SUP
This multiple world champion risked it all for the paddle of a lifetime
SUP superstar Casper Steinfath paddled across one of the world’s toughest straits for his new film, Skagerrak. This is why he did it.
Sometimes ‘just’ being a multiple world champion isn’t enough. For years, stand-up paddler Casper Steinfath had dedicated his life to his sport. He'd won countless races, but for what? Something was missing. Something deeper.
“It’s hard for me to talk about,” says Steinfath. “As a kid I loved challenges. Becoming a world champion in SUP was one of those and to have done so is awesome, I’m very proud of what I’ve achieved.
Casper Steinfath training on home waters in Klitmøller, Denmark
© Jesper Gronnemark/Red Bull Content Pool
“But just training to become stronger, that doesn't do it for me. That urge to learn new things and climb new mountains is still inside me – and maybe that’s where this whole ‘Viking Crossing’ came into play.”
The ‘Viking Crossing’ is the subject of the new film Skagerrak and it turned out to be that missing something.
See the film in full above or watch here.
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Steinfath grew up beside the Skagerrak Strait. This thin passage, which splits the North Sea from the Baltic, is unpredictable. It’s seen as one of the meanest and most dangerous stretches of water on the planet.
And ever since he was that little kid, listening to hair-raising stories of Vikings and merchants who tried to cross it, Steinfath has always wanted to be the first to paddle it on a SUP. Now was the time.
“Crossing this ocean became the new world title for me,” he says. “I wanted to push myself in a new environment. I didn’t know how to do it. There was no user manual, it was just trial and error.”
Skagerrak is the water mass that lies between Norway, Denmark and Sweden
© Frederik Clement
But his first attempt ended in a rescue mission.
How did that feel?
When I got hauled up I was in shock, blacking out a lot. I was devastated. The conditions changed quickly, things were out of my control and my dream had sunk in the ocean.
What was the biggest reason it went wrong?
Cockiness. I was over-confident. I was a multiple champion and I just saw the ocean as my playground. I totally underestimated it. The wind was strong and as I got tired I couldn’t deal with the swell and the currents.
I didn’t prepare well. I had the wrong equipment, didn’t navigate well, didn’t eat well; there’s a long list of things that went wrong, but basically Mother Nature gave me a big slap in the face.
11 min
Casper Steinfath's first attempt at the 'Viking Crossing'
See how Casper Steinfath got on the first time he attempted the 'Viking Crossing' of the Skagerrak Strait.
Your mum is interviewed in the film saying it was ‘stupid’ and she ‘couldn't see the point’ – how did you feel about that?
Before the first try, I didn’t even think about my mum being worried. But afterwards I started understanding her concern – because I realised how badly prepared I'd been and I quickly became concerned myself.
Back on the Skagerrak
© Frederik Clement
It took Steinfath over a month to even look at a paddleboard again. But hit fast-forward and he was back on the Skagerrak, it was 1am on a cold winter’s morning, and he was about to go for it all over again.
What was going through your mind when you set off the second time?
There were lots of people there and I felt really small walking down the beach, the ice cracking under my wetsuit boots. I felt humble, I felt focused; I had no more time to think. Shit got real right there.
As I walked down the beach looking into the dark horizon I remember feeling so alive. I’ve never felt so alive in my life, but never so scared. I’d give anything to go back and experience that again.
Quite a contrast to the days before. In the film you don’t look very happy, in fact you looked very worried…
I sure as hell wasn’t happy. We had a 28-day window and we were running out of time. There were so many variables, I was worried we wouldn’t even get to start. It was one of the most intense weeks of my life.
Writing the email saying ‘Viking Crossing… it’s ON!’ felt crazy. For ages it had been abstract, coordinating logistics, safety, media, equipment; now it became real. Writing those words felt magical but also nerve wracking.”
At times of stress, Steinfath's loved ones were there for support
© Frederik Clement
What was your biggest fear?
It should have been the ocean, but it was actually the social consequences of failing. Asking people for help was overwhelming and so many people had put time and energy into this project I didn’t want to let them down.
My biggest fear was not reaching the point I got to on the first attempt, because I wanted to prove I had learned, I was stronger, smarter. Once I made it there, I felt safe. That was the finish line for me.
Steinfath was determined to get the job done on his second attempt
© Frederik Clement
How did it feel, paddling for so long?
As soon as I paddled into the darkness, time changed. I was engaged, I was in the zone, and I wasn’t thinking about time. Concentrating wasn't hard and paddling for an hour felt like just two minutes.
When I was training for this, Magnus and my Red Bull team-mate Camilla Pedersen, a very accomplished triathlete, helped me understand what my body might go through on such a long trip.
I did a lot of low-intensity training and increased my aerobic capacity and I’d changed my sleeping rhythm for paddling in the dark, so my body was in the best condition at the most important times.
The paddle strategy was based on studies of long distance army marching, where you maintain a pace but take many breaks. So. every 45 minutes, I’d sit on my board to rest, eat and do a status check with the support boat.
I’d also done a lot of homework on currents and had a great navigational crew around me. I used the tides, so the ocean helped me much more on this attempt and I was able to keep a pretty high average speed.
The support crew provided plenty of practical help and advice
© Frederik Clement
Were any of your competition skills useful for this?
My knowledge of how to train helped me get my body in top condition and my experience from the highs and lows in racing also gave me the mental strength to keep going whatever challenge I had to face.
But where this really differed from competition is I was the one making all the decisions, so I was always competing against my mind, always thinking ‘is this the right thing to do.’
It’s like deciding on a line in mountaineering: where am I least prone to danger. The level of consequence is higher, because ultimately your life is on the line. That’s what made it exciting.
Was there ever a moment you thought you might have to give up?
Before the crossing, I doubted myself many times. I’d wake up and say ‘can I really do this?’ I had butterflies in my stomach. It was like preparing for the race of my life. But once I got going, it became simpler.
There was one problem, though. After eight hours, my wetsuit was giving me a rash on my private parts. It was like sandpaper. I almost lost my manhood on that crossing. Thank God for Vaseline, that’s all I can say.
Crossing the Skagerrak pushed Steinfath's body to its limits
© Frederik Clement
How does this compare to other SUP achievements?
When you do something nobody's ever attempted before, whatever it is, there's a lot of doubt and anxiety. Can it be done? It’s like solving an equation for the first time. You need to use all your skills and knowledge.
This is not the wildest expedition – I have so much respect for Chris Bertish who crossed the Atlantic solo on a SUP – but every challenge has its own problems and for me it was dealing with the freezing cold and the dark.
If you’ve not watched the film look away now…
Steinfath achieved his dream. He completed the 145km paddle in 18h 26m, making between 50,000 and 60,000 paddle strokes and averaging over 7kph the entire way.
“My mum said ‘well done’ and I think she was proud,” said Steinfath. “But the thing she was most excited about was that I admitted my mistake. I admitted I was not super human and learned from what went wrong.”
The emotion flowed out when Steinfath achieved his dream
© Frederik Clement
And, for Steinfath, that’s what it’s all about. It’s about character as much it is about achievement.
“I grew up as a surfer, always playing in the water, learning something new, feeling inspired,” he explains. “When I got into SUP and decided I wanted to be a world-class athlete, it became different.
“If you dedicate time to anything, a sport, music, your profession, it’s a trade off. I had to say no to hanging out with friends, going out; I had to get up early; I had a very regimented training plan.
“In my early years, I really loved that because it had meaning to me. I loved competing and proving I could be one of the best. But after more than 10 years, I’ve realised that comes at a cost and other things are important.
“I’m proud of my six world titles but I am also proud of having done this crossing, and there are more new challenges out there waiting that I am sure will also make me proud.
Now on to new challenges
© Frederik Clement
“At the end of the day it’s about character. Look at Tommy Caldwell or Alex Honnold in the climbing world; for whatever reason they try these crazy things, but what I find interesting is their characters.
“Sometimes I feel people see athletes as machines. I’m not a machine, a mindless gym rat; I want to taste the world, I want to explore and push the boundaries of what's possible.
“World titles are amazing, but if my ego, my dream, call it what you will, can lead to something memorable or something inspirational for other people, that’s what will satisfy me.”
