In August, we reported how Port Elizabeth surfer, Josh Enslin, would be attempting to break the Guinness World Record for longest surfing marathon. Well, HE DID IT!!! Josh is now the official record holder after battling the elements for over 30 hours at Pollock Beach this past weekend.
Josh Enslin, celebrating with friends and family after setting the new world record.
To see more photos from the record-breaking feat, click here for the gallery.
Once he’d had a bit of rest, Zag caught up with Josh to hear how it went:
ZIGZAG: Hey Josh. How hard was it, really? What were you battling with out there?
Josh: We had four seasons in two days. Howling wind and cold night temperatures really were tough. I got ‘arc eyes’ and my right eye went blind on the 25th hour. This made it really hard as the pain was unbearable. In total I rode 455 waves – one every four minutes on average, so every muscle in my body was in pain and cramping. Really fought off some demons to push forward.
Saturday, 6:42pm: Riding into the sunset before the long night sets in.
What kept you motivated throughout the attempt? Perhaps there was a moment when you thought, ‘I can’t do this’.
Between 2:00am and 5:00am the tide changed and swell picked up, which meant a lot of duck diving. The cold water and the nighttime sea breeze really took it out me. When my body was cramping all over and my eye went blind, I started questioning what I was doing out there. But looking back at the beach and seeing all the support, all my family and friends who’d been supporting me without sleep, that gave me the inspiration to push forward. That’s when I thought, “I can do this! I have to do this!”
Can you remember your sickest wave during the session?
Yes, the dawn session at around 5:30am. The ocean went calm, the sun started to rise and the waves turned on! I got a few and banged a couple to the beach. I had close friends surfing with me and that was a special moment in my life.
Shredding right through Saturday night…
You obviously reached your goal of over 30 hours of surfing, but how did the fundraising go? Did you reach your targets there?
Very stoked, 30 hours and 11 minutes and 455 waves. The Cyoh CDF Charity went very well. This was my biggest focus of the event. We raised around R30 000 in goods – which we will donate to a bunch of charities next week. The entire Port Elizabeth surf community supported the event.
Tell us again who is benefitting from the funds raised?
Street Children, underprivileged surfers in our community, the Children’s home, animal welfare, and we also have a couple other ideas.
And he wasn’t just gliding on his rides, Josh was still jammin’ proper turns 30 hours in.
Now that you’re a Guinness World Record holder, is there another record you’ve got your eye on breaking?
Sleeping marathon (laughs). This record was rad in every sense possible but really took it out of me.
Now the important question. How long before your next surf?
Should be waves tomorrow, I’m on it!!!
Read more about Josh’s world record surf session on Millerslocal.co.za
Well done Josh! Great strength of character.