Shediac sets new record for longest lobster roll at 106.2 feet

Pierre Cormier says they have set a new record for the world's longest lobster roll after it was officially measured at 106.2 feet or 32 metres. 

"We're very pleased with the result," he said adding the objective was to go over 100 feet or 30 metres. 

Cormer said challengers in Prince Edward Island better start training now if they plan to beat the record set Wednesday night at the Shediac Lobster Festival for the claim to the longest lobster roll in the world.

"We've been on treadmills the last six months training for this," Cormier said with a laugh.

• World's longest lobster roll record in question

Cormier, a member of the Shediac Chamber of Commerce, is referring to the 2015 controversy between their group and the P.E.I. Fishermen's Association claim they had beaten it during the P.E.I. International Shellfish Festival in Charlottetown.

Cormier said the fishermen's association thought they had broken Shediac's record in 2015 after going off Shediac's 2014 record of 21. 9 metres or 72 feet. Their lobster roll was 23 metres.

But Cormier said the Shediac's Lobster Festival's website had not been updated to reflect the new record.

"Actually last year we did reach 85 feet and six inches."

Cormier said the P.E.I. challengers got the message too late but they did get the message.

"So this year they'll have to even top that if they want to beat us."

Prep work

Cormier described to CBC the amount of prep work that goes into getting ready to break a record. 

Cormier said it started with the bread. "To bake the bread is the biggest preparation that we have. The piece of bread needs to be one continuous piece meaning we have to bake it in a continuous oven."

He added it took up to 12 hours to complete the process with 17 volunteers.

Next is the lobster —36 kilograms or 85 pounds of Shediac lobster. Added to that will be is six litres of mayonnaise and four heads of lettuce.

"That's what's going to go in this monster today," said Cormier.

Cormier said the event is fun for community business owners who for once a year become bread makers, chefs and record makers during this event for the Shediac Lobster Festival.

"It makes it fun for one day out of the year we're not business people, we're just crazy people."

All funds raised from the event go to charity and bursaries for local students.

"It's good for the lobster industry and it's good for charity," said Cormier.

When asked what they plan to do next year, he said, "We'll wait and see what happens in P.E.I. this fall."