Rob Kidnie, Paddles for Awareness in Asia

The Aussie stand up paddle (sup) border will paddle for two weeks on the Mekong River from Cambodia to South Vietnam to raise awareness of water pollution, particularly plastic pollution in Southeast Asia, Vietnam.

Kidnie on his stand up paddle (sup) board picking up plastic from a river, perhaps the Mekong, in Southeast Asia.

Join the SUP Destination Group.

SYDNEY, Australia – Rob Kidnie, a 35 year-old from Sydney, Australia who has spent the last five years living in Southeast Asia, is on a mission to stand up paddle (sup) board through two countries, Cambodia and South Vietnam, toward the South China Sea, with the goal of raising awareness for cleaner oceans, waterways, and beaches. He will be traveling through the Mekong River, which not only links the two countries but is also a clear example of dire water pollution, largely due to plastic. (Read about Karen Wrenn paddling the Channel Islands.)

"I am a passionate life-long surfer/kitesurfer/paddleboarder that has spent the last eight years traveling the world chasing wind and waves," says Kidnie. "I have spent the majority of my time in Asia, with the last five years predominantly in Vietnam. In my travels I am often sickened by the amount of rubbish that I see in the oceans, waterways and on the beaches. I have thought long and hard about what I could do to help this situation. The paddle down the Mekong River is a challenge that I would relish in itself, but I see this as a golden opportunity to raise awareness for the need for cleaner oceans, waterways and beaches."'

Stand up paddle (sup) boarding down the Mekong River will take about two weeks, predicts Kidney, and will likely provide visuals aplenty to corroborate the serious need to address water pollution problems, both in Southeast Asia and globally. Kidnie is looking for a local, environmental NGO (non-governmental organization) in Asia to partner with. He is open to founding an NGO with a focus in plastic pollution, but he would rather work with existing groups, if there are some already in place in the region. If you know of such a group, please contact Kidnie with information. Now supporting his stand up paddle (sup) board journey is DHL Freight Company, which specializes in global logistics and has a network that spans over 220 countries. If you would like to support Kidnie's mission and initiative, please contact him through the information below. The stand up paddle journey is scheduled to begin during the second week of May. (Join the SUP Destination Group.)

Contact Rob Kidnie anytime on rob@kite-n-surf.com or +84 1267 194 923

What do you think Kidnie will encounter on the Mekong River?

.