top speed, the wind alone tries to peel a rider off the board. Connolly tucked into a “down position,” kneeling low so the air slid over him. The wheels were spinning so fast they got hot to the touch. The board itself was almost normal - just sturdier than the ones you might ride to school.
