Victoria Burgess to attempt Cuba to Key West on a paddleboard.
Experienced surfer and paddleboarder Victoria Burgess will attempt to become the first woman to cross the Florida Straits on a SUP (Standup Paddle Board) on June 26. Burgess will begin her trip in Cuba and paddle her way 100-120 miles to the Southernmost Point in Key West, Florida.
Burgess is making the attempt to help raise awareness and advocate for women’s athletics and empowerment. The crossing is referred to as “Chica Libre Crossing”, which means “free girl” in Spanish.
“I love to push myself and to take on new adventures, so I wanted a name that would represent the strength we all have to ‘set ourselves free’ of anything that is holding us back and to instead go out there and chase our dreams,” said Burgess in a statement.
She got into surfing when she was 19 but it wasn’t until the last five or six years that she focused on improving as a surfer, which led her to SUP. Only three weeks after she got on her first race board, she entered her first three-mile race and she won.
As a surfer, she says she prefers ocean SUP compared to flat-water paddling so she started to get into more rough-water competitions. She has completed several crossings among the Hawaiian islands, but being from Florida, she wanted to do something that would have an impact closer to home.
She named this trip “chica libre sup crossing’ to tell people that they can do whatever they put their minds to.
Burgess has prepared for the attempt competing in numerous distance races including the world-famous Molokai to Oahu race as well as Maui to Molokai, where she took third place in the 14-foot stock division. After years of surfing and SUP in Hawaii’s waters, she enjoyed the challenge of navigational open ocean events.
Bones Outfitters is outfitting Burgess with all 55+ UV Performance Apparel on her trip and will be donating a portion of the proceeds from the NEW “Chica Libre edition” men’s and women’s shirts to help support Burgess and her camera and safety crew along their journey from Cuba to Key West.
A landing party will take place at the southernmost point in Key West, so come out and support Victoria while she sets a new world record and proves to everyone around the world that anything is possible if you put your mind to it and don’t give up.
Follow: @AquaholicV & @BonesOutfitters to stay informed on the Chica Libre Crossing.
For more information on Victoria Burgess, or the Chica Libre Crossing please visit: www.VictoriaBurgess.com, or for more information on UV protective apparel from Bones Outfitters, visit us at: www.BonesOutfitters.com
