Sarah Kanowski

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Playing is the quickest, of course.

Lots of people love a road trip.

One of my brothers did it by bicycle.

But so far, there are only five people who have paddled their way around the whole of Australia.

Bonnie Hancock took on sharks, crocodiles, sea snakes, sunburn, six-metre swells, an incredibly sore bum and unrelenting seasickness in her quest to be the youngest and the fastest person to circumnavigate Australia on a surf ski.

It was a gruelling 12,700 kilometre journey, one that Bonnie had to make in her own head as well as with her body, and one which was only possible through the support of a dedicated crew, including her husband, a family of sailing Kiwis, and two gold prospectors with their fishing boat, Good Vibes.

Hi, Bonnie.

Hi, Sarah.

It's so lovely to be on here with you.

It is lovely and quite astonishing to have you here.

I'm glad you're here on dry land next to me.

Bonnie, a lot of us tried new stuff during COVID, you know, whether it was baking sourdough or maybe knitting.

How did COVID lead you to this idea of paddling around Australia?

Absolutely.

Well, that gut feeling, that push to achieve something, you first had that as a kid around being an Iron Woman.

How did you chase that goal, that earlier athletic goal?