By Herald staff

Penticton freestyle skier Joey Spencer has been officially recognized as a Guinness World Record holder for a successful jump he achieved in May of this year.
Spencer, who was 19 at the time, achieved what Guinness calls "the longest 720 ramp jump on skis" measuring 26.95 metres (88 feet) at Blackcomb Mountain in Whistler. His jump included two elements of added difficulty that were not required for the record—execution of the 720 as a flat spin and execution of a “Screamin’ Semen” maneuver involving the interlocking and de-interlocking of skis.
The record jump came on Spencer’s first and only attempt following nearly two days of practice. He was hampered by an elbow injury sustained in a bicycle accident one week earlier. Slushy snow due to warm (20° C) and sunny conditions forced Spencer to use a very high starting position above the jump.
Spencer had made a prior attempt at the record on April 15, 2012, also at Whistler-Blackcomb. On that occasion, he landed a 21.4-meter 720-degree jump, sufficient for the record, but a hand-touch on the landing disqualified the jump.    
Mike Shaw, head halfpipe coach of Winsport Canada, certified Spencer’s completion of all technical elements of a 720-degree jump and certified Spencer’s compliance with Guinness 720-degree jump guidelines. Professional surveying services were provided by Bunbury & Associates in Whistler and by his survey team of Brian Rode and Chris Raymond. Primary videography was provided by Austin Wendenburg and Ryan Allan. Rules compliance, claim and DVD submission, ski area permission, transportation, and surveyor coordination were handled by American attorney,
There's an exhaustive process involved with submitting a record to Guinness for consideration. Attorney Chuck Allen, based in Louisville, Kentucky, produced and submitted a nine-minute proof DVD and an accompanying 40-page claim of evidence package to Guinness World Records in London.
Spencer is a graduate of Pen-Hi and is presently working in Alberta.