A WORLD record holding paddle boarder from Bournemouth completed a carbon-neutral trip around the Isle of Wight.
The trip did not go without difficulty as he battled gale force winds and five foot waves to raise money and awareness for a local charity.
David Haze, a seven-time world record holding stand up paddle boarding adventurer completed the world's first completely carbon neutral environmentally friendly expedition earlier this month.
Everything he used on his five day trip around the Isle of Wight from his equipment, to his clothes and food was ethically sourced, carbon neutral and environmentally friendly.
He used the challenge to raise £1000 and awareness for Surfers Against Sewage and awareness for the Big Plastic Pledge.
However, the trip was not without difficulties, the weather was not on David Haze’s side which led him to walk the last part of his journey in the water.
He said: “The whole trip was a lot tougher than I expected. I had to sit on the beach all day Tuesday waiting for the wind to change.
“Wednesday I was hit by a wave and my leash snapped whilst 700m offshore, I lost the board and had to swim back.
“I found the board, sorted a new leash and paddled 56km the next day only to have the tides and wind change on me 5km from Cowes.
“When I came to the shore I realised the fin and Mount were missing, with no other choice I was going to have to leave it there but after spending a night on the beach I decided to walk the last 5km with the board attached to me through the water, it was epic.
“I’ve had such a great response to the point that all my future expeditions are gonna be environmentally friendly, carbon neutral.
“I'm off Iceland to attempt world record number eight in October, obviously I've got to fly there but I'm going to offset the carbon footprint by planting 70 trees in a prison.
“It's just been such an educational journey for me. I've learned so much that, you know, I can't, I can't just stop here, I've gotta continue with this.”
To follow David’s journey visit @nomadicpaddler on social media.
To donate to his JustGiving visit: justgiving.com/fundraising/tggp
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel