24 Hour Human Powered Boat Distance Record Attempt
Click here for LIVE updates from the water on Saturday!
at Glenmore Reservoir,
Calgary June 2 to 3, 2007
from 9:00am Saturday to 9:00am Sunday
| The farthest distance a human has travelled under his own power on water is 168.43 km by Ironman world champion and US cycling hall of fame member John Howard on August 19, 2000. On June 2, native Calgarian Greg Kolodziejzyk is going to challenge that 7 year old record right here in Calgary at the Glenmore Reservoir starting at 9:00 am on Saturday morning and he won't stop until 9:00 am on Sunday morning.
Greg's ultra efficient human powered boat he calls "WiTHiN" (because human power is the power from within) is 19 feet long, 28 inches wide and is powered by pedals and a propeller.
WiTHiN is phase one of a prototype boat that Greg and his team are developing to challenge a far greater task - to cross the Atlantic Ocean in 2008 by human power in less than 40 days. The ocean crossing version of WiTHiN will feature a full cover top deck and will be able to withstand large breaking waves and capsizes, while maintaining an efficient speed. The 24 hour human powered boat record attempt event is being used as an official expedition launch and announcement, with the hopes that publicity surrounding the 24 hour record attempt event at Glenmore reservoir will help Greg and his team find corporate sponsorship for the Atlantic expedition. The Atlantic crossing expedition called "PedalTheOcean.com" is raising money for Greg's school speaking program "KidPower" and the Childhood Obesity Foundation.
The 24 hour human powered boat record will be observed, officiated and ratified by the International Human Powered Vehicle Association. Greg is the fastest man on earth - with a world record set in 2006 on a race track in California for the most distance covered by human power in 24 hours on LAND. Greg powered his custom made carbon fiber bullet bike "Critical Power" an incredible 1046 km in just one day on a race track in Eureka California on July 19, 2006 breaking the existing world record by a whopping 26 km. Greg has also finished 11 Ironman triathlons and qualified for Ironman World Championships in Kona, Hawaii.
Greg is well know by local Calgary elementary and junior high school children. Greg speaks at schools throughout Calgary about his accomplishments, achieving goals and the importance of staying fit and healthy to lead a happy and productive life. His program "KidPower" teaches kids that they can achieve their dreams with focused effort, hard work and discipline. Greg is hoping that proceeds from the PedalTheOcean expedition will fund a nation wide expansion of the KidPower program. Greg wants to see Canadian kids get active again and is committed to doing his part to make that happen.
Contact Greg for interviews: PedalTheOcean Expedition Web site: Greg's BLOG: 24 hour record attempt dates and locations: Date: June 2, 2007 9:00 am to June 3, 2007 9:00 am
(click to enlarge)s Some spots on the Glenmore patrol boat that will follow Greg will be available for press. Copyright-free high resolution photos available for reproduction - click to enlarge:
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