In an unexpected spectacle on Friday, a paddleboarder navigated the Hudson River, which was still dotted with icy patches, while wearing a backpack. Those who witnessed the scene were left in disbelief.
Eddie Freiberg, a 55-year-old real estate broker based in Greenpoint, was in the midst of showing an apartment on the Upper West Side when his clients drew his attention to a curious sight. There, in the middle of the Hudson, appeared a figure gliding along on a paddleboard.
“My client exclaimed, ‘Oh my God, look at that!’” Freiberg recalled, clearly still amused by the surprise.
Indeed, the paddleboarder was making his way down the river, seemingly unfazed by the icy conditions. Adding to the intrigue, Freiberg noted that the man wasn’t dressed in a wetsuit, instead sporting a backpack as he paddled.
With a touch of humor, Freiberg speculated that perhaps the paddleboarder was en route to the Financial District for a day at work with Morgan Stanley.
He joked that maybe the man was “going to the Financial District for his job at Morgan Stanley.”
“It’s pretty wild. I’m born and raised in New York City, I’ve never seen anything like that on the Hudson,” Freiberg said.
The offbeat encounter unfortunately wasn’t impressive enough to help seal the deal with his clients, but he fondly reflected on the “fun, silly, wacky New York City moment.”
“He looked like he was a professional. I wasn’t nervous for him, like me paddleboarding anywhere. He was definitely an expert, and he was ahead of the ice,” Freiberg said.
“I hope he is out there every day,” he added.
The FDNY said they didn’t receive any calls relating to the paddleboarder. It’s unclear where he was heading.
The Hudson River was approximately 31 degrees on Friday, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Stunned viewers joked that the man’s creative commuting method was “still faster than the train.”
“And cheaper!” another added on X.
The mystery man on the Hudson isn’t the first New Yorker to brave the river in the dead of winter.
In 2018, Scott Holt, a self-described “struggling comedian” from Jersey City, hopped on his paddleboard and cut through the choppy waters to make a meeting in Manhattan.
Stefani Jackenthal, a former pro cyclist, started coasting on the waters every few weeks over the winter in 2021 to cope with the COVID-19 craziness. She said she heard “the Hudson calling me” and used the unconventional workout “to exhaust myself.”
