Anyone fancy a relaxing day floating down the river?
This July, you can take your tubing plans to the next level by linking with hundreds of other river tubers in Cowichan’s attempt to break the Guiness World Record for ‘longest line of water inflatables’ ever created!
The world record attempt is being helmed by The Tube Shack, and requires at least 196 of their regular tubes to be connected to succeed.
According to the Tube Shack’s owner, Aaron Frisby, the attempt should be an easy win for the island community.
“…on any given weekend we could see 800 – 1000 people on a busy day in the summer,” Frisby told Victoria Buzz.
“We’re just asking 200 people to join together.”
Alongside the tubers will be two lifeguards on stand-up paddle boards and one emergency motor boat.
While the record-breaking attempt is intended to boost awareness of the Lake Cowichan community and to support a local girl with health challenges, some residents have expressed concerns about the environmental impact of having a high volume of people on the river at once.
Frisby believes that additional environmental stress on the river should not be an issue, however, as the number of people is similar to what the Tube Shack sees on a busy day, and that the business takes regular steps to protect the river.
The tube rental service gives all of their customers ‘river safe sunscreen’ for free, and plan on giving participants of the record-breaking attempt extra education on how to protect the water from pollution.
“If we can get everyone to use the washroom and use the safe sunscreen, there’s no extra impact whatsoever,” said Frisby.
While dry weather has caused drought-like conditions in the area, the tube chain event is expected to proceed right on schedule.
According to Frisby, the river’s flow is controlled by a weir and is expected to keep at a steady 4.5 cubic centimetres per second all season, though water may need to be pumped into the river which is a first for the community.
“All the proceeds are going to go towards Charleigh Pollock [a girl in the community who is battling several health challenges],” said Frisby.
“So it’s not a money making event, it’s about putting Lake Cowichan on the map.”
Tube Shack World Record Attempt
- When: Sunday, July 21, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
- Where: Lake Cowichan River Tubing “The Tube Shack”, 109 Southshore Road
