Braai world record broken!

As a warm up to Heritage Day which is our National braai day (Friday 24th September), Jan ‘Braai’ Scannel slaved over the hot coals for 28 hours 30 minutes at the Waterfront in Cape Town.

Click here to see the video.

He beat the Guiness World Record for the world’s longest ever recorded braai previously held by German, Sven Dörge, who ‘barbecued’ for 28 hours and 26 minutes.

Jan said his victory is not about breaking the record but is rather “a call to action for all South Africans to celebrate our common heritage by having a braai next week”.

“Heritage Day has the spirit of the World Cup without costing the tax payers a cent, and plus you can’t lose at braaing,” Jan said as he turned another braai grill over on the fire.

“Once a year we can celebrate as a nation; whether you are rich or poor, black or white, Xhosa or Zulu or from Durban, the Transkei, the Kalahari or Karoo everybody likes to make a fire and braai,” he said.

“And if I can braai for two days then they can surely braai for one or two hours next Friday”.

Breaking the record was about bringing it home to South Africa where it rightfully belongs. And Jan hopes that other ‘Saffas’ will pick up their tongs, don their braai goggles and char grill his record in years to come.

Over the last 28 hours and 30 minutes Jan has braaied about 100 steaks, 100 chicken wings, 100 lamb chops, 100 vegetarian patties and about 250 metres of boerewors – that’s two and a half rugby fields long!

Jan’s eyes smeared with grease

Through smoked out red eyes Jan explained that he hasn’t eaten much “but I’m basically sweating out meat”. This successful endeavor has not come without a few hiccups. Jan’s eyes, which suffered in yesterdays wind have had to be smeared with ‘grease’, while constantly flipping meat caused cramps in his hand last night.

This sizzling event was not without strict regulations. Guiness World Record judge Tarika Vara, flew from the UK in order to watch history in the making while also ensuring no rules were broken.

During his braai-a-thon Jan had to have five types of meat cooking at all times and was not allowed any support, bar moral. Two cameras that captured every flick of the tongs, forms, time keepers and officials also made sure that the record was smashed correctly.

Since he began the braai many supporters have stopped by for a bite and to show their support. “We had some interesting characters in the wee hours of the morning doing Mexican waves and things, they came from the nearby night clubs and were ‘slightly’ intoxicated,” said Jan through a tired chuckle.

Local celebrities like Liezel van der Westhuizen, Brian Habana, 5fm’s Kim Schulze and the Two Oceans crew also popped by for a bite of boerie.

Boerewors is Jan’s favourite braai-meat. “Boerewors is a perfect analogy for South Africa; it has the spices form the East, the sausage making knowledge from Europe and the meat from the South African bush,” he said.

Embrace your heritage next week Friday and gather your family and friends, chuck on your apron, crack open a beer or pour a glass of wine and celebrate all things South African around a braai.

Check out more pictures of the record breaking event here.