Heading for Lewis and Harris tomorrow (Wednesday July 21st) is extreme stand-up paddleboarder Charlie Head, currently circumnavigating the Scottish coastline on his paddle board.
Charlie, aged 41, is an endurance athlete who undertakes a series of extreme challenges solo and unsupported whilst tackling his relationship with his mental health
Charlie’s challenges are rarely straightforward with a focus on sustainability and camping wild, he is hostage to the elements, equipment failure, and the kindness of strangers.
He uses his unsupported expedition format is a social experiment prompting strangers and communities to come together - and he is refining stand-up paddleboarding (SUP): “Still in its youth as a sport, SUP gives you such a great vantage point that it makes it a great expedition method with so many firsts still to be done.”
He completed first unsupported 100km winter Moray Firth crossing in open water on 7th November, arriving in Wick harbour on Sunday 8th November to a crowd of well-wishers.
Since 27th September, Charlie has paddled from Berwick upon Tweed to John O’Groats, along the North coast, and around Cape Wrath! , After a break due to Covid 19 regulations, He is now at Stoer with his perfect weather window and an appetite for filming Orca and his journey, to be shared with his followers to raise as much awareness and funds for Dare2express as possible.
Charlie is raising funds for Dare2express, a charity offering grants to those who need financial help to access mental health services. COVID-19 has decimated conventional fundraising activities in 2020, directly affecting the charity’s ability to fund such grants.
What do it? “Because it hasn’t been done, I’m driven to find my limits, and it’s meditative for me. You feel more alive out on the water – it’s about surviving, pushing yourself and seeing what you can achieve”
“Living and coping with mental illness is emotionally darker and colder than the North Sea could ever be. A 24hr winter crossing is part of the challenge, it’s me fighting back and a testament to my belief in people and community being worth the physical discomfort.”
“I thrive in adversity more than I do in calmer waters. I'm not a masochist but I do enjoy exercising my ability to cope and solve problems, so motivation isn't a big issue for me.”
One previous expedition was the Last Descent of The Blue Nile, in 2017: Charlie leapt on the last chance to paddle the Blue Nile River in its free-flowing state before the completion of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam upstream, near the border with Sudan. Now completed, the essence of this river is changed forever by the dam. The reservoir is starting to flood 230 km of plains and valleys, including the lower part of the Grand Canyon section. Charlie and his team successfully descended this iconic river, honouring the river and telling her story in film and educational resources, before it was changed forever.
He is also the first and last adult to travel along the Scottish Border from east to west on a child's bike, towing 80kg!
