シンガポールの Khoo Swee Chiow さんが１０月４日にハノイを出発し、カンボジア・タイ・マレーシアなどを経てシンガポールまでインラインで東南アジア横断６０００キロ走破するギネス記録に挑戦中です。なお、プロフィールを見ると２０００年から毎年、何かしらスポーツに挑戦している冒険家のようです。Adventurer to rollerblade across Southeast AsiaA Singaporean man will attempt to set a new Guinness world record by inline skating across five Southeast Asian countries.On last Saturday, Khoo Swee Chiow skated out of Hanoi and embarked on a 6,000-km journey that will take him down past HCMC and into Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore. 6,000 km on rollerblades Khoo, a 43-year-old “professional adventurer” and current world record holder for several achievements, has already accomplished an impressive number of feats. He is the first and only Southeast Asian to have climbed Mount Everest twice; and he is also the first Southeast Asian to conquer the seven highest mountains in the world. He has set foot on both of the earth’s poles, and in 2003, he was the first man in the world to ride a bicycle 8,066 kilometers from Singapore to Beijing, China, in 73 days. It was during this trek that Khoo first visited Vietnam. This time, Khoo chose Hanoi as a starting point for his journey. He intends to cover 6,000 kilometers in about 100 days to beat the current Guinness record of 4,175 km skated on rollerblades.
 The journey from the north all the way down to the south of Vietnam will hopefully be accomplished in thirty-three days, says Khoo.What is most remarkable is that the Singaporean only started learning to rollerblade in early 2007. Conditioning himself for the trip was one of the greatest challenges for Khoo and he will have other major obstacles to overcome along the way. Khoo says that he spent a great deal of time and energy to train for the physical aspects of his expedition. In preparation, he would rollerblade a distance of 40 kilometers every day along with a disciplined regime of weight-lifting and yoga. He chose a pair of high-quality, American-made K2 inline skates for the trip and oils them daily. He also carries dozens of extra wheels should he need replacements along the way. A friend and fellow Singaporean will drive a car, accompanying Khoo along his trip. He will also be trans-porting loads of supplies like food, drinks, medicine and clothes as required by Khoo. On their trans-Vietnam journey, they will also be accompanied by a guide from the Hanoi Tourist Travel Company who will assist them with anything else they need. Frightening obstacles lie ahead As required by the world Guinness rules, Khoo must remain moving on his rollerblades at all times regardless of whatever geographical conditions he may encounter. Except for designated moments of rest, he must continue even on rough, uneven roads or steep mountainous areas. He is allowed to slow down, but cannot remove the rollerblades from his feet at any point. Khoo will indeed have a daunting task ahead as he navigates his way around Southeast Asia's rugged terrain. Rural roadways are rife with potholes, rubble and debris – a night-mare for an inline skater traveling on 100-millimeter wheels. Even in major cities, the road conditions will be precarious at best. Congested traffic and large, fast-moving vehicles are just a few of the obstructions Khoo faces while skating on various city roads. When asked what aspect is most frightening for him, Khoo admits, “I am most frightened of street racers,” – youth riding motorcycles fast and recklessly. “I will have to be very careful about this.” Considering the rugged geographical conditions, Khoo concedes that Cambodia will be most challenging for him. As for the climate and weather conditions, he says that Thailand, with fewer trees, may be the hottest and most grueling leg of the trip. Khoo also enjoys photography so he has brought his camera along to capture Vietnam's character whenever he stops during a designated rest. If only he could have brought his guitar with him, he laments. As romantic as the journey sounds in theory, Khoo remains keenly aware of all the many risks involved on the journey ahead of him. “I might get caught in a storm, become exhausted, sick or injured, or even chased and attacked by wild animals – who knows?! I must be prepared for anything and everything, especially psychologically.” Khoo is also an author of two books and says he will document his current expedition including his impressions of Vietnam, the natural beauty and the people he meets along the way. Khoo and his wife (a fellow climber who he met and married during his mountain trekking days) hope to pass their passion for adventure onto their two children. “Perhaps, I will bring my children with me next time I come to Vietnam for an expedition to the summit of Langbian Mountain,” he says. Thanh Nien Daily: Adventurer to rollerblade across Southeast Asia Dare To Dream: Khoo Swee Chiow
Khoo's World's Longest Journey COMPLETED !! on 21st Jan. 2008
6088.4km Skate Log from Hanoi to Singapore | ||||||||||
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