HIGHLY decorated AFL boundary umpire Darren Wilson has beaten a world-class field to win his first Empire State Building stair climb in New York.

In his sixth attempt at the world-famous event, the 41-year-old South Australian scaled the 86 floors and 1,576 steps in a time of 10 minutes and 36 seconds.

Wilson said his race unfolded "perfectly".

"We started in the lobby and I managed to get in the door first and I held on to the lead for the whole way, so it was one of those races that worked out perfectly for me," Wilson told FiveAA radio

"(I took) two (steps) at a time all the way, and (made) the most of the hand rail."

The veteran of nearly 400 AFL games and a record-breaking 12 straight Grand Final appearances blew away his opposition to win by a whopping 40 seconds.

"I had time to have a quick peak at the New York skyline as I finished on the observation deck," Wilson said.

"It was a very sweet moment."