Pauline Kana Sets World Record for Crowd-Surfing

At 99 years and 274 days old, Pauline Kana became the oldest person to crowd-surf in Texas.

Updated on Oct. 29, 2026 in Surfing

Expressive, brush-stroke illustration of a person being lifted by a crowd in a concert, rendered in electric blue and magenta tones.
Pauline Kana, 99, set a Guinness World Record in May 2026 for the oldest person to crowd-surf, during a concert in Texas. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

In May 2026, 99-year-old Pauline Kana set the Guinness World Record for the oldest crowd-surf by an individual at a Brantley Gilbert concert in Texas. She was secured to a stretcher and carried by concertgoers as part of an organized attempt to achieve the milestone.

Why it matters

The record-breaking attempt served as a celebratory goal for Kana, who had previously expressed interest in such achievements. It brought significant attention to her feat during the concert, which was introduced by the performing artist himself.

Pauline Kana was exactly 99 years and 274 days old when she set the official record for the oldest crowd-surf by an individual. This milestone was supported by Ross Smith, who maintains a social media presence of 25 million TikTok followers.

The players

Pauline Kana

She is the individual who officially set the world record for the oldest crowd-surf at the age of 99.

Ross Smith

He is a social media personality with nearly 25 million TikTok followers who helped organize the record attempt.

Brantley Gilbert

He is a musician who hosted the Texas concert where the crowd-surfing event took place.

The details

Brantley Gilbert introduced the participants to the concert audience in Texas before Kana was safely lifted onto a stretcher to be carried across the crowd. The successful event was later officially recognized and reported by Guinness World Records in June 2026.

Timeline

  1. Pauline Kana interviewed with Press Pass LA in 2022.

  2. The crowd-surf occurred during a concert in May 2026.

  3. Guinness World Records published a report on the attempt in June 2026.

Season Trajectory

The success of this stunt reflects the growing trend of social media influencers leveraging large platforms to achieve viral world records. This specific record adds a unique entry to the history of extreme crowd engagement, showcasing the power of audience-coordinated events.

This record confirms that age is not a barrier for participation in high-energy concert traditions when proper safety measures are in place. The event highlights the logistical success of using a secured stretcher to facilitate crowd interaction for older participants.

The takeaway

Achieving such a record requires careful coordination between organizers, performers, and the audience to ensure safety. Fans inspired by this story should always consult event venue rules before attempting any unconventional physical participation.

Further reading

Find more coverage of unique record-breaking events in the Surfing section.

Source note: This article includes information reported by The Times of India.