The Slowest Way to Rio

Philosophy

We believe that society today puts too much focus on things like “faster”, “more” and “more effective”, often forgetting about processes around us and the impact our actions leave on the world we live in. We will take the “slowest way” to Rio, not just getting from one point to another by any means necessary, but rather noticing every mile of the ocean and making our way without any harm to the environment.

The Goal

In 100 days travel from Luderitz, Namibia, to Rio de Janeiro, the home town of the XXXI Summer Olympic Games, by a ocean rowing boat. We will not use engines, sails or any other external driving implements, and we will travel without a support vessel, relying only on our own strength for the entire route across Atlantic ocea.

Duration

May – August 2016

Distance

6000 km across the Atlantic Ocean from Luderitz, Namibia to Rio de Janeiro by an ocean rowing boat.

Education Through the Prism of Expedition

Till now, “Bored of Borders” team has visited numerous schools and shared their adventure stories, receiving appreciation not only from children and teachers, but also from school management. During this adventure project, we will work with several schools, organizing meetings before and after the expedition and using technologies to virtually bring the children out there with us. This way the learning process will step out of the usual four-walled box – for example, during the projects week the children will be able to prepare their projects about the water bodies crossed and the animals met by our team.

Media

July 28, 2015

The Slowest Way to Rio

TEAM

The comfort zone of Kārlis is, without a doubt, being in the middle of an adventure. For now, his adventure portfolio holds a 60 days and 6247 kilometers long ride on cross- country roller skates from North Cape , the furthest Northern point of Europe, to the furthest Southern point in Gibraltar (2013). Kārlis has participated in „Pedal for no Medal” charity bicycle ride from Riga (Latvia) to Sochi (Russia), in 17 days cycling 2840 kilometers in winter conditions and raising more than EUR 8000 for the reconstruction of Children’s Hospital in Riga (2014). Also, he has crossed Finland on skies, for 250 km following the Polar Circle through a wild area (2014). In the summer of 2014, Kārlis participated in “Baltic Way” charity cycling marathon, crossing the three Baltic states in 24 hours and cycling 600 km.

In his previous incarnations, Gints had some important and some not so important jobs working in journalisms, film industry, education and private sector, including few years in an environmental resources management group where he shared his cell with Karlis. But there is much more to him that meets the eye – his adventure journal has records of Alps, Caucasus and Himalayas. His joyful attitude towards life and living has turned a page, and now there is only Atlantic ocean and nothing else, as far as you can see.

Gints about himself: “The more I live, the more fun it gets. This is how I came across the yoga of laughter, and I suggest laughing from your heart as much and often as you can.”