October 14, 2009 – Two weeks from now, endurance athletes Greg Kolodziejzyk of Calgary, AB and Jordan Hanssen of Seattle, WA will attempt a nautical circumnavigation of Vancouver Island, piloting the custom-designed, pedal-powered boat Within on its first long-distance ocean voyage. Greg and Jordan will launch on Friday, Oct. 23 from Comox, BC and travel clockwise around the Island. If successful, this voyage will mark the first-ever circumnavigation of the Island in a pedal-powered boat.

The journey is expected to take approximately two weeks to three weeks, depending on weather and ocean conditions. British kayaker Sean Morley holds the current record for a human-powered trip around the island, completing a counter-clockwise paddling trip in 17 days, 4 hours, and 49 minutes in September 2008.

Greg has previously set 2 human-powered records (land and water) for the longest distance traveled in 24 hours. Hanssen was captain of the American team who won the trans-Atlantic Ocean Fours rowing race in 2006 and has also cycled coast-to-coast in Australia – from Perth to Sydney. Kolodziejzyk’s reason for this arduous journey isn’t about entering the record books however.

Kolodziejzyk is all smiles after a successful lake trial of Within

“My objective is to demonstrate the amazing things a human being can do under his or her own power. I hope to motivate and inspire more people to explore their own human-powered potential. It’s good for the environment, it’s essential for our health, and sends the right message regarding physical activity to our children.”

Hanssen says they’ll be expecting the unexpected, “I think Vancouver Island is a complex coastline with complex water. I feel confident, but there are definitely a lot of things we will learn. As I was once told by a veteran sailor, it’s all about how you recover from your first big mistake!”

The Vancouver Island circumnavigation is the duo’s first chance to put the boat to the test in ocean conditions and an opportunity to prepare for an even more ambitious journey, called Pedal The Ocean. Kolodziejzyk is preparing for a solo Pacific crossing from Victoria to Hawaii, currently planned for June 2010.

Official Pedal The Ocean website: www.pedaltheocean.com