The kayak4kuwait team and the Gulf Kayak Academy were triumphant in training the first women’s team consisting of four young women to row across the coast of Al-Bida area to the marina of Failaka Island last Friday.
An Arab daily reported that four Kuwaiti women braved the challenges of the ocean to advocate for the preservation of the marine environment. Coach Bashar Al-Hunaidi helped the participants achieve the goal of completing the kayaking challenge of covering the distance from the beach of Al-Bida to Failaka.
The team, comprising of Anfal Issa Al-Radwan, Kawthar Dashti and Ghanima Al-Qudmani, managed to row across an estimate distance of 27 km, while Dana Al-Mukimi covered 17 km of the total distance and had to stop due to an emergency, recording her best performance in distances. The team successfully crossed in about 5 hours and 15 minutes, as the journey started at 6:15 AM and ended at Marina Al Jazeera at 11:30 PM.
Al-Hunaidi said that the team experienced rowing this distance for the first time, despite the physical and psychological challenges, while the weather was moderate and humid, and the sea condition was moderate, although the waves could be high at times. The coach also said that the trip is firstly a personal challenge to reach the island of Failaka, and secondly preserving the marine environment from human impact.
Furthermore, Al-Hunaidi said that the participants trained for nearly two years, until they reached this level of proficiency and deserved the attempt to cross and create a connection with the environment, as well as teach natural sports, thus achieving environmental and athletic success at the same time.