Paddler Stories

Brian Roberts — 59, a birder, and the only SUP paddler on the long course — trained 450 km for the Freedom Paddle 2026 and finished in 5:33:59 with one fall (penguins were involved).

Bridget Boulle paddled with Angela Taylor through 5-metre swells, seasickness and a close encounter with a tanker — then cried when she saw her kids at the finish. An honest, hilarious, inspiring account of Freedom Paddle 2026.

Brigitte Le Court de Billot and Jacqui De Billot had never paddled together when they said yes to the Freedom Paddle. What followed was 32 km of chaos, capsizes and courage.

John and Debra Lazarus built their own OC2 outrigger canoe from a double surfski and braved 3.2m swells at the Freedom Paddle — with not a single capsize.

Phola Siyaxolisa entered the ocean for the first time at the Prescient Freedom Paddle, supported by Helplink, and crossed the finish line with a time of 3:34:14.3.

Rob Gemmell, Kimball Pitcher and Brian Wheal tackled the Freedom Paddle in an S3 with a pink aeroplane mascot — and nearly sank trying to get rid of it.

Seema Khehar may be the first Kenyan to complete the Freedom Paddle around Robben Island — rowing in the heaviest boat in the race, a 150kg coxed quad called Tata.