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N.D. to pursue a new snow record this winter

 
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Aug 26, 2007 - 07:36:41 CDT
By VIRGINIA GRANTIER/Bismarck Tribune
It's not enough, apparently, to have one world record.

Halo, no.

It's not enough to be able to say that North Dakota established, in 2002, the first Guinness World Records' record for making the most snow angels simultaneously with 1,791 angels, then lost the record in 2006 to a bunch of college students and co-horts in Michigan totaling 3,784, and then roared back and grabbed back the record in Bismarck Feb. 17 with an avalanche of 8,962 angels.

Marilyn Snyder, the snow-angel organizer, wants another challenge, more snow glory for the state, more stories in the national media, and thinks many people will agree with her about this next attempt that will happen Dec. 26.

Snyder, curator of education for the Historical Society of North Dakota, got the OK from Guinness about a month ago to attempt a new world record.

So in this state of waving grains and grasses, and hello waves, and an occasional wave of nausea, ad nauseum, there now will be another wave - of world record proportions.

The longest snow wave.

Since there's never been such a record, Snyder technically would only need two people to participate, but of course she wants many more so that the pesky Michigan Technological University people and other world-record interlopers won't have an easy time of it if they want to take this one away.

Snyder got the idea at the snow-angel event when she saw people, just for the fun of it, start a snow wave.

"It's really pretty,"she said.

It's kind of like what happens at a sports event, only white stuff is involved.

One person grabs two handfuls of snow, throws it high in an arch toward the person behind, and then the next person heaves-ho snow, then the next. Snyder plans for the snow wavers to set up in a spiral pattern on the Capitol Grounds with the snow throwing starting at the epicenter and continuing out. Kind of like dominos falling.

Robert Niffenegger, who helped organize MTU's successful 2006 effort to wrest away, temporarily, North Dakota's snow angel record - glory that lasted about a year until North Dakota grabbed it back - didn't know what a snow wave was, until recently.

And when he found out, he expressed himself in no certain terms.

"That's interesting,"he said in a Friday interview, in a tone that indicated disinterest.

The chuckling Niffenegger said he thinks North Dakota is now making things up. He considers some world records to be legitimate, like who can run the fastest, who can jump the farthest, or like the two left that his university still holds after giving up the snow angel back to North Dakota.

MTUstill holds Guinness' largest snowball fight record "that's the one I'm most proud of" and the largest snowball, he said.

But he said there are other world records that aren't legitimate, like how many bananas you can split, or like the longest snow wave, he said.

Snyder understands.

"He just doesn't like uniqueness,"Snyder said about Niffenegger.

Snyder also doesn't understand why he would be so proud of a snowball fight, which ends up with nothing concrete except maybe a black eye - unlike the making of snow angels which results in the making of snow angels.

But Snyder is very well aware that she has to be on her toes when it comes to MTU. While Snyder prepares for a snow wave attempt, she's keeping her eye on MTU communications.

"I've been spying on the student newspaper,"she said.

A while ago, she learned Michigan State University has offered its services and student bodies to join with MTU in an attempt to swell the numbers enough so Michigan can get back the snow angel record.

Niffenegger told the Tribune on Friday he isn't involved in any effort, nor is he aware of any particular effort underway.

It's not known if Niffenegger, who will be a senior this year, was having a senior moment, and just didn't know what the truth really was, or if he really has turned his attention to more attainable goals.

North Dakota's planned snow wave record attempt will take place at 1 p.m. Dec. 26 on the Capitol Mall during a public party celebrating the state's successful Feb. 17 attempt to get back the snow angel record.

In the event of no-snow, it's a no-go, as Guinness didn't give permission for attempting the the longest brown-grass wave.

Anyone who has any snow-throwing abilities whatsoever, beginning to advanced, is welcome to participate.

For more information, call Snyder at 328-2792.

(Reach reporter Virginia Grantier at 250-8254 or at virginia.grantier@;bismarcktribune.com.)
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N.D. to pursue a new snow record this winter
Comments

Point to Ponder wrote on Aug 27, 2007 10:39 PM:

" To Settle Down People. It's because people like you who don't clean up after your dog's crap is the reason I believe that dogs, with the exception of service animals, should be banned from the capitol grounds. If you want to exercise your dog, there is a perfectly good dog park up by Century High School. MY TAX DOLLARS shouldn't be spent cleaning up after your dog. "

allen wrote on Aug 26, 2007 11:59 PM:

" I wonder if Marilyn didn't get the memo from the crazy person who wanted to take "North" off of our state name because it implied that it was cold up here. Maybe she should look for a summer time, 100 degree in the shade, record? "

To Millie wrote on Aug 26, 2007 8:05 PM:

" "all those people going to bars"...?? Huh? I am NOT a bar-goer, I am a mother of 2 teens, self-employed, very sucessful, go to church each Sunday, donate to worthy causes, etc---but because I am against her silly 'record breakers', that makes me a bar-frequenting hooligan? Please explain your pompous reply. Curious minds want to know. "

Millie wrote on Aug 26, 2007 6:11 PM:

" Would that more of us would take time to play we wouldn't have so much crime, violence and wars. She probably will do more for peace in Bismarck on Dec 26 than all those people going to bars. So she is being paid too much for that? "

Spying?? wrote on Aug 26, 2007 5:13 PM:

" And then she says she has been 'spying on the student newspaper'....ok, this is just plain WEIRD. Please lady, get to work!! "

To Settle Down wrote on Aug 26, 2007 12:58 PM:

" Now that is funny! Sit back and watch how you are about to be pulverized. "

Allen wrote on Aug 26, 2007 12:43 PM:

" I tend to agree with the early commenters. You want a record Marilyn? Find an existing one and break it. For now you are just setting records for silly ideas to keep yourself busy. There is likely only so many times you will get Guiness to buy off on your ideas. Make them count. "

SirP wrote on Aug 26, 2007 12:41 PM:

" Hey "Settle Down" if you dont pick that up that is a crime, and admitting to a crime on here is a pretty stupid thing to do idiot. They what IP address you post was sent from, and they have to do it contact your ISP and they have your address. It takes about 2 minutes, and to me that would be well worth the time to give a jack--- well you, like you a citation. Do you really think its the politians really go on the grass? no. Its the poor maintainence guys making 8 bucks an hour that have to clean that up for you lazy butt. Get a life. "

Settle Down People... wrote on Aug 26, 2007 12:11 PM:

" You don't have to be mean over such a benign subject. So what if people want to go play in the snow and look like fools. However, it should be noted that I've taken great pleasure in knowing all you snow angel/snow throwing people were laying in my dog's poop. Yep, I poop my dog multiple times per day on the capitol grounds. It is my little way of getting mileage out of my tax dollars, and returning something to the hardworking capitol politicians. ENJOY! "

Gary wrote on Aug 26, 2007 11:43 AM:

" I think it is great that someone wants to have a little fun in the snow, it doesn't matter what you do to have that fun. We don't have that kinda fun here in Florida unless of course you count rooftop chasing during a hurricane. "

Passionatepear wrote on Aug 26, 2007 11:39 AM:

" G Wiz, I think the comments so far have been a litte mean-spirited. If the people of ND want to make another Guiness record, they will show up. I don't know how much time was spent on this idea and organizing it - what maybe a couple of hours of a day? Come on, if you don't want to show up -- don't. I personally thought the 2nd Snow Angel turn-out was absolutely awesome as well as a fun activity. I was there, and the excitement was felt throughout the crowd. There were people from all ages that were having fun, what's wrong with that? Who knows, maybe the snow wave will be as much fun. "

Fossilman wrote on Aug 26, 2007 10:00 AM:

" Stupid idea's!!!!!!!!!! "

JENN wrote on Aug 26, 2007 9:43 AM:

" IS THIS REALLY WHAT WE PAY OUR STATE EMPLOYEES TO DO - COME UP WITH NEW GUINESS BOOK RECORDS FOR US TO TRY - APPARENTLY SHE IS WAY OVER PAID! "

Bill wrote on Aug 26, 2007 9:41 AM:

" So what if she wants to attempt this. I say hoorah for anyone attempting any type of promotion for ND. Go for it. As far as FARGO movie, the people I talked to out of state made more fun of Minnesota, since the story took place there...people who saw the movie know it was not about Fargo. "

jt wrote on Aug 26, 2007 8:22 AM:

" I don't care for the snow throwing record, snow angels was fun, how about a snowman record. "

ND -- Laughing Stock wrote on Aug 26, 2007 8:10 AM:

" I agree. With all the important things one can do to promote ND, a snow-throwing contest?? Yup, and the movie "Fargo" was made fun of...well, this is what happens! "

Can You Say Lame wrote on Aug 26, 2007 7:51 AM:

" And embarrasing. Snyder has way too much time on her hands and must enjoy reinforcing the negative stereotype the rest of the county has against ND. "

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