The Big 5 Kayak Challenge is about 5 distinct and unique expeditions paddling some of the most challenging water on the planet. 

1. Isle of Wight – Sept 08 - Round the Island from Southampton  - 85 miles
2. The Thames, Source to Sea, 181 miles due February 09
3. The Channel –April 09 – 30 miles open sea
4. The Isles of Scilly –May 09 to coincide with Skiff Racing on the island – 30 miles open sea
5. The Inside Passage – Vancouver to Alaska 1000 miles –July 09

Members of the Big 5 Kayak Challenge Team will be appearing on the 9^th January 2009 on the Avoncraft Stand and again on the 16^th January 2009 at 11am and 1pm for interviews.  The team will also be interviewed on main stage at 2pm as part of the Watersports themed day on 16^th January 2009.  Having already completed the Isle of Wight leg in September 09 from Southampton Boat Show, the next challenge is the length of River Thames, from Cricklade to Tilbury, some 183 miles non-stop in racing kayaks and sea kayaks for the tidal section.  The three K2 -2 man racing kayaks making the marathon paddle will be like sitting on a Swiss balance ball for almost 33 hours.

The team have been training hard both on river sections on the River Great Ouse in Bedford and also on the Thames including paddling famous past landmarks such as the 73 locks on the upper Thames, The Houses of Parliament, Greenwich Observatory and Tower Bridge to name but a few.  After completing the Thames the team switch their attention to paddling the English Channel in April 09, dodging ferries and other craft. In May 09 the team paddle from Lands End across to the Scilly Isles where they will arrive during the famous Skiff Racing Event.

In July 2009 the team leave Britain bound for British Columbia to paddle almost 1000 miles from Vancouver Island in Canada up to Juneau in Alaska.  This will involve paddling with Orcas for company and dodging bears on the mainland when not paddling.  The 5^th leg of the Big5 Kayak Challenge is the most challenging as the team will need to be self sufficient for food and kit, will need to paddle an average of 35 miles a day, all in a remote wilderness.

The 5 expeditions are not just about the kayaking in some of the most challenging conditions and environments but more importantly about raising money for charity and also awareness for some important causes.  The team aim to raise £25,000 for the Muscle Help Foundation http://www.musclehelp.com/ and Muscle Dreams who support those with Muscular Dystrophy(and their Use a muscle to save a muscle campaign).  The team will also make a donation to the Willow Foundation.  The Big5 Kayak Challenge also want to raise awareness for The River Access Campaign (www.riversaccess.org/ ), campaigning for rights of access to English Rivers and also http://www.thesolutionissimple.org/ which champions environmental responsibility, cutting down less trees, making all things energy efficient

Support Us and Sponsor our nominated charity @ http://www.big5kayakchallenge.com/