"Wing It" Challenge
The 'Wing It' challenge is an unprecedented expedition to circumnavigate the entire UK coastline using the innovative techniques of Wing and Foil. This expedition is a harmonious fusion of art and diversity, mental health advocacy, and environmental activism.
We invite people from all walks of life to support us, whether financially or physically, as we set out to break four world records, engage with local and global communities, and forge an enduring legacy with this impactful initiative.
Why are they doing this?
Environmental Conservation: Our partnership with butterfly-conservation.org facilitates focused fundraising efforts for the creation, restoration, and maintenance of key butterfly and moth habitats along the UK’s coastlines. This underpins our unwavering dedication to the intricate balance of our natural ecosystems.
Mental Health Awareness: As we navigate the UK’s challenging waters, we will also engage in proactive dialogue about mental health, holding workshops and discussions in various communities along our route. The expedition itself serves as a metaphor for the resilience and well-being needed to overcome life's challenges.
Record-Setting Achievements: Beyond personal accomplishment, the records we aim to set—longest foil board distance, first foil around the UK, and first Wing around the UK—have the power to embolden individuals to reconsider their own perceived limitations and to strive for greatness in their respective fields.
Community Engagement: We're not merely passing through coastal communities; we plan on holding interactive events and educational talks at key locations. Through water-based activities and beach clean-ups, we will invite the public to directly interact with the oceanic environment and contribute to its preservation.
An Adventure Like No Other!
The 'Wing It' challenge is more than just another maritime adventure; it sets itself apart in a number of distinctive ways:
It’s the first expedition of its kind to combine Wing and Foil technologies to circumnavigate the UK's coastline. This pioneering effort seeks to redefine the possibilities in watersports technology and technique.
Led by two highly acclaimed athletes, Emily King, 12'6 UK Ladies Paddleboarding Champion and Charlie Head, renound adventurer and explorer. They are both known for their impressive accolades in watersports, mental health advocacy, and oceanic activism. Their complementary skills enrich the project’s objectives, imparting it with a unique depth and resonance.
It's not merely an athletic achievement; the journey symbolises the resilience, willpower, and determination inherent in every human being. It also serves as an homage to the breath-taking natural landscape that defines the UK's coastlines.
In a bold statement of inclusivity, Charlie and Emily will wear rainbow butterfly wings during their wing foiling activities. This eye-catching display serves as a powerful symbol, underscoring our commitment to diversity and the harmonious coexistence of all beings in the realm of sports and environmental conservation.
When are they doing this?
The current goal is for "Wing It" to take place during the Spring of 2025.
Can you help us fund:
Travel Expenses: Comprehensive funding for logistical coordination, encompassing fuel costs, accommodations at local establishments, and subsistence allowances for the team.
Equipment: Capital to acquire cutting-edge Wing and Foil equipment, as well as the means for its regular upkeep and repairs, ensuring consistently peak performance.
Safety Gear: Allocation for high-quality, marine-grade safety gear, including GPS devices, communication equipment, and emergency medical supplies, to safeguard the team.
Photographer and Videographer: Resources to hire creative professionals skilled in action photography and videography, capturing the expedition’s most poignant and exhilarating moments.
Support Crew: Budget to employ a multidisciplinary support crew (including vehicles), consisting of navigational experts, meteorologists, and medical personnel to monitor and ensure the safety of the team.
Marketing and Promotion: A substantial budget to leverage both traditional media and social networks, including the creation of regular content updates, press releases, and collaboration with influencers.
Research and Planning: Funds to conduct in-depth preliminary assessments, from evaluating potential routes to executing comprehensive safety protocols.
World Record Admin Costs: Sufficient funding for the administrative and verification procedures necessary for official recognition of the world records we aim to establish.
To get involved and help fund or support us please contact:
Email: sup@charliehead.com
Phone: +447399496303
The Dynamic Duo
Charlie Head: "I was inspired by the immense potential of the ultimate combination of wing and foil, which haven't been extensively explored yet, with the endurance adventure of circumnavigating the UK. Seeing various water sports successfully circle the country and having completed a circumnavigation myself using SUP, I recognized it as a powerful opportunity to spotlight conservation. Watersports have always been effective for social engagement, and Wing Foiling represents one of the last frontiers in this space."
Emily King: "Setting out to wing foil around the UK is about more than just personal achievement or speed. It's an opportunity to draw attention to the delicate ecosystems of our coastlines, symbolised by the butterflies and moths we're working to protect. Additionally, it's a way to engage communities in mental health dialogue and inspire others to challenge their own boundaries. All in all, this journey is a step towards uniting people, nature, and the joys of water-based activities."
Featuring Emily King