BETHEL - Skiing and X Games star Simon Dumont, 21, of Bethel, set a new world record for the highest air on a quarterpipe as he launched 35 feet into thin air at his home resort of Sunday River last Friday.

On the world's tallest quarterpipe (38 feet tall and 78 feet wide) custom-built by Snow Park Technologies, and with a representative from FIS (Federation Internationale de Ski ) appointed by Guinness Book of World Records on location to document the record-breaking moment, Dumont beat previous record holder Terje Haakonsen's 32 feet 6 inches during his last day of attempts.

Dumont soared a breathtaking 73 feet above the ground - more than a seven-story building.

An intimate crowd of family and friends broke into a cheering frenzy as they witnessed the record-breaking moment.

"I wasn't sure how this would all go down today with the wind and some healing injuries I've been nursing," Dumont said.

"As I was dropping down the hill into the run-in it just hit me that this would be it - the rest is history."

Haakonsen set the previous record in 2007 with a backside 360 at The Arctic Challenge in Oslo, Norway.

Dumont, a Bethel native, was heralded as a local ski legend.

"Simon grew up here in the town of Bethel shredding the slopes at Sunday River so we were thrilled to help him bust the record," said Alex Kaufman, Communications Manager for Sunday River.