By NOEL MURPHY
PADDLING 53km through shark-infested waters while fending off fatigue and pain in ever-changing currents and tides is hardly a walk in the park.
But as Jan Juc board paddler Zeb Walsh knows, you don’t win the Channel of Bones world title without working through a goodly amount of mental and physical torment.
And the notorious M2O paddle race between the Hawaiian islands of Molokai and Oahu has these challenges in spades.
But in his third attempt on the world-famous endurance paddle race, Walsh made his name, wresting first place from the world’s best watermen.
“The M2O is not only the world’s toughest paddle race, it’s a nod to Hawaiian history and culture and to some of the best watermen that have ever lived,’” he said after taking out the prestigious title in a time of 5:46:13.
“When you get about three hours in that’s when the race really begins – that’s when your body starts to really hurt.
“The pain is brutal. Your neck is aching, your knees and chest are grazed, you’re sunburnt – there’s a million other reasons to stop but you want the world title so remaining focused mentally is your greatest strength in the M2O.”
Walsh described conditions in this year’s race as “horrendous”. Officials said they were the most challenging in a decade.
A father of two, 30-year-old Walsh wiped frost from his 12-foot board most mornings when training in Victoria’s chilly winter waters.
