Blakey Johnstone to Make Waves (Literally) with World’s Biggest Paddle Out This Saturday at Cronulla Beach

Liam Montgomery | Sports Reporter | Sutherland Shire Gazette

12 March 2025

Here at The Sutherland Shire Gazette, we love a good laugh, but every now and then, something comes along that deserves a moment of real focus. This week, we want to shine a light on something important and close to our hearts: youth mental health. And who better to lead the charge than local surf legend Blakey Johnstone?

This Saturday, March 15, Blakey is attempting to break yet another world record - this time for the world’s biggest paddle out - right here at Cronulla Beach. Having already cemented his place in surfing history two years ago by riding waves for 40 straight hours,

Blakey is now calling on 1,000 surfers to join him in the paddle-out of all paddle-outs, raising awareness and support for youth mental health programs.

“This isn’t just about breaking records,” supporters told The Gazette. “It’s about bringing the community together, raising awareness for a cause that affects so many young people, and proving that the Shire doesn’t just show up for beer and barbecues—we show up for each other.”

The event is open to anyone with a board, a paddle, or just a strong willingness to float, and the call is out for surfers of all levels to get down to Cronulla Beach on Saturday morning and be part of history. If you can’t paddle, no worries—come down, cheer from the sand, and soak up the atmosphere of what promises to be an iconic Shire moment.

Local businesses are already jumping on board, with cafes offering pre-paddle caffeine fixes, surf shops dusting off their biggest boards, and even old mate Gary up at Northies is rumoured to be considering throwing his card behind the bar for first shout.

So if you’ve ever wanted to be part of a Guinness World Record - without having to eat 500 hot dogs or balance spoons on your face - this is your chance. Let’s make history, support a great cause, and show the world what Cronulla can do.

Be there. Be part of it. Let’s paddle out for something bigger than ourselves.

Cronulla Beach, Saturday 15 March https://www.worldsbiggestpaddleout.com