Olga Naumova exits a helicopter during her record skysurf jump above Syangboche, Nepal, on November 10, 2025, at an altitude of 20,945 feet above sea level.
Olga Naumova’s Everest Skydive: The Story Behind the Record
A skydive gifted by her friend Sujita gave Olga Naumova an idea: take a board into Nepal’s Himalayan skies and attempt something different. On November 10, 2025, the Belarusian athlete jumped from a helicopter at 20,945 feet above sea level, earning the Guinness World Records title for the highest-altitude skysurf jump.
A skydive gifted by a friend gave Olga Naumova an idea: take a board into Nepal’s Himalayan skies and attempt something different. On November 10, 2025, the Belarusian athlete jumped from a helicopter at 20,945 feet above sea level, earning the Guinness World Records title for the highest-altitude skysurf jump.
The attempt took place above Syangboche during Everest Skydive 2025. Guinness recorded her exit altitude at 6,384 metres.
In a Guinness World Records video interview, Naumova explained how a gifted experience became a personal challenge. Skydiving in the Everest region was already special, but she wanted to explore a discipline she believed had not previously been performed there.
With more than 17,000 skydives behind her, she had extensive experience in the air. Skysurfing, however, brought a different set of demands.
Learning to Ride the Air
Skysurfing involves jumping with a board attached to the feet, controlling it during freefall and then opening a parachute for the descent to the ground.
Naumova explained that preparing for the attempt meant learning the discipline while also adapting to the high-altitude environment. The greatest challenge, she recalled, was mental.
Even with her experience, she found skysurfing frightening. During the climb to altitude, she focused on breathing and visualising the jump. She reminded herself that reaching the helicopter door with a board attached to her feet was the result of the preparation she had already completed.
The day before the attempt, Naumova and the team familiarised themselves with the oxygen masks, tanks and helicopter. They worked through how the equipment would fit together before putting the plan into action.
On the day of the jump, she recalled clear weather at the drop zone. The helicopter climbed to 20,945 feet, where she secured her board, took a final breath from the oxygen supply and exited.
She controlled the board during the descent, deployed her parachute and landed safely at Syangboche, at a reported elevation of 12,356 feet.
The attempt used an AS350 B3 helicopter operated by Fishtail Air. Explore Himalaya Travel and Adventure provided logistical support, alongside an international technical team.
Olga Naumova celebrates her Guinness World Records title for the highest-altitude skysurf jump, achieved at 6,384 metres in Syangboche, Nepal.
From Childhood Books to a Record of Her Own
For Naumova, the Guinness title carried a connection to childhood.
Her mother used to give her a Guinness World Records book every Christmas. Reading about the achievements inside, she saw the record holders as superheroes. Becoming one herself felt difficult to believe.
She also welcomed the possibility that another athlete might surpass her altitude. In the interview, she said she knew people who were considering attempts and viewed that competition as a way for athletes to encourage one another and advance the sport.
She hinted at ideas for further challenges, although she did not announce a specific attempt.
A Record Set in Nepal’s Everest Region
Naumova’s jump was among the highlights of the 18th Everest Skydive. Organisers recorded 48 successful jumps during the November 10–13, 2025 programme, involving participants from Belarus, Thailand, Italy, Romania, France and the United States.
Guinness World Records’ public listing continued to name her as the record holder when checked on November 2, 2026.
The organiser’s published autumn 2026 programme lists arrival in Kathmandu on November 5 and departure on November 15. Those dates cover the overall itinerary, including travel.
For Naumova, the achievement brought together a friend’s gift, a demanding new skill and memories of the record books she read as a child. In Nepal’s Himalayan skies, she created a story of her own for those pages.
