• Submitted by: lena campos
• Sports
• 08 / 03 / 2013

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A Tennessee musician became the first paddleboarded to cross the Florida Straits between Cuba and the United States, making the 177 km journey in 28 hours as his father watched from a support boat.

Ben Friberg, 35, arrived in Key West dehydrated and exhausted but otherwise in good shape.

He said he faced some challenges but tried to focus on the beauty he encountered along the way.

Before leaving Cuba on Thursday, Friberg said he was doing this to "promote peace and understanding" between Cuba and the United States and to promote a healthy lifestyle.

The guitarist and band leader from Chattanooga stood on his 14-foot-long board for most of the trip, sitting only for quick snacks.

The crew of the support boat that accompanied him on the journey included a medic and a navigator.

Source: Timesofmalta.com