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CNN Live At Daybreak
All Women's Paddle Board Team Determined to Set World Record
Aired July 10, 2003 - 05:50 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: There's something about champions. They just never give up. Such is the case with an all women's paddle board team determined to set a world record.
CNN's Lucia Newman caught up with them during practice.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LUCIA NEWMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): If at first you don't succeed try, try again. After the weather ruined their try last year, this all women's paddle board team is again attempting to break the world record for the fastest crossing of the Florida Straits.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Come on, lady, keep it up!
NEWMAN: The 112 mile or 179 kilometer trip from Havana to Key West through the Florida Strait's shark infested waters is daunting even for these world champions.
HALEY BATEUP, WOMEN'S WORLD CHAMPION: I think paddling at night is going to be a bit scary, you know? We might see a few sharks and we've got some daggers on the board so if we see something we can kind of give it a bit of a pop in the head.
NEWMAN: The crossing, which is sanctioned by the "Guinness Book of Records," is organized by the Women's Millennium Foundation, which seeks to empower women.
NIKKY MOCKE, SOUTH AFRICAN #2 CHAMPION: And we're trying to go out there to show women that sort of an impossible thing is possible, you know? If it was easy, then it wouldn't be a challenge so.
NEWMAN: But the opposite sex is racing, also. Three other all male teams, including the South African world champion -- an all American team and the first ever British team to paddle the Florida Straits are also competing. The British Rum Runners have been training in the River Thames.
DAVID SMART, PADDLER: In the wet suits with paddling gloves, hats, boots through the snow and through the ice, yes.
NEWMAN: The aim is to beat the 19 hour, two minute world record held by an all male team from Florida.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: 6:00 a.m., 7:00 a.m.
NEWMAN: Wednesday morning, the event organizer announced they could not wait until dark to take off.
(on camera): Instead, they'll have to paddle under the blazing sun, making the crossing a lot harder and possibly slower. But, still a lot better than getting caught in a series of storms that are heading this way right now.
(voice-over): As the four teams sailed off to the starting point, the sea was already getting rough.
Lucia Newman, CNN, Havana.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: Well, the women taking part in the event represent the Millennium Foundation. One of the organization's goals is to heighten awareness of women's issues. Its president is Leslie Windram and she's on the telephone with us to talk more about the organization and the contest.
And your team already a day into the race, this 112 mile course. Where are they about now, Leslie?
LESLIE WINDRAM, PRESIDENT, MILLENNIUM WOMEN FOUNDATION: We just spoke with them and I have to say I'm a happy girl because they are 20 miles, you know, 25 miles plus outside of Key West. So, you know, this Millennium Women team, they're such tremendous athletes. They're going to make this thing happen. And I just, I couldn't be prouder.
WHITFIELD: So breaking the record means going for time and not necessarily distance, right?
WINDRAM: It means, you know, this is the first women's contingency to make this crossing. So, you know, when they finish, they establish a record on their own. They are also gunning for time, and I have to say, they're right there with two other teams. The U.K. team, unfortunately, pulled out during the night. It was a rough night. They had, you know, some pretty ugly weather out there. But the all Florida team and the international team are still in this race, as well.
So it's going to be a good one coming down to it and the Millennium Women team is right in there with them.
WHITFIELD: Wow. And so how do these women or how did these women really train for this, knowing that these are very treacherous waters in between Havana and south Florida? You've got women from Australia, from South Africa and Florida. How did they train for this?
WINDRAM: Well, they put in a lot of distance. I mean I think first and foremost they're tremendous athletes. So, I mean, it's all part of their lifestyle and part of who they are and what they do every day. And this is just kind of a component that they've been able to, you know, on behalf of the foundation, you know, contribute their talents to. You know, they put in a lot of distance. They work out. You know, these are women that have national, international titles. So, you know, like I said, it's a part of their life and just who they are.
WHITFIELD: And this is a tough sport. This takes some serious upper body strength.
WINDRAM: Yes.
WHITFIELD: I mean it looks like it's a combination of a surf board and a kayak and you're either on your knees or you're laying down and you're paddling your way with your arms.
WINDRAM: Exactly. It's really intense. And you have to figure, last night they were hitting anywhere from, you know, 10 to 14 foot seas. So, you know, you have the endurance element of the sport, but you also have, you know, the weather elements that they were up against. And, you know, that's like getting beat around in a dishwasher.
WHITFIELD: Yes. And, Leslie, real quick before I let you go, just quickly, kind of the nutshell message that your group is trying to send in this?
WINDRAM: Well, I think it's apparent this Millennium Women team has not only demonstrated that they're excellent athletes, but that they show that, you know, women can be empowered and they can meet challenges. You know, we term a Millennium Woman as a woman facing challenges with a plan. And these women definitely rose to the occasion. And we're just very proud.
WHITFIELD: All right, wow.
Leslie Windram of the Millennium Women's Foundation, thanks very much.
Your team's got about three more days to go before they get to Key West. Good luck.
WINDRAM: Thank you very much.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Record>
Aired July 10, 2003 - 05:50 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: There's something about champions. They just never give up. Such is the case with an all women's paddle board team determined to set a world record.
CNN's Lucia Newman caught up with them during practice.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LUCIA NEWMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): If at first you don't succeed try, try again. After the weather ruined their try last year, this all women's paddle board team is again attempting to break the world record for the fastest crossing of the Florida Straits.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Come on, lady, keep it up!
NEWMAN: The 112 mile or 179 kilometer trip from Havana to Key West through the Florida Strait's shark infested waters is daunting even for these world champions.
HALEY BATEUP, WOMEN'S WORLD CHAMPION: I think paddling at night is going to be a bit scary, you know? We might see a few sharks and we've got some daggers on the board so if we see something we can kind of give it a bit of a pop in the head.
NEWMAN: The crossing, which is sanctioned by the "Guinness Book of Records," is organized by the Women's Millennium Foundation, which seeks to empower women.
NIKKY MOCKE, SOUTH AFRICAN #2 CHAMPION: And we're trying to go out there to show women that sort of an impossible thing is possible, you know? If it was easy, then it wouldn't be a challenge so.
NEWMAN: But the opposite sex is racing, also. Three other all male teams, including the South African world champion -- an all American team and the first ever British team to paddle the Florida Straits are also competing. The British Rum Runners have been training in the River Thames.
DAVID SMART, PADDLER: In the wet suits with paddling gloves, hats, boots through the snow and through the ice, yes.
NEWMAN: The aim is to beat the 19 hour, two minute world record held by an all male team from Florida.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: 6:00 a.m., 7:00 a.m.
NEWMAN: Wednesday morning, the event organizer announced they could not wait until dark to take off.
(on camera): Instead, they'll have to paddle under the blazing sun, making the crossing a lot harder and possibly slower. But, still a lot better than getting caught in a series of storms that are heading this way right now.
(voice-over): As the four teams sailed off to the starting point, the sea was already getting rough.
Lucia Newman, CNN, Havana.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: Well, the women taking part in the event represent the Millennium Foundation. One of the organization's goals is to heighten awareness of women's issues. Its president is Leslie Windram and she's on the telephone with us to talk more about the organization and the contest.
And your team already a day into the race, this 112 mile course. Where are they about now, Leslie?
LESLIE WINDRAM, PRESIDENT, MILLENNIUM WOMEN FOUNDATION: We just spoke with them and I have to say I'm a happy girl because they are 20 miles, you know, 25 miles plus outside of Key West. So, you know, this Millennium Women team, they're such tremendous athletes. They're going to make this thing happen. And I just, I couldn't be prouder.
WHITFIELD: So breaking the record means going for time and not necessarily distance, right?
WINDRAM: It means, you know, this is the first women's contingency to make this crossing. So, you know, when they finish, they establish a record on their own. They are also gunning for time, and I have to say, they're right there with two other teams. The U.K. team, unfortunately, pulled out during the night. It was a rough night. They had, you know, some pretty ugly weather out there. But the all Florida team and the international team are still in this race, as well.
So it's going to be a good one coming down to it and the Millennium Women team is right in there with them.
WHITFIELD: Wow. And so how do these women or how did these women really train for this, knowing that these are very treacherous waters in between Havana and south Florida? You've got women from Australia, from South Africa and Florida. How did they train for this?
WINDRAM: Well, they put in a lot of distance. I mean I think first and foremost they're tremendous athletes. So, I mean, it's all part of their lifestyle and part of who they are and what they do every day. And this is just kind of a component that they've been able to, you know, on behalf of the foundation, you know, contribute their talents to. You know, they put in a lot of distance. They work out. You know, these are women that have national, international titles. So, you know, like I said, it's a part of their life and just who they are.
WHITFIELD: And this is a tough sport. This takes some serious upper body strength.
WINDRAM: Yes.
WHITFIELD: I mean it looks like it's a combination of a surf board and a kayak and you're either on your knees or you're laying down and you're paddling your way with your arms.
WINDRAM: Exactly. It's really intense. And you have to figure, last night they were hitting anywhere from, you know, 10 to 14 foot seas. So, you know, you have the endurance element of the sport, but you also have, you know, the weather elements that they were up against. And, you know, that's like getting beat around in a dishwasher.
WHITFIELD: Yes. And, Leslie, real quick before I let you go, just quickly, kind of the nutshell message that your group is trying to send in this?
WINDRAM: Well, I think it's apparent this Millennium Women team has not only demonstrated that they're excellent athletes, but that they show that, you know, women can be empowered and they can meet challenges. You know, we term a Millennium Woman as a woman facing challenges with a plan. And these women definitely rose to the occasion. And we're just very proud.
WHITFIELD: All right, wow.
Leslie Windram of the Millennium Women's Foundation, thanks very much.
Your team's got about three more days to go before they get to Key West. Good luck.
WINDRAM: Thank you very much.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Record>
