Johnston hopes to raise awareness about mental health through his surfing. Photo: @johnston
Blakey Johnston is planning to break the record for the world’s longest surf session. He’s not doing it for fame or glory, or even to have his name in the Guiness Book of World Records, he’s doing it because he wants to raise awareness about mental health.
A former WQS pro surfer, Johnston has had some close to home experiences with mental health challenges. Johnston’s dad committed suicide and when he was a kid riding for Quiksilver, one of the company’s employees died as a result of mental health issues. Johnston himself struggles with his own mental health as well.
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Johnston has a history of logging ultra long distance runs to challenge and test himself. The 40-year-old was planning to do a six-hundred mile run to raise awareness for mental health but after discovering the record for the world’s longest surf session, he decided to switch gears.
Currently, the record for the world’s longest surf session is held by South African Josh Elsin. Elsin surfed for thirty hours, eleven minutes, catching a grand total of 455 waves. Johnston’s goal is to surf for 40 straight hours and catch 500 waves.
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Next March, Johnston plans to paddle out at The Alley, a wave close to his home in Cronulla. Red Bull is helping him put on the event and Johnston plans to charge people to surf with him during his world record attempt to raise money to raise awareness around mental health and suicide. His goal is to not only raise awareness, but to make himself and his family proud.
