Great Lakes Waterman Joe Bidawid has succeeded in setting a new world record for unassisted stand up paddleboarding , having crossed Lake Michigan from St. Joesph, Michigan to Chicago, Illinois.
Bidawid's journey took a total of eighteen hours. Embarking from St. Joseph, Michigan's Silver Beach County Park, he arrived at 2:40 pm on Sunday, August 26 in Monroe Harbor in downtown Chicago. Bidawid's lake crossing of roughly 59 nautical miles triples the previous world endurance record of seventeen miles, set by surfing legend Laird Hamilton in a crossing of the English Channel.
At the same time, Bidawid raised nearly $ 15,000 for the American Cancer Society via pledges of support made through his website, http://www.lakemichigancrossing.com.
Bidawid was alone and unassisted during his journey, although a support boat remained nearby in case of accidents or emergencies.
Bidawid's sport, stand-up paddleboarding, is a physically challenging variant on surfing originally popularized on the Hawaiian Islands in the early 1900s. The paddleboarder stands vertically on his board, using a single-sided paddle to propel himself forward.
A seasoned surfer, windsurfer and kiteboarder, Bidawid added stand-up paddleboarding to his roster of waterborne activities in 2006, quickly becoming a devotee of the sport. He prepared for his lake crossing with a preliminary 42-mile practice run, which he considers one of the most demanding physical challenges of his life. "I felt like I was pushing the limits of what my body and mind could do, but it gave me confidence that I can achieve my ultimate goal," he says.
"My dream has always been to cross the lake," Bidawid says. "But the main reason I'm doing this is to raise the money for cancer research. I lost my dad to cancer in the 1990s, and that was a powerless feeling. And a dear friend recently found out that he had stage 4 cancer, and that was a wakeup call for me. I had to do something."
LifeForceV, a new, natural beverage created in Detroit, supported Bidawid in his record attempt. Bidawid credits the drink and its healthy, nutritious ingredients with fueling his long training sessions, as well as his world record attempt, and is appreciative of the firm's sponsorship support. "LifeForceV makes crossing the lake attainable," he states. "I realize what the product can do for me. I'm an active, healthy person, and I'm careful about what I consume. LifeForceV offers me unmatched stamina and focus from balanced nutrition, and lets me reach for the most I can attain."
"We have been thrilled to support Joe in his mission to raise money and awareness for cancer research, as well as setting the new world's record," says LifeForceV CEO Tom Morse. "At LifeForceV, we're committed to fostering good health through good nutrition, as well as enabling people to attain the highest levels of physical and mental performance they can. Supporting Joe fits perfectly with that commitment."
For more information on Joe Bidawid, visit http://www.lakemichigancrossing.com, or call (248) 227-0670.
For more information on LifeForceV, visit http://www.lifeforcev.com, or call (313) 567-3000.
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