About
The Fat Paddler
Sean Smith – a big man with a paddle, on a journey to prepare for the Hawkesbury Classic (a 111km marathon paddle held in the dark on the Hawkesbury River, NSW).
A Big Man next to a Big Glacier
The road to this point has been long and dramatic. Sports injuries and two major vehicle accidents have left the Fat Paddler with an impressive list of reasons not to participate in an active lifestyle, with previous injuries including; nasal fractures (x14!) , femur fracture, femoral head fracture, rib fractures, multiple pelvis fractures, sacrum fractures, hand & finger fractures, ankle fracture, toe fractures and many more too numerous to list.
Fat Paddler training on Middle Harbour
But, armed with a composite sea-kayak (Boréal Design Nanook), a waterproof camera (Panasonic Lumix FT1), a gym membership (Fitness First), a personal trainer (Dirk) and a desire to paddle Sydney’s incredible waterways, the Fat Paddler surges ahead to the Hawkesbury Classic in October 2009.
*UPDATE* Sponsor me for the Classic 
Winter kayak training
Now this is training for the cold!
16 Comments for this entry
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May 10th, 2009 on 9:15 pm
Hey Sean – nice photos mate. Sydney harbour at 6.30 am is a great place to be. I paddled across from Lane Cove to Balmain a couple of times and it is fab. I’ll look out for you on the water. Good luck with the Hawkesbury classic – I like the sound of that.
Cheers, Mark
May 29th, 2009 on 10:07 am
I wish you luck on your endevour. If you dream it, you can do it. If you were closer, I would make you a custom yak to paddle. One Fat Paddler to another… where real men break the waves.
KK
May 29th, 2009 on 10:42 am
Thanks Kev. Your kayaks are a thing of beauty btw, very VERY impressed!
June 22nd, 2009 on 8:09 am
Hi Sean:
Where can I buy some tee-shirts? And I mean BUY.
Thx
June 22nd, 2009 on 9:03 am
Merchandise details coming soon Kit, as you’re not the only one asking! In the next week or so I’ll put up details, initial range will be tshirts, car/yak stickers and beer coolers.
July 8th, 2009 on 4:24 pm
fatpaddler, I see you mention the Lumix FT1.
I would like to have a chat with you about that camera.
Please contact me via email.
Thank you.
Gnarlydog
July 8th, 2009 on 10:33 pm
Sure thing Gnarlydog!
August 7th, 2009 on 4:16 pm
Hi Sean
PLease have a look at our website for the plan of management for Sydney Harbour National Park http://www.sydneyharbourpom.net.au We love your stories and thought you might like to add yours to our webpage. It’s great to see the National Park from the water and if you could tell people about the Park on your site that would be great too.
Margaret
September 23rd, 2009 on 1:05 pm
Sean, a communal friend of ours told me about you however there is no ‘contact’ link on your site. im trying to get in touch with you regarding a charity event im doing but cannot as i cannot find your contact details on your site.
please email me.
Martin
October 15th, 2009 on 9:57 pm
Hi Sean,
Got any suggestions for dry suits for fat paddlers?
October 15th, 2009 on 10:03 pm
Gday Diane. I can’t add too much here because we simply don’t need dry suits here in Australia. I did wear one in Alaska recently, it was a size XXL, and I had no problems with it (other than swimming in my own sweat inside it and the choking sensation of a tight rubber gasket around my neck!). Oh, and make sure you go to the toilet before you get into a dry suit, because it is HELL trying to quickly get out of one! Cheers – FP
October 30th, 2009 on 12:19 pm
Sean,
I found your website today when looking for photos from the classic. I so wish I had found it before I decided to do the race. I’m a fat (130kg) paddler too. I squeezed (actually quite roomy) into the back of a double mirage and did it the easy way.
I think your next challenge should be the Murray 200 and the Murray Marathon, the only two longer kayak races in Australia. I would definitely be a part of team fat paddler in that. Email me if you are interested.
Russ
October 30th, 2009 on 10:50 pm
Gday Russ. Can’t tell you how much I envied those double Mirages as they went past, paddlers chatting away to each other, and occassionally taking rests. Was a bit harder solo I can assure you!
January 18th, 2010 on 7:47 am
Hi Sean,
I remember well the day we met near Clontarf and your “rescue”. Glad that the paddling has been your road to health. Rob, Geoff, Steve, Simon, Tony and sundry extras still paddle from Clontarf regularly . Oftern 0700-0715 on Sat or Sun…. love to see you there.
regards
Doc Alex
February 4th, 2010 on 7:54 pm
Doc Alex,
Mrs FatPaddler here.
I just wanted to thank you for towing Sean into Chinamen’s after what was an initial disastrous start post decade since he’d kayaked. I have to say it’s one of the funniest stories, I laugh time and time again each time we talk about it. It is also how the ‘FATPADDLER’ was born.
It would be lovely to meet you one day and we can hear the finer details perhaps!
Cheers,
Mrs FP
February 10th, 2010 on 6:27 am
Hi Sean,
Similar sized paddler from Sussex in the UK here.
I’m on a short stay to Sydney arriving am 28th Feb. Keen to get a paddle in. Can you suggest any venues/tours.
I’ve checked out Sydney Harbour Kayaks who appear to do Saturday & Sunday trips that I will be too late for on arrival and depart on the 4th.
Inspirational site
Yours Aye
Guy