World's Biggest Paddle Out - Coming March 15th
Y'all remember Blake Johnston..?
Cronulla viking who two years ago caught 707 waves during a forty-hour record breaking session.
Well, Blakey's back and he's turning his record-breaking concept on its head: Rather than him alone in the surf as thousands cheer him on, he's inviting them into the surf with him.
“Picture this," says Blakey, "one thousand humans, mostly strangers, but some friends, linked by community and purpose all standing together on Cronulla Beach, all with boards under their arms."
No-one's looking for a solo sesh - the more the merrier.
“At the heart of this event is community," says the little fella with the big blonde beard, "and just like my previous world record, the goal is to raise vital funds for youth mental health. Proceeds will fund mental health workshops for primary and high school students, helping to establish positive habits and mental wellness practices from an early age."
Blakey’s previous world record raised more than $400,000 for mental health initiatives. He says his dedication was fuelled by personal experience and the loss of his father to suicide in 2013. Blakey’s contributions to mental health were acknowledged in 2024 when he was named Citizen of the Year by the Sutherland Shire Council, awarded Local Hero of Miranda Westfield. Blakey also received the Surfing NSW Aloha Award in Memory of John Shimooka, acknowledging his commitment to the cause and the legacy of his late friend and fellow surfer.
"The World’s Biggest Paddle Out," explains Blakey, “is more than just a record – it’s our moment to showcase the power of community and the positive impact human connection has on our mental health."
The paddle-out will be followed by the annual Cronulla Surf Festival, featuring live music, a surfboard demo day, a tag-team surfing event, and a vintage surfboard exhibition. Proceeds will fund mental health workshops for primary and high school students, helping to establish positive habits and mental wellness practices from an early age. The event has partnered with Find Ya Feet and OneWave, two respected charities that are dedicated to delivering life-changing mental health education to young people.
EVENT DETAILS:
- Date: Saturday, March 15, 2025
- Time: Participants will begin paddling out at 7am. The event is scheduled to take place over three hours.
- Location: South Cronulla Beach, Cronulla, NSW
The Cronulla Surf Festival continues the celebration at Dunningham Park, Cronulla from 10.30 AM.
Click to register or for more information about the Paddle Out and the Cronulla Surf Festival.
For those who are wondering: The current record for the Biggest Paddle out is 511, held by a group who paddled out at Huntington Beach, USA in June of 2017.
To break the record, participants need to link arms in the water to form a giant, unbroken circle for a minimum of 60 seconds.
“Getting the numbers to paddle out together is one thing. Organising them into a circle and having them link up in the ocean for more than a minute is even more difficult. That’s part of the reason why the Huntington record has stood for so long,” says Blakey.
Comments
hope they smash the record ,
its on
Great effort & cause Blake. Hope the elements are favourable for a moment of synchronicity.
"Organising them into a circle and having them link up in the ocean for more than a minute is even more difficult." reference
https://www.seedsforchange.org.uk/shortconsensus#process
Getting 13 people to reach consensus will be an achievement; unsaid by a famous prophet at supper ...2024yrs ago.
[Disclaimer] tbb is a long term isolating mental health outpatient.
Salute #1swellnet frontline mental health that supports us but also allows us sufferers to partner.
swellnet openly welcomes & thanks everyone equally in their frontline health campaigns.
Us truebluebashers don't need a board to participate & support #1 swellnet lifeline boardswap...
Neither swellnet or crew have ever questioned tbb over mental health or lack of a surfboard...Salute!
Anytime it rears it's ugly head...the crew shut it down...real friends that back up us disabled folk!
Yes! tbb recently relied on #1swellnet Lifeline assist & ever thanks the crew for rescuing another!
*World's Biggest Paddle Out prohibits tbb & majority of beach going Mental Health Sufferers.
It's not an official World record attempt & mandates a VIP fee to privatize the beach to a select few.
Mental Health sufferers do not support corporatizing any beach & lineup by locking out beachgoers.
This sets a dangerous precedent.
*World's Biggest Beach Lock Out refused to pay the $8 to officiate any World Record.
*Mandatory $50 entry is not a Charitable Tax deductible Donation but a 'Contribution' to Corp Jocks!
They even suggest if ya wanna Donate, then do that your way...nothing to do with this event!
https://the-worlds-biggest-paddleout.raiselysite.com/termsandconditions
Background...
Govt Posh College catchments biased tbb's Kidz as too poor to hang with originator of VIP Jock Crews!
Other Wealthier students well outside the catchment were Welcomed + scored free busses...well durr!
So no...not the first brush off for tbb with these Jocks...they're born into Golden Handshake worlds!
Please read the small print very carefully ...
Yes! These are Official Registered Charities...
but...big but...
*Not an official World Record + *No official Tax Deduction for a *Non Official Charitable Donation.
That's a massive difference to full inclusion accountable authentic #1swellnet frontline Lifeline
Now as surfers...Ask yerself > Why are these Corps mandating you to Lease yer own Beach?
Now see Oz #1 Developers + Real Estates backing this Council Mandated Private Beach Hire!
FAQ
Despite not being officially anything but a handout to a Private Corp Fluro snooty Jock's Club
These Academy,Store,Shop Cart sponsors mandate their preferred custom surfcraft parameters!
Jet Ski Jocks + Shop Cart Size Boardriders can participate...All other beachgoers are prohibited
Prohibited Surf Crews : Nippers, Bodysurfers, Waders, Swimmers & Wheelies
Prohibited Surfcraft : Bladerz, Skimmerz, Boogers, Floatie Rings, SUPS, Skis, Foilies, Tea Baggerz.
Event's Ironman, Lifeguards / Booger Ambassadors...are not permitted in their trad surfing capacity
*These mobs refuse to Officiate yer Record & Donation but enforce Beach Toy Regulation Rules / Fees!
Why are they granted absolute overriding emergency power for fucking about with zero commitment.
Private Beach Hire Fees
Includes Tax Payer Funded Lifeguards for yer private Beach Club
$50 buys a 3hr block of 10 groups / 100 max each group
Max Lineup Limit : No more than 1,000 boardriders permitted over 3hr session
Magic Minute 1,000 Party Hang is expected but not officially endorsed.
Don't believe the Hype...this is Exploitation of Mental Health.
Actual Real Mental Health Sufferer : "Segregated crafty Private Beach Hire is never Healthy!"
Mental Health sufferer tbb is very generous in supporting a just cause...
But if any Official Charity is exploiting a just cause...then tax funded tbb has equal duty to call it out!
Just like any here...we care enough to inform crew & well wishers 100x validating yer good deeds!
We wish everyone well here...tbb is just ensuring all participants are up front & united to the cause!
Simply put...tbb has no reason to support this event as there is zero commitment to any cause of worth!
Happy to be proved wrong...not tbb's kinda dodgy charitable surf event...sorry!