Paddle boarder off to world champs
Jamie Andrews first represented New Zealand when he was 14 years old and at 41 he still has his eye on the prize – being the best in the world.
The Taranaki man is getting ready to fly to Central America to compete in the 2019 International Surfing Association’s Stand Up Paddle Board (Sup) World Champs.
Andrews, who is the current national open sup champ and Ma¯ ori open champ, only took up the sport in the last decade and competed in his first international sup competition last year.
He is heading over with a small group of New Zealanders and said the team aspect is something he loves most – alongside pushing himself against other athletes.
‘‘I just can’t wait to go against the best in the world again,’’ Andrews said.
But first, he has to raise the $6000 he needs to attend. ‘‘And that’s without food.’’ Andrews first represented the country in surfing in 1994 and has done so on and off ever since.
‘‘You can’t afford to go every year,’’ he said. ‘‘I’ve been representing New Zealand since I was 14. I’m now 41 and I’m asking the same people for money.’’
Andrews didn’t have money organised to travel this year as he’d hoped the world champs would be held in his home town, which is his dream. But when El Salvador was named as the location, Andrews realised he didn’t have the funds ready.
‘‘I knew I’d made the team – I already knew I was first pick,’’ he said. ‘‘Now it’s two weeks off.’’
Andrews said he has a number of friends who help him out.
He’s selling raffle tickets this time around, but is also asking the community to give him a hand.
■ A Givealittle page – ‘Get Jamie ‘Chip’ to the ISA Sup World Championships’ – has been set up to help raise money for Andrews.