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Surfer On A Mission: shortest man to charge the channel finally beaches on French rock

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 1 September, 2010 : - - Mark Scanlon, self-described as 'the shortest man to attempt crossing', has just completed a massive journey across The English Channel in fundraising efforts for The Stroke Foundation.  Scanlon, an independent open water swimmer, marine engineer, surfer and overall ocean man, lives in Perth and regularly swims Rottnest Channel. 

More people have climbed Mt Everest than have successfully swum the channel but the madman was on a serious mission.  Scanlon has been sitting pretty in The Channel Trailer Park for almost 3 weeks waiting for clear skies and clear coasts. While the chill factor of the British Isles might not be friendly for those taking on the master challenge, it doesn’t help that as the swimmer was on hold for better weather, European media confirmed croc sightings off the French coast!

Only 10% of attempts result in successful crossings with challenges like the water ranging from 13-14 degrees Celsius and only traditional briefs allowed.  After a 2am start, 4 hours of swimming in the dark and another 5 and a half hrs in the choppy swell, he finally beached on the French coast. Total Swim time to cross 32-40 km was 9hrs 30min, around 3 hours off the world record.  Scanlon has to say, “I wouldn’t exactly call it fun…but an amazing experience.”

Global communities of surfers are passionately driven by personally contributing to the bigger picture.  Scanlon swims with the hopes that his efforts will make a difference.  A friend of Scanlon’s had a stroke a short while back and he has now recovered thanks to support from The Stroke Foundation.  We should all be so brave to take on such a challenge.
 
Scanlon’s next endeavor? He’s off to catch a wave or two somewhere of the freezing coast of those northern islands.  He is from Tazzy, so a little lunacy is to be expected.

www.stroke4stroke.com.au

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Tatianna K Alpert

Charity - Surfersvillage