Charles’s respect for the ocean and it’s many moods began at a very young age, growing up in South Africa and living by the sea, he first became involved in nippers at the age of eight and went on to be a long term member of the Woodridge Surf Lifesaving Club. He has participated in many ocean sports events, including surfing, long distance surf-ski racing and open ocean long distance swimming – including two Liquifruit Long Distance Swimming Championships in 1992 and 1993, where he placed 4th and 5th respectively out of a field of over 60 swimmers.
His love for the outdoors and its many challenges started at an early age as he attended an outdoor education boarding school (Woodridge College), located in the bush outside Port Elizabeth, on the banks of the Van Stadens River. Here he gained many skills from abseiling right through to bush survival techniques.
After finishing school, he enrolled in the South African Naval Marines – from July 1984 to July 1986 – were he attended Special Forces Training for nine months. After training he was deployed for a three month tour of duty, on the old South African borders with Angola, Zambia and Botswana, in the Caprivi Region, based at Katimo Mulilo. His duties were border patrols and river patrols on the Zambezi River. During this time he was decorated with the Pro Patria Medal, which is awarded to servicemen whose direct actions helped to suppress and prevent terrorism attacks against South African citizens. He was also awarded with the Marine Breast Badge for services to the division.
After developing his outdoor skills to a very high level, Charles became a keen participant in endurance sports, often pushing himself well beyond normal levels of endurance.
Competing in many marathons including six full marathons with a PB of 2.58 in 1987. He also competed in two ultra-marathons, the Comrades’s Marathon in 1986 over 88.7kms (which is regarded as the hardest ultra-marathon in the world) and the Settlers Marathon over 60kms in 1987. He has also competed in a number of half-marathons, including two Point To Pinnacles in 2002 and 2005 – which is claimed to be Australia’s hardest half-marathon. He has also competed in a number of team triathlons as the team swimmer. As part of his training for this event he will be running his third Point To Pinnacle.
