6
Q & A
WITH
TEAM SLPA
AMAZON CHALLENGE 2024
WANT TO READ ABOUT THE EXPEDITION ITSELF . HEAD OVER TO HTTPS :// PADDLEREZINE . COM / AMAZON-
CHALLENGE-2024 /
AND READ FOR FREE .
INTERVIEW : SARAH THORNELY PHOTOS : CAROLINE DAWSON , JONATHAN GILL , MATTHEW PHILLIPS , BRODIE HOPKINS , AMAZON CHALLENGE WHEN YOU GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO PADDLE IN A WORLD SO FAR REMOVED FROM WHAT YOU KNOW ON AN ICONIC RIVER IN PERU , WHY WOULD YOU NOT ? WE EXCITEDLY KEPT ABREAST OF THIS CHALLENGE WHILST IT WAS HAPPENING AND ARE DELIGHTED TO BE ABLE TO CHAT WITH CAZ , JON AND MATT , WHO MAKE UP THE REMARKABLE TEAM SLPA .
Paddle stats : TOTAL DISTANCE paddled | 335 KM PADDLE STROKES | 58,322 TOTAL CALORIES | 18,000 + AVERAGE SPEED | 8.3 km / hr TOTAL TIME PADDLING | 40:24.08
Challenge mileage breakdown Day 1 48 km Day 2 34 km Day 3 55 km Day 4 68 km Day 5 76 km Day 6 54 km
Tell us a little about yourselves and your paddling experience ? Caz : I own the award-winning adventure business SUP Lass Paddle Adventures . I am an accomplished paddler and coach who has completed several long-distance SUP challenges . My recent overseas trips include paddling the Vjosa in Albania and working as a guide in Scandinavia .
Jon : I have been paddling for four years , gained an adventure guide qualification in 2021 and got addicted to paddle boarding during Covid . I love paddling down moving water , going on camping adventures with the paddle boards , and accessing areas where no one goes .
Matt : I am a seasoned paddleboarder , sea kayaker , and natural leader . I am currently guiding river expeditions in the north of New Zealand . I have also spent several seasons guiding SUP adventures in the Sri Lankan rainforests and Panamanian jungle , exploring unmapped areas .