Twelve-year-old Earle van der Watt from Strand Nippers has etched his name in the record books, becoming the youngest person on record to complete the virtual Molokai2Oahu (M2O) paddleboard challenge.
The determined young athlete paddled an impressive 26 km solo on his 8-foot malibu board, navigating the waters from Rooi Els to Strand on Sunday 6 April.
The annual M2O race is a gruelling 52 km open-ocean paddleboarding event between the islands of Molokai and Oahu in Hawaii, famously known as the “Channel of Bones”.
While Earle, a Grade 7 learner at Beaumont Primary School, tackled a virtual version of the challenge closer to home, his accomplishment is no less significant, showcasing incredible endurance and dedication for someone his age.
His father, Earle senior, said his son had dreamed of such an accomplishment for a long time, and lots of hard work and practice paid off in an amazing achievement.
“Having the Alpha Surf Lifesaving Club team there made everyone feel safe and confident in the water. The sea was really big with huge waves, especially past Kogel Bay, which made some parts of the paddle very tough,” the proud father recalled.
“But when he reached Gordon’s Bay and could see Strand in the distance, he seemed to get a burst of new energy. He just kept paddling with all his focus.”
In the end, Earle paddled an incredible 27 km instead of the planned 26 km.
When he finally arrived in Strand, all his young Nipper friends were there waiting to cheer him on.
“It was a big celebration, and everyone was so impressed by what he had done. What’s even funnier is that after being in the water for five and a half hours, he still had enough energy to go bodyboarding with his friends afterwards!”
This extraordinary achievement is a testament to Earle’s rigorous training regime.
He hones his aquatic skills with a demanding schedule that includes pool swimming five days a week, water polo, lifesaving, and surfing for enjoyment.
Remarkably, Earle is in the water or surf every weekday, demonstrating an unwavering passion for water sports. He is already focused on his next challenge: the upcoming South African National Junior Age Group Swimming Championships, which will be held at the University of the Western Cape at the end of this month (April).
“I don’t know my next challenge, but I want to see what awaits me. Maybe there’s something new like big-wave surfing,” the talented youth quipped.
