KAYAKING RECORD
World Record Attempt for Kayaking the Most Lakes in a Single Day to Be Made in Brainerd Lakes Area this Summer
BY RACHEL M . ANDERSON , EDITOR AND CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Over the years a lot of world records have been set in Minnesota .
The heaviest carrot was grown in Otsego in 2017 . It weighed in at 22.4 pounds . Just last year , the heaviest pumpkin was grown in Anoka . It weighed a whopping 2,749 pounds .
Minnesotans have set records on the water too . In 2017 , the world record for the most 360s done while wake surfing was set on Lake Minnetonka in Orono . The record currently sits at 31 maneuvers .
Last spring , a water-sport related record was set in Central Minnesota as well . Eric Hannan , 41 , who lives in Myrtle Beach , South Carolina , but grew up in Princeton , Minnesota , set a world record for kayaking the most bodies of water ever . Between sun-up and sun-down on June 13 , 2023 , he paddled on 32 bodies of water .
“ I did it in an area that is pretty spread out . I started on Lake Mille Lacs , then went over to a lake in Mora , then south to Cambridge and west towards Princeton where I ended up ,” said Hannan .
For that successful record attempt , he spent a lot of time driving .
“ I wanted to include Princeton in the record attempt because it ’ s my hometown , but Brainerd is a lot more efficient as far as getting in and out of a lot of bodies of water quickly .”
So , in June 2024 , Hannan will attempt to break his own record , this time exclusively in the Brainerd Lakes area . He is confident he will be able to kayak on at least 50 bodies of water in a single day , a 64 percent increase in efficiency .
“ I ’ m not sure exactly where I will be starting , but the plan as of now is to probably begin the record attempt on Gull Lake , then head east or northeast from there . There are just so many lakes in that area ,” said Hannan , who won ’ t just be kayaking on the lakes . He also plans to do a little fishing while out on the water .
“ The lakes are so clean , clear , gorgeous . It ’ s just so beautiful . It ’ s so serene and just to toss out a line — how can you not ?” he asked .
In addition to Gull Lake , Hannan says he ’ ll also be paddling on Round Lake , North Long Lake , Lake Hubert , Nisswa Lake and Pelican Lake for sure . While on the water he won ’ t just be paddling and fishing , but taking in the beauty of nature all around him .
“ Minnesota is way more beautiful than I think we realize compared to the rest of the country . The Brainerd Lakes area — I think there ’ s a reason why it ’ s so popular as a place to go camping , or to the cabin . It ’ s just amazing — gorgeous .”
Once he settles on an exact itinerary for his June 2024 trip , everything will be planned out to the minute . Hannan will be accounting for the amount of time it takes to pull his kayak out of the car , set it up and paddle around on the lake for about ten minutes . Plus , how long it takes to come back to shore , fold the kayak up , pack it in the car and head to the next lake to do it all over again .
12 destinationupnorth . com