Guinness Book of World Records

As many of you know, from the FaceBook Fan Page, I joked around about taking the couch off a jump. Well, I took it a step further and contacted Guinness Book of World Records. At first I thought that it would be funny to submit it and didn't think much of it as I started filling out the info. But, as I was filling in the details they were asking about my, "Longest Distance Jumped on a Non-Powered Couch", I realized that this was actually a serious submission.

I had to agree to the terms of the agreement, state what media will be invited to the event, my sponsors, and how it will be measured. It was becoming a real deal..lol I sent the submission and got my reference number and everything...

Here is the Agreement with Guinness:

The Record Attempt:
We have an 8 foot couch, featured at www.DougsCouch.com that has pneumatic casters on it. Our own, Douglas Hein, will attempt the longest Couch jump on this couch. This distance will be measured from the end of the ramp to the closest point the couch touches when it lands. The same way an Olympic Long Jump is measured. It is not motorized. This will be performed on a closed track with medics on location.

The Formal Agreement:
This Agreement dated 18/7/2009

In relation to the record attempt ("Record Attempt") of: Longest Distance Jumped by a Non Powered Couch.

Between

GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS LTD (hereafter referred to as “GWR”/”us”/”we”), Company Number 00541295, of 3rd Floor, 184-192 Drummond Street, London, NW1 3HP UK and “you”

Mr Doug Hein
27992 rt 120
unit 27
lakemoor
il
United States

** The exact title of the record is subject to change and GWR may offer you a valid alternative record if your suggestion is not acceptable.

Until you read and accept all sections of this Agreement, GWR in no way encourages, authorises or permits any Record Attempt to be carried out and we will have absolutely no connection with or authorise any Record Attempt carried out before such acknowledgement.

Thank you for submitting a record application.

We will be in touch with you within two working days to confirm that your claim is being processed.

Please note that your record application has not been approved. Do not undertake any record attempt prior to Guinness World Records confirming that your application has been successful.

There is no further information required at this point.



I received this letter about 3 days later.....

Claim ID: 271563
Membership Number: 239219

Dear Mr Doug Hein,

Thank you for sending us the details of your recent record attempt for 'Longest Distance Jumped by a Non Powered Couch.'. We are afraid to say that we are unable to accept this as a Guinness World Record.

We receive over 60,000 enquiries a year from which only a small proportion are approved by our experienced researchers to establish new categories. These are not 'made up' to suit an individual proposal, but rather 'evolve' as a result of international competition in a field, which naturally accommodates superlatives of the sort that we are interested in. We think you will appreciate that we are bound to favour those that reflect the greatest interest.

Guinness World Records has absolute discretion as to which Guinness World Record applications are accepted and our decision is final. Guinness World Records may at its discretion and for whatever reason identify some records as either no longer monitored by Guinness World Records or no longer viable.

As your record application has not been accepted, Guinness World Records is in no way associated with the activity relating to your record proposal and we in no way endorse this activity. If you choose to proceed with this activity then this is will be of your own volition and at your own risk.

Once again thank you for your interest in Guinness World Records.

Yours sincerely,

Aleksandr Vypirailenko
Records Management Team



So, I guess Guinness isn't ready for the couch just yet. Someday we will get it in the record books, so I guess we don't need to rush it. Oh, and for those of you who have been watching on the Facebook Fan page, the couch has been repaired!