World Record Paddleboarder

In 2006 While prone paddle boarding and training to surf bigger waves, Tom noticed that there was an alarmingly high amount of plastic trash in the Water around him almost all of the time. Disturbed by this, Tom started to do research on the effects this trash had on the Ocean, environment and humans. Shocked by what he learned, Tom decided to use his athletic ability to do something about it. This is what Tom Jones has done...

Tom formed a 501c3 nonprofit foundation and single-handedly started a campaign for a “plastic free ocean” to bring mass awareness to this environmental disaster which kills more marine wildlife than any non-natural cause and threatens human health worldwide.

In 2007 Tom established the first SUP (Stand Up Paddle)long distance world record. Tom paddled from the Oregon/California border to the California/Mexico border in 90 days, a distance of 1250 miles. This extreme ultra-endurance event brought mass media attention to the cause and motivated thousands of people to change the way they use and dispose of plastic in their households.

In 2008 Tom continued the campaign for a plastic free ocean by setting yet another ultra-endurance record. Tom circumnavigated the Hawaiian island of Ohau 3 consecutive times. First Tom standup paddled around the entire Island, then cycled the island, and finally covered the entire coast of the island again on foot. All of this was completed in 19 days, totaling 360 miles.

In 2010, Tom broke his own 2007 SUP world record. This time Tom endured many days of scorching temperatures as high as 115F, coastal alligators, and hoards of mosquitoes and horseflies as he paddled from Key West, Florida, to New York City in 93 days, a distance of 1507 miles. This was the physiological equivalent of running 1½ marathons every day regardless of wind, currents and weather – certainly one of the most grueling ultra-endurance events ever attempted. The day after Tom reached New York, he paddled 28 miles around the island of Manhattan to complete the Surfers’ Environmental Alliance NYC Paddle benefitting Autism research and coastal environmental causes.

2011 and beyond – Tom continues to work with Ark Paddleboards and other manufacturers to develop high-performance SUP boards, paddles, gloves and other products to advance standup paddling. He also partners with other human performance experts and engineers to develop products for combat sports training and fitness. As always, Tom continues his training to maintain world-class condition. For Tom, there are more world records to come. Anyone for standup paddling across the Pacific?