A book he was given 15 years ago inspired former brewer Brian Kiss von Soly to attempt the longest kite surfing journey in the world – and he is set to reach the world record after he surfs off from southern Sydney on Thursday afternoon.
Brian Kiss von Soly is kite surfing from Northern NSW to Melbourne, attempting to smash the world distance record along the way.Credit:Jonathan Carroll
Mr Kiss von Soly, from Ocean Shores on the NSW North Coast, is attempting to kite surf from northern NSW to his home town of Melbourne. He set off on December 28, 2020 and has so far travelled about 800 kilometres, with the record of 862 kilometres in his reach if he makes it from Bundeena to Wollongong this afternoon.
The 36-year-old has been kite surfing for 15 years but it was a gift of the Guinness Book of World Records he got when he was 21 years old that planted the seed for this journey.
“I looked through the book and thought what records could I do. I tried onion eating but that was way too hard,” the former brewer for Balter beer joked.
Brian Kiss von Soly set off from northern NSW.
At the end of last year he decided to attempt the kite surfing record instead. Mr Kiss von Soly travels with a waterproof 60-litre backpack and can cover up to 60 nautical miles a day if the conditions are favourable. When the wind turns against him he carries a hammock or stays with people he meets along the way.
“Normally I would have had a lot better winds but this year there has been a lot of southerlies. That is slowing me up,” he said.
The kite surfer gets as far as 15 kilometres offshore. He carries about three litres of water in a pouch and aims to come ashore every evening.
“I can only do this thanks to the technology,” Mr Kiss von Soly says. “I travel with a GPS and an EPIRB that links to my watch. It’s good because I am pretty directionally challenged. I wouldn’t have a clue where I was if it wasn’t for the maps.”
Mr Kiss von Soly is followed by birds and has had dolphins swim around his board. He’s even seen a shark just before he landed at Bundeena, south of Sydney, where he spent a week waiting for a decent northerly blow, having travelled from Palm Beach straight past the Heads.
Kiss von Soly’s campsite.
“I had good winds that day so kept pushing south. If the winds pick up this afternoon I will aim for Coalcliff or Bulli,” Mr Kiss von Soly said on Thursday lunchtime.
“It can get pretty gnarly out there but I do everything I can to reduce the risks and stay safe. My mum still worries about me, though.”
You can follow the journey here.
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