08/14/2026
Prone paddleboarder Matthew Limtiaco and Kayaker Greg Maino paddled 20 miles across the widest point of Lake Champlain from Burlington Surf Club in Burlington, VT, to Port Douglas, New York, and back on August 13th, marking the first annual “Champlain Crossing”. Prone paddleboards are relatively rare in the Northeast Kingdom, but Matt sees Lake Champlain as a perfect training ground for the growing sport. “It has everything from beautiful scenery on glassy days to challenging bumps on screaming downwinders. It’s just you and the board- no paddle, no extra gear- you’re really close to the water line and feel connected with nature.” The crossing took just over five hours, and the only prize Matt and Greg earned was a rock plucked from the shore of Port Douglas. “I couldn’t have done it without my buddy Greg Maino.” Matt expressed, “He’s an endurance freak, and super enthusiastic. That’s exactly what you need to paddle 20 miles!”
