Extreme Dreams is a showcase for Dean Dunbar, blind adventurer
Two years after being registered blind, at the age of 29, Dean did a charity tandem skydive which changed his life.
Since then he has notched up over 100 activities around the world, ranging from adventure racing to zorbing, and set almost 25 world firsts in activities ranging from open-water swimming to stand up paddle-boarding.
And there’s more, over 80 challenges in fact…!
Click on any challenge for the full write-up:
LATEST ADVENTURES 
For the last 4 or 5 years, the majority of my adventures have been built around stand up paddleboarding, (SUP). But due to a foot injury caused in the Autumn of 2018 that is refusing to go away, I will be mixing things up for 2019.
Hopefully there will still be some SUP, but there will also be some climbing, swimming, prone-boarding, cycling, and several other things in the pipeline.
I can’t wait to get this year started!
To find out more, watch this space
VIDEO FEATURES 
Here are the latest videos featuring Dean’s adventures: Click here to go to the 
channel
STAND UP PADDLE (SUP) BLOG 
27th December 2018
Loch Tummel, Scotland
Thanks to Piotr – Outdoor Explore – who got me up to a glassy calm Loch Tummel for a paddle. This was my first SUP since my Plantar Fasciitis issue at the SUP 11 City in September.
Unfortunately after 100m the PF was back, and by 3km it was excruciating.
However, I had a plan. With the air and water temperatures around 5 degrees, I took off my neoprene socks to paddle bare-foot. I reckoned, wet or dry, my feet will freeze fairly quickly, and if I can’t feel my feet, Read more…
Read the full Stand Up Paddle Blog here
LATEST NEWS 
- September – Dean and Patrick Winterton will be teaming up again for “Deano & Paddy’s 2019 Adventure”. But don’t tell anyone, it’s a secret!
- jUNE – Dean and friends will be making the most of the longest day. To find out more, watch this space.
- June – Dean and Rhona will be joining the Nairn Academy Duke of Edinburgh Silver Award group on their final training SUP expedition weekend.
- March 2nd – Dean did his first mountain bike trail blue route. Blind and daft? CLICK HERE.
- March 1st – Dean was one of the speakers at the Braemar Mountain Festival.
- February 26th – Dean & Rhona spent the day with the wonderful folk at Craggan Outdoors, doing some rock climbing and archery.
- October 23rd – Dean was interviewed by Connect Radio. Find out more HERE.
- September 1st – Dean was back at the SUP 11 City non-stop event for a 2nd year, but again, things didn’t go to plan. Read about it HERE.
- August 28th – Gayle Ritchie of the Courier wrote a great wee article about Dean – CLICK HERE.
- July 5th – Dean was a presenter at the Duke of Edinburgh Gold Awards at Holyrood Palace.
- June 23rd – Dean, Allistair, Alison, and Rhona were at the Windermere Summer Solstice race on a Red Paddle Dragon board, in preparation for the 11 City in SUPtember. Click HERE.
- June 5th – Dean and Patrick joined forces to tell both sides of how last years’ first ever SUP to St Kilda adventure went – Birnam Arts.
- May 27th – The Daily Record did a wee article about Dean’s upcoming SUP 11 City challenge. Click HERE.
- May 24th – Dean joined the Nairn Academy Duke of Edinburgh Awards group for a 3 day SUP expedition training session. Read more HERE.
- May 23rd – British Canoeing did a wee article about Dean’s passion for SUP. Click HERE.
- April 15th – Dean & Rhona joined old friends Carl & Maria Sawyer on a Dragon at the Head of the Dart SUP Challenge. Read more HERE.
- January 9th – TotalSUP have written an article about last years’ St Kilda SUP. Read more HERE.
SPONSORS
These sponsors have been a tremendous help in supplying kit and support for my challenges.
PUBLIC SPEAKING
Having taken on almost 100 challenges around the world and set over 25 world firsts, Dean has a large repertoire to draw upon. Whether it be talking about becoming the first person to abseil the UK’s highest waterfall, or swim the UK’s highest loch, or being the first registered blind person to stand up paddle-board from the Scilly Isles to Cornwall, or bungee jump from a helicopter, Dean has many experiences to share.
First person in the world:
- Stand Up Paddleboard, (SUP), to the archipelago of St Kilda, with Patrick Winterton – 2017
- Stand Up Paddleboard, (SUP), around the Isle of Bute, with Allistair Swinsco – 2016
- Stand Up Paddleboard, (SUP), the longest lakes of Scotland, England, and Wales, with Ian Cormack & Allistair Swinsco – 2016
- Stand Up Paddleboard, (SUP), the 150km long Argyll Sea Kayak Trail, with Allistair Swinsco & Ian Cormack – 2016
- Stand Up Paddle-board, (SUP), UK’s longest freshwater lake/loch – 2015
- Stand Up Paddle-board, (SUP), 50km from the Isles of Scilly to the UK mainland on an inflatable SUP, with Carl Sawyer – 2015
- Stand Up Paddle-board, (SUP), around the island of Kerrera, with Cathy Winterton – 2015
- Stand Up Paddle-board, (SUP), the UK’s highest loch, Loch Etchachan – 2014
- Speed ride two-up on 1 set of skis – with Ueli Kestenholz – 2014
- Swim the UK’s highest loch/lake – 2012
- Aquaseil the UK’s highest waterfall – with Ben Starkie & Graeme Reid – 2009
- Hydrospeed the full length of Scotland’s longest river – with Rhona – 2007
First blind person in the world:
- Stand Up Paddle-board, (SUP), 92km non-stop Great Glen Paddle Challenge – 2016
- Stand Up Paddle-board, (SUP), 50km from the Isles of Scilly to the UK mainland – 2015
- Flyboard – 2015
- Stand Up Paddle-board, (SUP), the full 92km of the Caledonian Canal – 2014
- Swim across the wonderful Firth of the Forth – 2014
- Stand Up Paddle-board, (SUP), Loch Tay, solo – 2014
- Participate in the exhausting Oban Sea Kayak Race – with Patrick Winterton – 2012
- Swim across the mighty Corryvreckan Gulf – 2011
- Traverse Sa Fosca, (1 of the world’s top 10 canyons) – 2010
- Set a Thundercat powerboat record around the Isle of Wight – 2006
- Participate in the gruelling 5 day Hebridean Challenge Adventure Race – 2005
- Be thrown by a Human Catapult – 2002
- White water sledge the world’s highest commercially rafted waterfall – 2001
- Bungee jump from a helicopter – 2000
Copyright © 2002- Extreme Dreams.
Remember that participating in any extreme or adventure sport is potentially dangerous. All activities are undertaken at your own risk. extremedreams.co.uk accepts no responsibility for accidents or injury caused by or resulting from participation in the sports covered on this site.