The lawns were covered with frost as the morning temperature in western Sydney dipped solidly into single digits. My breath was visible, as was that of the goats who keep the grass low on the URBNSURF concourse. Even they looked to be suffering.

I’m booked for the second session of the day; the first one is already in the water. In the time it took the lifeguard to run through the instructions, Blake Johnston caught three waves. Tack them onto the fifteen he’d already caught that session, and the 1,546 waves he’s so far caught this month.

No such thing as a Dry July for Blakey (Matt Dunbar)

You know Blake as the tireless fella who holds the record for the longest surf session and, more recently, the biggest surf session.

Records aside, he’s been doing this endurance stuff for a while now. Prone to visits from the black dog, Blake’s found the best version of himself resides somewhere outside his comfort zone. And so he keeps stepping out of it.

Blakey got the idea for the longest surf session five years ago during an open day at URBNSURF Melbourne. As other surfers clocked an hour, maybe two, Blake stayed out for seven hours and would’ve kept going except the park had to close for the day.

So he planned his record attempt at Cronulla in March 2023. Got hold of Guinness to verify it, put it in the book, only to have them deem it as too dangerous. The same publication that lists most beers drunk in an hour as a legitimate category didn’t want to know about an extended sesh.

Nevertheless, Blakey went ahead and surfed for 40 hours and 7 minutes.

The mindful folk at Guiness did, however, suggest that the longest surf session could hold water if it was done in a controlled environment. Like, say, a pool. 

It’s not quite the same as the longest uninterrupted surf session but he’s having a shot at the most URBNSURF sessions in a month.

Thus Blakey is out there while I’m listening to a lifeguard and prepping to join the little viking in 10 degree water.

“I’m doing it like a surfer should,” says Blakey as we paddle out. “If it’s barrelling I’ll get barrelled, and if it’s turns I’ll rip in.”

Fortunately we were on Advanced setting so we had thirty minutes of each. Between the turns and barrels, Blakey was exerting himself in other ways: hollering at surfers pulling in and sidling up to chat with those waiting in line, some of whom had no idea the person they’re talking to is halfway through a world record.

“The first day I did 8 sessions and caught 167 waves,” says Blakey as we waited for the next set, “and my thighs and knees were feeling it.” His body has settled into the regime, though his feet are a mess and he’s struggling to eat enough to keep on weight.

Considering he’s halfway through the challenge his spark hasn’t dimmed a bit.

“I’ve got a 24 board quiver, everything you can imagine, and I’m learning how to ride them all,” says Blakey. “I’m also meeting all sorts of people.”

Last sets are called and I grab one more to close out my session. I rode 21 waves in that hour and I felt it. I’m not sure how many Blake rode but it probably doesn’t matter as he’s planning to do 10 more hours after I leave. The math can wait till the end of the day.

Blake ripping into a turn, one of many this month (Matt Dunbar)

Later I speak to Blake’s wife Lauren who tells me that, despite everything Blakey’s going through, it probably won’t be a Guinness World Record anyway.

“It costs $35,000 to apply for a Guinness World Record,” explains Lauren, “and that doesn’t include paying to fly an adjudicator out.”

“We’d rather give that money to charity,” says Lauren.

Even if he did get the stamp of approval from Guinness it wouldn’t be enough to keep Blakey on the couch. 

“Curiosity is the key to a full and exciting life,” says Blakey, who ain’t as much into the book learnin’ as he is about asking questions of himself.

And while the answers to the questions are inside himself, ironically they're only found when he's outside.

// STU NETTLE

Stay tuned to Blakey's efforts