He submitted a recorded distance of 193.8 km (123.4 miles), which exceeds that of previous record-holder Joanne Hamilton-Vale. Immediately upon emerging from the water, Bart shared how he felt with TotalSUP.
Why did you choose to take on the challenge of paddling for 24 hours?
It may sound obvious, but I choose it because I wanted to. I have tried everything out there related to SUP and endurance. So It seemed natural to me to attempt a world record.
Where did you break the record and why did you choose this place?
I chose Lake Biel, Switzerland, because I had hoped it would be less windy. Maui, where I live, and Holland, where I am from, are both windy places. I knew I had to go somewhere in the middle of Europe. So I went on Google Earth to find a good spot and then I contacted the locals to get more info about the weather there.
How did you prepare for it?
I made no special preparations because I already train for ultra long-distance races. I train most days, and twice a week I do more intensive training sessions (2.5 and 5 hr paddle). Diet is a very important part of my training routine.
When it comes to diet, I apply the same rules as I do for long-distance races. I eat liquid food (Hammer perpethuem) and good-quality energy bars, along with bananas, nuts, apples and even muesli and electrolyte tablets.
What were you feeling during the challenge?
I started out really well in the first 3 hours and I was banking kilometers. I knew I would lose a bit of this head-start later. But then the wind came, which was then accompanied by thunder in the mountains, which caused the wind to shift every 10 minutes or so.
My lowest point was when I was going 6km against the wind. But it got better after that. Though it was light, there was always some wind on the course. My goal was 200 km, so in theses conditions I am happy with 193.8 km.
How do you feel having set a new world record, and what is your next challenge?
To break the record feels very special after 24 hours of very hard work in difficult conditions. Next month, my newest challenge will be to take on the Yukon river quest again, the world’s longest paddle race at 715km. An expedition in the Marquesas Islands will follow in the Fall.
GPS Art is a big thing in the cycling and running world, using a GPS device to track a route as the runner or cyclist traced out a design on the ground, when uploaded via a tracking app the picture is there on screen. If you’ve not seen this before then there are some very […]
“Soon we will have more pump foilers in Switzerland then surfers in Hawaii,” claims Zeno Davatz, Indiana Paddle & Surf Co. Adrenaline Ambassador and Zürich-based foil rider and community builder. And he might be onto something when you consider the pace at which the Swiss foiling scene is growing with the wrap-around support and encouragement from […]
Over the past month, Starboard has been working hard behind the curtains to present a very competitive line-up of international athletes for 2023. With future recruitment announcements by the Tiki brand still on hold (drums…), 3 athletes and 1 adventurer have already been announced to make their entrance in the Dream Team: SUP racers Alba […]
What can resonate more than a compelling brand story that stems from the street culture which always evokes freedom, nonconformist mindset, youthfulness and limitless fun? The Swiss watersport brand, Indiana Paddle & Surf, first started as a skateboarding venture with Christof Peller shaping first Indiana skateboards in the laundry room of his home in Herrliberg […]
When paddleboards become canvas for artistic expression, remarkable things happen. The latest release from the Swiss watersport company, Indiana Paddle & Surf – a limited edition of iSUPs designed with a Zürich-based tattoo artist Patrick Müller – is perfectly aligned with the brand’s philosophy encapsulating themes of curiosity, courage, balance and deep connection between humans and nature. […]
Reigning ICF Long Distance world champion Titouan Puyo showed he is the man to beat this season with a clean sweep of the 3 titles on offer at ICF SUP World Cup #1 in Thun, Switzerland, on the weekend. The 31-year-old Frenchman from New Caledonia won the distance, tech and sprint titles in an impressive […]
Pumped is the word after chatting with Sarah Spalinger, Adrenaline Ambassador of the Swiss watersport brand, Indiana Paddle & Surf. When Sarah is not working long hours as a doctor of cardiology and internal medicine, she’s flying (literally!) over the Lake Zürich, Switzerland. In search of the “ultimate freedom and a unique connection with nature”, […]