Pair to compete in lake endurance test

Later this month on Whitefish Lake, a Calgary pedal-boat athlete and a California endurance kayaker will try to set a world record for a human-powered watercraft.

The Pedal vs. Paddle showdown will feature Greg Kolodziejzyk of Calgary and Carter Johnson of San Francisco.

In September 2008, Kolodziejzyk came to Whitefish Lake and pedaled his custom-built boat more than 152.33 miles to set a world record for a human-powered watercraft.  

This effort eclipsed kayaker Johnson’s record of 150.34 miles set in 2006 on California’s Lake Merced.

On Sept. 27 (or the best weather day during the following week), Kolodziejzyk, who in August won the Shore to Shore race on Flathead Lake, will try to better his world record.  

This time the attempt will be a race because Kolodziejzyk has invited Johnson to join him on Whitefish Lake for a 24-hour test of endurance and human-powered speed.  

This race will take place on the northwest end of the lake on a surveyed and observed 5-kilometer course extending from Lazy Bay to Mackinaw Point.

The Pedal vs. Paddle challenge (www.pedalvspaddle.com) will be a fundraising event for MitoCanada, an association providing support for patients suffering from mitochondrial disease.  Potential contributors can learn about MitoCanada through the web page.

According to the website, Johnson is the current Guinness world record-holder for the longest distance on flat water in 24 hours by kayak and Kolodziejzyk is the record holder for longest distance by pedal-powered boat in 24 hours.