Spanish adventurer Antonio de la Rosa has a new and ambitious project: to become the first person to cross the Northwest Passage paddling solo on a stand-up paddleboard. The expedition is planned for July to September 2026.
What is the Northwest Passage?
It is a sea route that connects the Atlantic Ocean with the Pacific Ocean through Canada’s Arctic archipelago. For centuries, European explorers tried unsuccessfully to find it, as ice permanently blocked the passage. It wasn’t until 1906 that Norwegian Roald Amundsen managed to complete the crossing after a difficult three-year expedition.
The details of the challenge
Antonio de la Rosa plans to cover the approximately 4,000 kilometers of the route completely alone, propelled solely by oars. The journey will begin in the Baffin Sea (between Greenland and Canada) and end in the Beaufort Sea (off Alaska).
To achieve this, a special prototype inflatable paddleboard is currently being developed. This vessel must be durable enough to withstand the extreme conditions of the Arctic, have room to store two months’ worth of provisions, and be stable enough to navigate in ice-covered waters.
A dual-purpose objective
Beyond the physical and athletic challenge, this expedition has an important mission to raise environmental awareness. The fact that this journey is possible by paddleboard is mainly due to the melting of the ice caused by climate change.
Antonio will document the effects of global warming on the Arctic during his journey, providing firsthand evidence of the transformation this area of the planet is undergoing. Their adventure, therefore, seeks not only to make history, but also to raise awareness of the urgency of taking action against the climate crisis.
We will closely follow the preparations for this incredible project.
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