Cronulla local Blake Johnston has officially set the Guinness World Record for the longest continuous surf session with a Nedd Brockman-esque effort that shattered the previous time: 30 hours and 11 minutes. But it ain’t about bragging rights for the big fella.
Over the course of 600+ waves at a section of Cronulla’s surf known as “The Alley” – while risking everything from blindness, infected ears, dehydration, and sleep deprivation to hypothermia, jellyfish strings, and shark attacks – 40-year-old former professional surfer and long distance runner managed to raise over $240,000 for charity.
Specifically the Chumpy Pullin Foundation, established in memory of Australian Olympic snowboarder Alex “Chumpy” Pullin who drowned near the Gold Coast while spearfishing back in 2020; in addition to youth mental health initiatives as a tribute to Johnston’s father who took his own life roughly a decade ago.
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Johnston, himself a father of two, has admitted he’s faced a few battles of his own, and aimed to inspire the kids he coaches in surfing to stand resilient when adversity comes a-knocking at the door.
“I’m not nice to myself at times. I put a lot of pressure on myself to be a great husband, father, and friend. I tell myself, ‘You’re hopeless,'” said Blake Johnston.
“I push myself to the limits with my adventures to prove to myself I’m worthy and can get through hard times and that’s when my lessons are learnt.
“When I’m pushing through the dark moment on my ultra-mission, I have to remind myself I chose to be here, I’m doing this to become a better person. How good is this? My boys deserve a strong dad.”
From all of us here at BH, we salute you.
