Endurance
SUP International|Spring 2019

A great shout erupts from the centre of fifty neoprene-clad people clustered on the dark banks of Loch Ness. The wind whips and pulls at the group of paddlers, all of whom are fortified by a dram of whisky, as the sound of Scottish bagpipes signifies the first grey light of dawn. With it, the true scale of Loch Ness stretches out before the challengers, as dark, ferocious gusts claw at the surface of the black water and bands of sleet and rain cut at bare flesh.

Jay Haysey & George Shillito
Endurance
Jostling to hold position against the restless elements, the group are battered and blown down the small protected channel at Fort Augustus towards the yawning, open mouth of the 40-kilometre Loch. As they reach its entrance, an airhorn blast, heard only by those in wait, is quickly whipped offdownwind as a blur of paddles rip and churn at the water to propel their owners into the ensuing chaos. This was the start of the second day of racing the Great Glen Challenge 2018 and what a day it was set to be! We catch up with Red Paddle Co riders Jay Haysey and George Shillito as they recount their experiences and offer some advice for anyone looking to take on an adventure of their own...

You won 1st and 2nd place in the Great Glen Challenge 2018 for the inflatable SUP class! Can you describe the sense of achievement that statement brings?

JH - I was super surprised as I had no idea I would come first. I thought George would have at least beat me. I think at the time my tiredness overrode all emotion of joy! I was so physically exhausted all I wanted to do was curl up in a ball and go to sleep. The next day and the whole drive back from Scotland however were a really nice time to reflect on what both myself and George had just achieved.

GS – It seems pretty crazy if I’m honest. I entered thinking I’d take it easy, bury my inner competitive-nature and enjoy the incredible scenery along the way. I guess that plan didn’t last long after the moment I stepped on the board at the start! Jay was on another level on the first day, machine-like in fact, I just remember following him thinking over and over again, does he not stop even for a second? Maybe just to eat, drink or generally take it all in? Turns out the answer to that was no!

What drove you to sign yourself up to paddle 92K across the whole of Scotland? Why the Great Glen Challenge?

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