October 2026 | Greece
One Journey. Two Countries. Together for ALS.
In October 2026, an American team of endurance athletes brought traditional prone paddleboarding to the waters of Greece through the Greek Islands Paddle to Cure ALS, an international expedition combining ocean endurance, cultural connection and advocacy for people living with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
Led by Tom Horton, the expedition brought together paddlers from the United States for a multi-day journey through the Greek islands and surrounding coastal waters. Among the athletes was Eric Cedeno, known in the ocean surfing and paddling community as @nobadtides. The expedition combined a demanding athletic challenge with a mission to connect the Greek and American ALS communities, raise awareness and support people living with the disease and their families.
It also may represent a milestone in the history of prone paddleboarding in Greece. Based on the historical sources identified to date, the Greek Islands Paddle to Cure ALS is the first known organized prone paddleboarding expedition in Greece. That description reflects the documentation currently identified, not proof that no individual ever prone paddled in Greek waters before the expedition. For those of us who took part, the experience was about much more than mileage. It was about friendship, endurance, discovery and supporting a cause that affects families around the world.
The Paddlers
The expedition's eight primary paddlers were:
- Tom Horton
- Eric Cedeno — @nobadtides
- DJ Wilson — @OceansProne
- Kurt Fry — @OceansProne
- Grace Emig Schall
- Dave Wicke
- Adam Carleton
- Mariana Carleton
Additional alternate paddlers included:
- Lindsay Zuelich — @Wood_Brain
- Cole Horton
- Shayna Horton
- Dan Schall
Together, the athletes brought their endurance paddling experience to a new environment, navigating Greek coastal waters while supporting a cause that connects families, advocates and organizations on both sides of the Atlantic.
The support crews aboard our boats were also essential. Open-water paddling between islands requires more than athletic ability. It requires communication, careful observation, route planning and a willingness to adjust when conditions change.
What Is Prone Paddleboarding?
Prone paddleboarding is a human-powered ocean sport in which athletes lie flat or kneel on a long, narrow board and propel themselves through the water using their arms.
Unlike stand-up paddleboarding, prone paddleboarding does not use a handheld paddle. The athlete's arms provide the propulsion, while body position, technique and endurance determine how efficiently the board moves through the water.
Prone paddling is an established endurance sport in California and elsewhere. One of its best-known events is the 32-mile Catalina Classic, a demanding ocean race that tests fitness, navigation, resilience and the ability to manage changing marine conditions.
Bringing this style of paddling to Greece presented a different challenge. We were navigating unfamiliar waters with busy shipping channels, ferries, water taxis, sailboats and other marine traffic. Most boat operators had little reason to expect prone paddleboarders in their path.
That made our support vessels, communication and safety decisions especially important.
The Journey Through the Greek Islands
The expedition was scheduled for October 5–12, 2026, with a planned route of approximately 95 nautical miles, or 176 kilometers, through the Saronic Gulf and along the Argolic coast.
The original itinerary included Mikrolimano in Piraeus, Agistri, Aegina, Poros, Hydra, Spetses and Ermioni.
But the sea ultimately determined the journey. Weather, wind, marine traffic and safety considerations required changes to the planned route and distance. Some crossings were shortened, and certain legs were completed closer to shore rather than across open channels.
The original 95-nautical-mile itinerary therefore needs to be distinguished from the route actually completed. The planned route describes the expedition's intended journey; individual GPS tracks document where particular paddlers actually traveled.
This flexibility is intrinsic to open-water endurance expeditions. A successful expedition is not simply one that follows a predetermined itinerary. It is one that adapts to conditions and brings its participants safely through the journey. The expedition was undertaken in collaboration with the Hellenic ALS Association and the American ALS Network, connecting the Greek and American ALS communities through a shared mission.
A Personal Mission With an International Purpose
For organizer Tom Horton, the journey carried deeply personal meaning. His mother, Anastasia Kaliopi Daoutis Horton, died of ALS in 2005. His Greek family heritage and longstanding commitment to ALS advocacy helped inspire the idea of an endurance journey through the Greek islands. The expedition sought to increase awareness of ALS, support people living with the disease and their families, and strengthen connections between organizations and communities in Greece and the United States.
ALS affects more than the individual diagnosed. Families, friends, caregivers and communities all feel its impact. Awareness, access to support and continued advocacy are important to the people navigating this disease. Our paddling provided a way to bring people together around that mission. Every crossing, every mile and every conversation helped tell the story of why this cause matters.
October 5: The Send-Off in Piraeus
Our journey began in Piraeus, near Athens. After traveling from California, Lindsay Zuelich and I arrived in Greece and joined the team for a dinner with representatives of the American and Greek ALS communities. The following morning, we headed to the harbor and boarded our 98-foot yacht. It felt a little like stepping onto a giant pirate ship. The boat would be our home for the week, carrying us between islands while providing meals, shelter and support for the paddlers.
Before departing, we attended a large ALS send-off ceremony. There were speakers, photographers, a drone recording the event and a crowd cheering us on. After the ceremony, the eight primary paddlers entered the water together and paddled out as the crowd watched.
That was a special moment. We weren't just going for a paddle. We were representing a community and a cause, and we were about to undertake an organized prone paddleboarding expedition in a place where we could not identify an earlier example. I remember thinking how exciting it was to bring our sport to a country with so much coastline and ocean access.
My Garmin recorded 0.3 miles for the initial paddle from the harbor toward our boats.
October 6: Aegina to Poros
This was my biggest paddle of the trip. The plan was to travel from Aegina toward Poros, with the intended crossing estimated at roughly 15 miles, depending on the route. We started around 9 a.m. The water was warm, and the wind was blowing at approximately 15 knots, mostly from behind us. I decided to stay close to our support yacht for safety. Grace was moving quickly, zigzagging and catching downwinders, while Kurt and DJ were farther out. Keeping track of everyone was challenging, even with the tender moving between paddlers.
I recorded 13.0 miles in 3 hours and 17 minutes. I caught some of the longest downwind rides I had experienced, including several long rides on my knees. Around mile 10, fatigue began to set in, and by mile 11 I was dealing with cramps. I was happy to reach the end of the paddle. The crossing was an incredible experience, but it also highlighted the risks of paddling in unfamiliar waters where other boat operators may not expect to see someone lying flat on a paddleboard. It reinforced the importance of keeping the group together, remaining visible and making conservative decisions around marine traffic.
October 7: Poros — More Miles After I Got Out
The next morning, I planned to paddle around eight miles and conserve energy for the remaining days. Lindsay started out with the group while I rode on the tender, filming the paddlers with my Insta360 camera. We eventually swapped places, and I held onto the tender as it towed me toward the front of the group. Getting towed at nearly 10 mph on a 12-foot prone paddleboard was exciting, but a little sketchy!
The conditions started beautifully: flat, glassy water, almost no wind and amazing views. As we moved out of the inner channel, the wind picked up and the water became colder.
The support crew even brought espresso and snacks out to the paddlers. That was one of my favorite parts of the trip. It's not every day you get to paddle between Greek islands with a yacht nearby serving coffee.
My main recorded session was 7.9 miles in 2 hours and 16 minutes. After I got out of the water, Tom Horton, Kurt Fry, DJ Wilson, Dave Wicke and Adam Carleton continued paddling for another five miles each, according to my journal. That added approximately 25 participant-miles to the day's activity after my session ended. Those extra miles are included in the preliminary estimates for those five paddlers. The day showed how individual distances could vary depending on when someone entered or left the water and how far they chose to continue.
October 8: Hydra, Bisti Beach and the Channel Toward Spetses
This was one of my favorite days. The previous evening, we had explored Hydra, a beautiful town known for its narrow streets and lack of ordinary cars. The next morning, we launched near Paralia Vlichos and paddled along the coast toward Bisti Beach. The water was warm, clear and almost turquoise. I took my Insta360 camera off its mount several times to capture underwater footage. At one point, I saw a pink jellyfish about the size of a softball floating nearby.
The scenery, the clear water and being out there with friends who were just as excited as I was made this paddle unforgettable. My first session recorded 5.2 miles in 1 hour and 26 minutes. After a break at Bisti Beach, I recorded another short session of 0.4 miles. Later, we prepared to cross toward Spetses. The captains decided that the open-channel crossing was too dangerous, so we moved closer to shore and paddled the remaining distance together.
The paddlers I recorded for the channel session were Tom Horton, Eric Cedeno, Kurt Fry, DJ Wilson, Cole Horton and Grace Schall. My session was 3.0 miles in 46 minutes. I remember Kurt leading the group for a while. I started drafting behind him, and soon several of us had formed a line, sharing the work of moving through the water. It was a great example of teamwork. Rather than everyone trying to set their own pace, we were moving together.
The day was another reminder that the planned route was only a starting point. Conditions and safety decisions determined where we could actually paddle.
October 9: A Change of Pace
Not every day was about adding miles. There was time to explore the islands, swim, rest and recover. Some members of the group hiked, while others explored beaches and the coastline.
One of the things I appreciated most about the expedition was the opportunity to experience Greece beyond the water. The islands, the local communities and the scenery were as much a part of the experience as the paddling. Our yacht had become our home for the week, and the crew helped make the journey memorable.
October 10: Hydra and Dokos — Clear Water and Individual Distances
The clear water around Dokos was another highlight. Kurt and DJ were getting their boards ready for a short paddle, and I borrowed Adam's board so I could join Lindsay along the coast. We explored the shoreline looking for shells and other little treasures, just as we sometimes do back home. Lindsay and I each recorded 2.4 miles for our shared outing. Kurt and DJ continued farther, each covering 4.8 miles individually. Their individual distances were twice the distance Lindsay and I each recorded.
I had my Insta360 running, hoping to capture some good footage. Later, I discovered it had been set to slow-motion mode. Fortunately, that turned out to be a happy accident. I got a great underwater clip of Lindsay paddling by, along with some cool footage of Kurt and DJ.
Maybe there's a future in water photography for me after all!
Later, our boats crossed the channel toward Poros. Once the captains had brought us across the busier water, we got back on our boards for a short paddle into the harbor.
Dave and I were near the front. We passed through a shallow section between a peninsula and a small island, catching a few little waves along the way. We also had to stop several times to let the rest of the group catch up.
My recorded channel-to-Poros session was 1.6 miles in 25 minutes. When we reached the harbor, a welcome event was waiting for us, complete with local dancers and a drone pilot. It was an amazing way to arrive. This day also illustrates why individual GPS records matter. We were paddling in the same general area, but our personal distances differed depending on the route and duration of each outing.
October 11: Aegina and the Final Paddling
Our final paddling day brought another lesson in balancing ambition with safety. We anchored near Moni Aegina Beach and headed along the coast. The wind was blowing, and the group discussed whether to cross a short channel. Some of us were comfortable turning back, while others wanted to continue. We eventually made the crossing together, staying close as we navigated around larger boats.
We continued along the coast, but the wind made the return challenging. At one point, we waited while the group regrouped, and I was getting cold as the wind worked its way through my rash guard and vest. The experience reinforced something I had been thinking about all week: the excitement of paddling somewhere new should never outweigh the need to make safe decisions. I logged 4.0 miles in 1 hour and 24 minutes that day.
Afterward, we returned toward Piraeus. The harbor was packed with tankers, ferries, sailboats and water taxis. Seeing the scale of the traffic from the water made me appreciate how important our support crews had been throughout the expedition. We returned safely, said our goodbyes to the boat crew and prepared to head home. It was hard to leave. The yacht had become our home for a week, and the crew had become friends.
The GPS Record: Every Paddle, Every Mile
One thing I wanted to preserve from the expedition was a record of what I actually paddled, not just the route we originally planned. I used my Garmin watch to record my individual prone paddleboarding sessions throughout the trip. My GPS data captured distances, times and routes as we explored the Greek islands, crossed channels and adjusted our plans to account for weather, boat traffic and safety.
My personal Garmin log recorded 37.8 miles across nine main sessions, totaling approximately 11 hours and 15 minutes on the water. These figures represent my personal paddling totals, not the combined distance of the entire team. The GPS tracks are particularly meaningful because they document where I actually paddled. Our planned itinerary changed along the way, so the recorded routes tell a more accurate story than the original itinerary alone. From the crossing between Aegina and Poros to the clear turquoise waters around Hydra and Dokos, each session captured a different part of the experience.
My recorded paddle sessions
Date | Location | Distance | Time |
October 5 | Piraeus harbor to our boats | 0.3 mi | 10 min |
October 6 | Aegina to Poros | 13.0 mi | 3 hr 17 min |
October 7 | Poros | 7.9 mi | 2 hr 16 min |
October 8 | Paralia Vlichos to Bisti Beach | 5.2 mi | 1 hr 26 min |
October 8 | Bisti Beach | 0.4 mi | 18 min |
October 8 | Open channel toward Spetses | 3.0 mi | 46 min |
October 10 | Hydra/Dokos with Lindsay | 2.4 mi | 1 hr 13 min |
October 10 | Open channel toward Poros | 1.6 mi | 25 min |
October 11 | Aegina | 4.0 mi | 1 hr 24 min |
Total |
| 37.8 mi | Approximately 11 hr 15 min |
These entries summarize my personal log. Other paddlers completed additional distances, and some participated in sessions that differed from mine. I'll include the individual Garmin activity links and GPS maps alongside these entries so readers can compare the recorded routes with the original expedition itinerary.
Estimated Mileage by Paddler
I also wanted to preserve a record of the mileage completed by the other members of our team.
My journal notes which paddlers joined me on particular sessions and records additional distances completed by some teammates after I got out of the water. Using those notes, I reconstructed preliminary mileage estimates for the expedition's 12 paddlers.
Paddler | Estimated mileage | Calculation or basis |
Tom Horton | 40.0 mi | Listed sessions plus 5 additional miles on October 7 |
Eric Cedeno (@nobadtides) | 37.8 mi | Personal Garmin total |
Kurt Fry (@OceansProne) | 47.6 mi | 37.8 + 5.0 on October 7 + 4.8 on October 10 |
Grace Emig Schall | 38.07 mi | Official Garmin total |
DJ Wilson (@OceansProne) | 47.6 mi | 37.8 + 5.0 on October 7 + 4.8 on October 10 |
Dave Wicke | 37.0 mi | Listed sessions plus 5 additional miles on October 7 |
Adam Carleton | 31.1 mi | Listed sessions plus 5 additional miles on October 7 |
Mariana Carleton | 18.5 mi | Listed sessions |
Lindsay Zuelich (@Wood_Brain) | 3.64 mi | Reported individual total, including the shared 2.4-mile outing |
Cole Horton | 8.2 mi | Listed sessions |
Shayna Horton | 4.6 mi | Listed sessions |
Dan Schall | 1.6 mi | Listed session |
These are preliminary reconstructions based on the journal and the mileage assumptions available. Except for my personal Garmin total and Lindsay's and Grace's reported individual totals, the figures should not be treated as independently verified GPS mileage.
Corrected Mileage for Kurt Fry and DJ Wilson
Kurt and DJ were with me throughout the paddling sessions documented in my journal. In addition to the 37.8-mile baseline from my Garmin log, each completed another five miles after I got out of the water on October 7. On October 10, each also paddled 4.8 miles near Hydra and Dokos.
Their estimates are therefore:
- Kurt Fry (@OceansProne): 47.6 miles
- DJ Wilson (@OceansProne): 47.6 miles
The calculation for each is:
37.8 miles + 5.0 miles on October 7 + 4.8 miles on October 10 = 47.6 miles.
These figures incorporate the additional mileage specifically documented in my journal and correct the earlier estimates.
Official GPS Data and Estimated Team Mileage
As participants shared their individual GPS records, the expedition's mileage breakdown became more accurate. Grace Emig Schall provided her official data, documenting 38.07 miles over 14 hours and 54 minutes. My own Garmin log recorded 37.8 miles over 11 hours 15 minutes across nine main sessions. Other paddlers' totals are based on my session records, the people listed in my journal for each outing, and additional distances completed after I finished paddling.
These figures distinguish verified individual GPS totals from reconstructed estimates. As more teammates share their official records, the mileage table can be updated to reflect the team's accomplishments more precisely.
Additional Team Mileage
On October 7, Tom Horton, Kurt Fry, DJ Wilson, Dave Wicke and Adam Carleton continued paddling for another five miles each after I finished my session. Together, that represents approximately 25 additional participant-miles.
On October 10, Kurt and DJ each covered 4.8 miles near Hydra and Dokos, while Lindsay and I each recorded 2.4 miles on our shared outing. Lindsay's reported total of 3.64 miles already includes that shared paddle, so the 2.4 miles should not be added to her personal total a second time.
These distinctions matter because participant-miles are different from the unique distance covered by the expedition. When multiple paddlers cover the same stretch of water, each person's mileage counts toward individual and team participant-mile totals, but the shared stretch is not multiplied when describing the route itself.
Adding the 12 estimates above gives a preliminary total of 306.64 participant-miles. This is a working sum of the current individual estimates, not a verified expedition-wide total. Confirming it will require comparing the participants' original Garmin activity files and checking for additional sessions.
GPS Maps and Activity Records
The Garmin tracks are an important part of the expedition's historical record. They document the routes actually paddled, the dates and distances of individual sessions, and the ways the journey changed as conditions evolved.
The following activity links and maps can be added to the post as they are prepared:
- October 5 — Piraeus harbor: [Insert Garmin activity link or GPS map]
- October 6 — Aegina to Poros: [Insert Garmin activity link or GPS map]
- October 7 — Poros: [Insert Garmin activity link or GPS map]
- October 8 — Hydra coast, Bisti Beach and Spetses: [Insert Garmin activity links or GPS maps]
- October 10 — Hydra/Dokos and Poros: [Insert Garmin activity links or GPS maps]
- October 11 — Aegina: [Insert Garmin activity link or GPS map]
The maps should be linked to the original activities wherever possible so that readers can inspect the actual GPS records rather than relying solely on written summaries.
A Landmark in Greek Sports History
The Greek Islands Paddle to Cure ALS is significant not only for its charitable purpose but also for its potential place in the development of prone paddleboarding in Greece.
A review of the publicly identifiable sources undertaken for this article has not established a verifiable record of an earlier organized prone paddleboarding expedition in Greek waters.
On that basis, the Greek Islands Paddle to Cure ALS can be described as the first known organized prone paddleboarding expedition in Greece, based on currently identified documentation.
The wording is deliberate. Establishing that an expedition is the first known organized example is different from proving that no individual ever prone paddled in Greece before it. Informal outings, private crossings and undocumented activities may not appear in searchable historical records.
Our firsthand accounts, dated photographs, GPS tracks, participant records and official expedition materials provide an opportunity to preserve this milestone and establish a more complete record of the sport's history in Greece.
Sources and Historical Documentation
The following sources provide a starting point for documenting the expedition's identity, mission and planned itinerary:
- Official expedition website: Greek Islands Paddle to Cure ALS
- Hellenic ALS Association: Greek Islands Paddle to Cure ALS
- Official route information: Expedition Route
- Firsthand account: One Stroke at a Time: Paddling the Greek Islands to Cure ALS
- Personal GPS records: Eric Cedeno's Garmin activity logs and GPS tracks from October 2026.
The official expedition pages document the planned journey and charitable mission. My blog and Garmin records provide firsthand evidence of my own paddling sessions. Individual participant mileage should be checked against the original activity files before being presented as verified totals.
Plan for Further Historical Verification
To strengthen the historical claim, the next step is to preserve and compare the primary evidence:
- Collect the original Garmin activity files and GPS tracks from every participating paddler.
- Preserve dated photographs, videos and drone footage showing the team on the water.
- Obtain participant statements confirming the dates, locations, routes and roles of the paddlers.
- Cross-check the planned itinerary against the actual route and any changes made for weather or safety.
- Review Greek-language and English-language media, local surf and water-sports communities, and international prone-paddling organizations for earlier examples.
- Archive the official expedition announcements and any independent reporting that confirms the event took place.
This process would help distinguish between the first documented organized expedition and any earlier informal or undocumented prone paddling in Greece.
Until additional evidence emerges, the most defensible historical description remains:
The Greek Islands Paddle to Cure ALS, held in October 2026, is the first known organized prone paddleboarding expedition in Greece identified in the historical sources reviewed to date.
Preserving the Record
The Garmin tracks, session logs, photographs and firsthand accounts are valuable records of what happened on the water. They help document the actual routes, distances and safety decisions that shaped the expedition.
They also preserve the contributions of the people who made the journey possible: Tom Horton, Eric Cedeno, DJ Wilson, Kurt Fry, Dave Wicke, Adam Carleton, Mariana Carleton and Grace Emig Schall, alongside alternate paddlers Lindsay Zuelich, Cole Horton, Shayna Horton and Dan Schall.
For me, the mileage records are more than athletic statistics. They are a record of friendship, endurance, teamwork and participation in an expedition that brought prone paddleboarding to Greek waters while supporting the ALS community. I will remember the warm, crystal-clear water, the long crossings, the little downwind rides, the espresso and snacks from the support boat, the people we met along the way and the feeling of being part of something meaningful.
Most of all, I hope our journey helped raise awareness of ALS and brought additional support to people living with the disease, their families, friends and caregivers. It was an incredible journey, and I'm grateful I got to be part of it.
Eric Cedeno — @nobadtides
One Journey. Two Countries. Together for ALS.
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