Hi,

I am thinking of doing the Massive Murray in November. It is about 400km over 4/5 days. Has anyone done this on a SUP or can offer any advice?

Also what board would be best. I am thinking 14 foot and 28-30 wide. I am also thinking of making a seat type thing that would allow me to alternated between standing and sitting.

I am 50 and not very fit. With some prep training could I do it? It will be about 100km a day with a decent current.

Yep Kiearan Lomas in Canberra has paddled it a few times. Once or twice solo and a couple of times in a team

Hi Bowerboy,

I have never participated in this event however, I have spent a lot of time on the Murray on canoes for up to three weeks in length at a time.

What I found to be the most challenging factor is the wind. November is typically windy and the twistey nature of the river means that you will be affected by the wind from all directions during the day. You can bet your bottom dollar that it will never be behind you either .

As for the current, I found that it was usually around 4-5km/h which sounds alright but be prepared to be blown upstream if wind is any more than about 10km/h.

I definitely don't want to discourage you. This sounds like an amazing event and I would love to participate one year as I think it would be a lot of fun. However, be prepared and spend some time on the river before the event and get some km under your belt. I would absolutely want a 14' board for this event. Something you'll feel comfortable on for days on end will be paramount.

The above post post might be helpful if you can get in contact with the bloke who has done it already.

Best of luck mate

Thanks for your good advice. I reckon I would need to stick to a ski, or paddle a sup in a team.

pretty much destroyed Kieran and he is a bloke that thinks a 20k paddle is a warm up on a SUP. Apparently, he started to see **** on day 3.

I ride in a support boat for a one way crossing of 35 miles (56km)

Generally everyone who enters trains for 3-4 months starting at 19 km per day, working up to regular paddles of 32 km.

The CCBC is a charity fund raiser, not a race, so the pace boat sets a pace of 5.6 km per hour... with breaks
I see the toll that distance takes on people who have not trained enough.
I have to pull people out of the water that can't keep up.

If you are not very fit, this sounds like a bad idea.

Ouch, It sounds like a bad idea!

thats a lot of paddling and me don't think my shoulder rotator cuff my not like the time/distance.