Chris Keam � world records

Endurance Athletes To Pedal Hi-tech Boat Around Vancouver Island

admin — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 17:10:00 +0000

Oct. 15, 2009 – One week from now, endurance athletes Greg Kolodziejzyk of Calgary and Jordan Hanssen of Seattle, WA will attempt a nautical circumnavigation of Vancouver Island, piloting the custom-designed, pedal-powered boat Within on its first long-distance ocean voyage. Greg and Jordan will launch Within on Friday, Oct. 23 from Comox, BC and will travel clockwise around the Island. If successful, this voyage will be the first-ever circumnavigation of the Island in a pedal-powered boat.

The journey is expected to take approximately two weeks to three weeks, depending on weather and ocean conditions. British kayaker Sean Morley holds the current record for a human-powered trip around the island, completing a counter-clockwise paddling trip in 17 days, 4 hours, and 49 minutes in September 2008.

Greg has previously set 2 human-powered records (land and water) for the longest distance traveled in 24 hours. Hanssen was captain of the American team who won the trans-Atlantic Ocean Fours rowing race in 2006 and has also cycled coast-to-coast in Australia – from Perth to Sydney. Kolodziejzyk’s reason for this arduous journey isn’t about entering the record books however.

“My objective is to demonstrate the amazing things a human being can do under his or her own power. I hope to motivate and inspire more people to explore their own human-powered potential. It’s good for the environment, it’s essential for our health, and sends the right message regarding physical activity to our children.”

Hanssen says they’ll be expecting the unexpected, “I think Vancouver Island is a complex coastline with complex water. I feel confident, but there are definitely a lot of things we will learn. As I was once told by a veteran sailor, it’s all about how you recover from your first big mistake!”

The attempt is the duo’s first chance to test the boat in ocean conditions and an opportunity to prepare for an even more ambitious journey. Called Pedal The Ocean, Kolodziejzyk will attempt a solo Pacific crossing from Victoria to Hawaii, currently planned for June 2010.

Official Pedal The Ocean website: http://pedaltheocean.com/

PEDAL THE OCEAN FACT SHEET

Greg Kolodziejzyk is a successful entrepreneur who informally retired from the business world when he was in his mid-30s – to focus on improving his health and meeting new challenges. He started by signing up to compete in a triathlon. After losing 50 pounds racing and training, he went on to complete 12 Ironman distance triathlons, with a 4th place finish in his division at Ironman Arizona in 2006 earning him a coveted slot to compete at the Ironman World Championships in Kona Hawaii. Greg has also completed a dozen marathons and 2 ultra-marathons. He is currently training to complete his first 100-mile ultra-marathon.

No person in history has traveled further under his own power in one day, on land or water than Greg. In July of 2006, Greg earned his first world record by pedaling his human powered vehicle called Critical Power 647 miles (1041 km) in one day around a race track in Eureka, California. In September of 2008, he did it again, but this time on water when he pedalled his human powered boat Critical Power Two 152.3 miles (245.16 km) in 24 hours around a circular lake course in Whitefish, Montana earning him his second world record. Greg has been featured in the Guinness Book of World Records, Men’s Journal magazine, Popular Science magazine, and on the Discovery Channel.

Greg’s state-of-the-art human powered boat was designed by award winning naval architect Stuart Bloomfield and human-powered boat engineer Rick Willoughby. WiTHiN is 30 feet long by 3 feet wide, weighs 455 lbs, and features a water-tight sleeping cabin, cockpit, and storage compartment. WiTHiN will carry enough dehydrated food for 100 days at sea. Fresh water will be supplied via electric desalination plant powered by solar panels. Greg’s safety equipment includes a GPS, Satellite phone, survival suit, emergency life raft, and emergency beacons.

A Month of Bikes

admin — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 15:30:00 +0000

September has been a busy time in the Canadian bike world. Expocycle, Canada’s own cycling trade show got underway Sept. 10, with the Bicycle Trade Association of Canada’s annual general meeting. Topping the agenda, BTAC’s plans to promote ‘urban’ cycling. The organization has recognized the fast-growing segment of the marketplace and plans to lobby government with the hopes that more infrastructure and consideration of the role of bikes as a means of transportation will be part and parcel of efforts to improve health, fitness, and quality of life across the country.

Norco was one of the manufacturers showing off bikes
designed for urban transportation at Expocycle.
photo: Chris Keam

One week later, Canadian achievements were in the spotlight at the World Human Powered Speed Challenge in Battle Mountain Nevada. Sam Whittingham continued his dominance of the sport by setting a new self-propelled world record (82.8 mph/133.3 kph) with the latest recumbent racer from the fertile mind of Georgi Georgiev (the Varna Tempest). Also setting a record with a Georgiev bike (Varna Diablo) was Barbara Buatois. She’s now the fastest woman on the planet, recording a 75.5 mph (121.437 kph) run during the same Friday evening set of speed runs that saw Sam break his own 2008 record. Team Varna is now the first team to hold both the Men’s and Women’s top speed and one hour records. The one hour records were set earlier in the year, at the Ford Human Powered Vehicle Challenge in July.

The Varna Tempest and Diablo momentarily at rest.
photo: Dave Larrington

Also setting a new world record was Canadian Paralympian Greg Westlake. Greg piloted his hand-powered Avos Arrow down the newly-repaved course and shot through the speed trap at 43.495 mph/69.9 kph. Those were just three of the notable achievements this year. For a full rundown of personal bests check out this overview of the event written by Mike Mowett and posted on Sam’s blog.

Greg Westlake inside the Avos Arrow (with top removed) prepares for a speed run.
photo: Dave Larrington

Monday, Sept.21, the City of Vancouver approved the first BMX/MTB skills park in the city at a Park Board meeting. The facility will be located on an unused piece of land adjacent to the H.R. Macmillan Planetarium. Through the hard work of a dedicated group of BMX and MTB cyclists, led by Chris Young and Rob Venables, with the ample support of Park Board Commissioner Sarah Blyth and Mark Vulliamy (Park Board Manager of Research and Planning) the idea for the park began with public consultation (3MB PDF download) in Jan. 2009. With the approval of the Board now confirmed, the park will enter the design phase. It’s hoped it will be ready during the spring/summer of 2010.

The red square in the forested area is the proposed location for the dirt jump park.
The Planetarium and Museum of Vancouver are to the left.
photo: kitsilano.ca

Conquering An Ocean With Pedal Power

admin — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 16:45:00 +0000

They call it the “Graveyard of the Pacific.” Heavy seas and unpredictable weather. A rugged, lonely coastline. Countless ships and sailors taken by its fierce storms and jagged rocks. Westward, nothing to see but North Pacific swells, until Hawaii finally climbs above the horizon. Men have sailed the route for centuries. Now, one man will put his trust in his legs, his heart, and his mind to make a historic journey.

In June, 2010, Greg Kolodziejzyk will attempt to become the first person in history to navigate this notorious stretch of ocean under his own power. His plan – pedal a custom-made state-of-the-art human-powered boat 3000 miles across the Pacific Ocean, from Vancouver to Hawaii. The world-record attempt is expected to take between 40 to 80 days.

Check out this latest example of my web copywriting work. Find out how Greg plans to make the record-setting journey and the important reason why he’s taking on this ambitious project.