Woollamia stand-up paddle boarder Nathan Cross is in Hawaii taking on the world in the sport he has excelled in at the NSW and Australian level in the last 12 months.
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Mr Cross flew to Hawaii last Tuesday to compete in a 42 kilometre endurance race this weekend which leads up to the 52km Molokai 2 Oahu paddle board world championship event. It is billed as “the world’s most challenging paddle race”.
The young plumber only started stand up paddle boarding a few years ago. Developing a passion for the sport he entered local competitions and then a NSW competitions before making it to the national level and finishing in the top 10.
International sponsorship from Blue Planet followed for Mr Cross and his girlfriend Skyla Raynor to represent the brand in Australia.
Ms Raynor is a paddle surfer who recently won the NSW title. Mr Cross recently finished in the top six and will compete in the next Australian title.
Their sponsorship takes them to places like Europe where they have just returned from more international events. Racing in Hawaii between islands brings its own challenges. It can involve negotiating some very large waves.
“We paddle around 10 kilometres in an hour,” Mrs Cross said. That means the 52km race will take about five hours to compete in open water.
The couple have ventured into paddle board design and Ms Raynor is now working for Blue Planet as a photographer and posts many of her shots on social media to promote the brand.
Matt Cross, of Wollongong and Dolphin Watch Cruises in Jervis Bay, said his son “travels almost full time for his sport”.
Greg Ellis
Almost four decades in electronic, print and digital media. A writer, presenter, emcee, photographer and videographer with degrees in business management, marketing and human resources and tertiary qualifications in photography.
Almost four decades in electronic, print and digital media. A writer, presenter, emcee, photographer and videographer with degrees in business management, marketing and human resources and tertiary qualifications in photography.
