USA: Surfers paddle 28 miles around Manhattan in fund-raiser

Forty surfers paddled 28 gruelling miles around Manhattan, conquering strong currents in the East River in a journey lasting over six hours, to raise funds for autism advocacy groups. Famous U.S. surfers Darrick Doerner, Joel Tudor and Gerry Lopez joined several colleagues and took on the waters around Manhattan on Monday (August 13) to raise funds to benefit autism advocacy groups as well as the Surfers' Environmental Alliance (SEA). Thirty-nine men and one woman paddled around the famous island through strong currents, while sharing the river with large container barges and other marine traffic. SEA Paddle NYC was organized by SEA's Andrew Mencinsky and Darrick Doerner. "I thought that if I brought in some people and we came up with this outrageous course around this concrete jungle, it could probably stimulate some people's minds in knowing that there is a cause here and it needs to be addressed," explained Doerner. Californian long board surfer Joel Tudor led the field much of the way. He was confident at the start that he would have the strength and fitness to go the distance. "I've spent my whole life paddling and surfing, so I think I'll be fine. Plus, I've been doing the stand-up paddling for the last couple of years, so, it's more of just for like, the little like, view of New York, you know," he said. The organizers hope the event will raise enough funds to be repeated in 2008.

ITN Source | August 20, 2007

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