SUP environmentalist Bob Purdy passed away in the early morning on Jan. 29 after succumbing to cancer. He was 64.
The beloved West Coast character was the star of the award-winning documentary “The Paddler” and founded Paddle for the Planet and World Paddle for the Planet Day.
On Jan. 11, 2011, Purdy kicked off a stand up paddleboarding streak that went on for 2,100 days.
“My original goal was 1,000 days and when I hit 1,000 I didn’t reset,” Purdy was quoted saying in a Westerly News article from Jan. 2016.
“I’ll keep going until my health declines to the point that I’m not able to go or until we actually change the way we live on the planet, whichever comes first.”
On Sept. 30, 2016 Purdy made the decision to take one last ride before ending his streak in order to prepare for a hernia operation.
To honour Purdy’s legacy, there will be a proper waterman’s sendoff and rally to support Sharon, his wife, at Mackenzie beach in Tofino on Saturday, Feb. 3 at 11 a.m.
Rain, snow, wind, or shine, because Bob would go in anything.