It was always a dream of Tara Hope’s to represent New Zealand and now the Richmond paddle boarder is set to do just that.
Tara’s selection this year in the New Zealand Standup Paddle Boarding (SUP) team was “very exciting” and will see her heading overseas for the first time since she was a child.
The annual World Standup and Prone Paddle Boarding Championships will be hosted by China on Hainan Island from November 23 until December 3.
Hainan is the smallest and southern most province of China known for its balmy weather, coconut palms and gold-sand beaches.
“I’m really happy to be going. I thought being selected for the national team was going to be a long shot,” says Tara.
Competing in the distance and surf race, Tara may also have an opportunity to compete in a team relay and a 200metre sprint.
“It’s going to be amazing, seeing and meeting all the people I’ve looked up to since I started paddling.”
A virtually nil-funded sport, Tara has been juggling her intensive training regime with raising funds toward the cost of competing at the world championships.
Hosting quiz nights and sausage sizzles, it’s been all go for the sensational paddle boarder.
SUP is the fastest-growing water sport in the world and has a steady increase in participants from the Tasman region who can often be found on the water at Tara’s training sites of Tahunanui beach and Rabbit Island.
“I give myself an outside chance, but I’ll give it my all. Just being able to compete at this level and represent New Zealand is so exciting.”