He only just made the checkpoint cutoff times which are enforced for safety and organization reasons. As the week passes, it will be harder to make the cutoff as fatigue sets in but what a great effort so far.
If you miss a cutoff they remove you from the race.
Chris even got a mention in the official media release. Simon Overland Police Commissioner Vic Police paddles today in an OC6.
"Other notable entrants include Deputy Victorian National Party Leader Peter Walsh, Victorian Chief Commissioner of Police Simon Overland and Christopher Alexandrou, who is the only competitor attempting to complete the grueling event on a stand up paddle board"
Top Copper Simon Overland (Vic Police Commissioner)get's gastro before the event, pulls out and goes home with the ****s.
Chris gets to 11 hrs and is now listed as withdrawn. Possibly did not make C/O or pulled himself, so close. He will be allowed to start again tomorrow.
What would be worse or tougher on the body? Sitting on your backside or standing for the duration? I still remember reading your race summary Rambo of when you and Clarkie did the distance and your recommendations to anyone doing the race to invest in the best bum padding money could buy. I know my legs / toes get sore after a long paddle so I reckon STANDING might actually be harder than sitting...and sitting that distance seemed like one of the hardest things to be dealt with hour after hour after hour. Good on him though and may the current increase!
...the only stand-up paddler in the event, 36 year-old Chris Alexandrou, battled but remains confident of finishing the race.
“The first day was a really good day and good to make it to the finish,” he said. “I did the race on a really fast racing canoe last year and just wanted to try something else. I get passed by every single person so I get to say ‘Hi’ to everyone.”
“My knees and my back are fine but your hands get torn apart. Every stroke feels like rock after a while. Doing it in craft like this is a real challenge, but that’s fine.”
No DJ, just getting reports from my old partner who is doing it in a rudderless Tahitian OC1. To wash ride he is having to paddle mostly on the one side, so his ass is hurting. Same as paddling one side on a SUP downwind with a cross wind. You know about that.
No my next video contract is The Doctor in Perth in Jan.
Say i hear you're now a pimp, ..hahahaa don't worry i get the same thing on the Outrigger forum as the No1 poster, 'cept you seem a nicer bloke than i am.
To do nearly 100km in flat conditions is an absolutely huge effort. When DC and I did our 70km downwinder it was tough enough. What he has just done was tougher!
DC and I are planning our next downwind ocean paddle, at 100km. This guy has just given us renewed inspiration for it.
Having paddled the event a couple of times years ago, I remember battling fatigue, heat, wind, boredom etc and being really happy just to finish!
Standing for that long would definitely be alot more stressful on the body than sitting down. I had a custom moulded seat and sports tape on my arse to help reduce the rash!!
I reckon he would really need those elasticised knee braces.
Thats a massive effort just to get through the 97km on day one!
