This 100-year-old Toronto man wants to break the world record for oldest person to helicopter ski

You don't typically find centenarians crushing powder at the top of a mountain in British Columbia.  

But in two months, that's exactly where 100-year-old Gordon Precious plans to be. 

The Toronto resident is looking to break the Guinness World Record for oldest person to go helicopter skiing. 

It's a thrill to be dropped off in a location that can only be reached by helicopter, Precious told CBC Toronto. 

"The first time, I looked down and thought, 'Wow, how am I going to get down from here?'" he said. "But the guides are super and take you on terrain that they know you can handle and it's a great experience. And I've been doing that for about the last 40 years."

Precious already held the world record for oldest heliskier, something he achieved at the age of 94 in 2019. But in 2021, his title was taken by American skier Junior Bounous who was 95 at the time. 

'The life of the party'

Precious aims to reclaim the record on a trip to British Columbia's Cariboo Mountains in April.

"I'm a little older than he is now. So I'll take it away this year," he said. 

Charles Malcolmson, Precious's neighbour and friend, is going with him once a week to train at Glen Eden Ski Resort in Milton, Ont. He will also accompany Precious on the trip out west. 

"It's an incredible story," he told CBC Toronto. "When do you ever even get to meet a 100-year-old person? Now meet one who's going to go helicopter skiing." 

Malcolmson sung Precious's praises, describing him as a good friend who often does magic tricks when they get together.

"He tends to be the life of the party with all the stories he has," he said. "He was at our place last Friday where he performed a couple tricks for us and everyone enjoyed it."

A reminder to chase your goals

Malcolmson says he is proud to go on this journey with Precious and thinks he can serve as an example for others to go after their own goals. 

"If Gordon can do it, you know, maybe others can do it. It's nice to have a goal and a record to go for," he said.

Along with Malcolmson, Precious will be accompanied by his wife and grandson. And he already has some ideas for how he'll celebrate with them if he's able to reclaim the record. 

"I suppose I'll have a wee drink of something down in the lodge and a nice dinner," he said.

Precious and Malcolmson will embark on the potentially record-breaking trip on April 20.