Okanagan Lake may be the deadliest lake in Canada, but for ultra-endurance athlete Nick Pelletier, it’s just another obstacle on the path to achieving your goals.
Three years after conquering Okanagan Lake by swim, Pelletier was back in the water this week to take on the challenge in a kayak, only this time, he did it with fellow ultra-endurance athlete Bradley Kraut.
The duo set out to tackle the 112-kilometre trek on Monday and completed the journey before midnight on Tuesday, marking a total of 34 hours in the water.
Met by supporters in Penticton, the two ultra-endurance athletes celebrated the accomplishment with a champagne shower and the taste of victory.
“From cold approaching Brad at a gym in L.A. to kayaking all of Okanagan Lake together, 112 km, in the place I call home, it’s been amazing to meet someone who shares the same passion for pushing themselves and athletic adventures,” said Pelletier on Instagram.
“Privileged to call him a friend, stoked on our achievement, and excited for the future ones to come.”
For Kraut, a fitness influencer from Pennsylvania, it was his first time being on a kayak, but with the help of ‘coach Nick’, he was able to overcome sleep deprivation, challenging waters and total darkness.
“Never kayaked in my life. Got out there, battled demons, and conquered the lake. 70-mile kayak complete. This was an extremely hard challenge,” said Kraut over social media.
“Massive shoutout to coach Nick and the entire crew that we put together last second for being coachable, willing to learn, and figure s*** out on the fly. Canada, thank you.”
This marks Pelletier’s first successful challenge in a body of water since failing to swim the Molokai Channel of Hawaii back in June, a distance of 42 kilometres across shark-infested waters.
Pelletier solo kayaked the distance of Okanagan Lake back in 2022.