Meet SunButter Team Rider and professional ironwoman, Lucy Derbyshire. Originally from Glenelg in South Australia, Lucy moved to the Gold Coast in 2019 to chase her ironwoman dreams. She had her breakout season in 2020/21 when she won the NutriGrain Next Generation Series, qualifying her for the NutriGrain 2021/22 professional series. 18-year-old Lucy loves snorkelling, surfing, exploring different beaches and getting involved in the ocean any way that she can. She's also interested in photography and videography.
How did you get into what you’re doing?
I have always had a love for the ocean and water sports. I joined Nippers at age nine and came second in the swim at my first carnival. I had such a great day competing and hanging out with my friends. I loved the ocean and had a competitive drive from an early age!
What motivates you?
My goals. One day I want to be the best at what I do, so I’m willing to put in everything it takes to get there. Also, knowing that there are younger kids that I am inspiring to enjoy the ocean and reach for their goals.
Have you ever had a scary experience?
Definitely. When I first moved to the Gold Coast, I wasn’t used to big waves as I come from South Australia. Nearly every training I would get smashed! I spent a lot of time swimming after my board and getting held down by set waves. Those were some of the scariest experiences I’ve ever had!
What’s your most touching experience?
My most touching experience would be hugging my mum after I qualified for the Nutri Grain Ironwoman series. Mum has been there for me through thick and thin, so being able to share my moment with her is something I will never forget.
What’s your daily routine to stay in the zone?
For me staying in the zone is easy, I’m motivated, and I know what I want! When my 4:30AM alarm goes off for training in the morning I have no problem getting up and going to training because I love what I do!
Who in your field inspires you?
I’m lucky enough to train with some of the best surf athletes in the sport, but if I had to say one, it would be Courtney Hancock. Growing up in South Australia, she is the one all of us young girls idolised. Courtney has been in the series for 15 years, half her life, which is an outstanding achievement to be at the top for so long. She’s driven, hardworking, is an icon of our sport.
What’s your advice for anyone wanting to get involved?
Don’t be afraid to go out and give Surf Life Saving a go. I have learnt so much, made many friends and have the best memories from this sport. Even if you do not want to be competitive, surf clubs offer a great service for the community, it’s a good way to join in and meet new people.
If you had a billboard, what would it say?
Don’t let any person, any obstacle, any doubt, or negative voice keep you from becoming who you want to be.
If there was a one-word reminder that kept you going, what would it be?
Perseverance.
]]>Image: Harvie Allison / Harvpix
19-year-old Newcastle-based Kye Taylor is super passionate about surf life saving, water sports and the marine environment. He recently won the Kellogg's Nutri-Grain Under 19 Series — the pinnacle of Surf Life Saving Australia's elite sports program — and qualified to compete against 60 of Australia's fittest and fastest surf sporting athletes in the 2022 open Nutri-Grain Iron Man series.
How did you get into what you’re doing?
All my life I have been around the beach. I grew up on Blacksmiths beach where my Pop was heavily involved in Swansea Belmont surf club as the club's President. That reason, combined with my mother, aunty and uncle all growing up competing for Swansea Belmont saw me take up Nippers for the club. I really enjoyed it and still enjoy it 13 years later.
What motivates you?
I find most of my motivation from my mum. She is my rock and a big part of my success in this sport. To this day she still wakes me at 4am for swimming and makes sure I’m training hard and eating right. She also drives my craft to and from events.
Have you ever had a scary experience?
I haven’t encountered anything scary in terms of sharks or anything. However, when I was 16 I tore my ACL playing rugby league which was scary, as I didn’t know how long I’d be out of the surf.
Image: Harvie Allison / Harvpix
What’s your most touching experience?
When I qualified for the Ironman series, Mum and I shared a hug and shed a tear. For me, I’d say that was my most touching experience within this sport so far.
What’s your daily routine to stay in the zone?
My sport is so intense so when I’m training I try to always feel fresh and recover well. That means I have to get plenty of sleep and visit a recovery centre when I can. This allows me to reset and stay in the zone.
How do you continue to educate yourself?
At 19 years old, I am still young and learning from my idols, which I will be racing this year. I try to pick their minds, asking questions about racing and recovery. I want to learn all I can from them. With the upcoming Ironman series, the best way I’ll be able to educate myself is soaking up the whole experience.
Who in your field inspires you?
I have always looked up to Ky Hurst, one of the legends of our sport. I have watched all the YouTube videos of him competing from about my age and showing the bigger, older guys how it’s done. I feel like he really inspires me to do the same.
What’s your advice for anyone wanting to get involved?
If you are young enough, my advice would be to definitely give Nippers a go. You can make friends which will last a lifetime – I have and there are so many benefits being part of the surf life-saving community.
If you had a billboard, what would it say?
There’s more to life than traffic.
If there was a one-word reminder that kept you going, what would it be?
Inspire.
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Five minutes with... Beau Miles
Beau Miles is many things: award-winning filmmaker, outdoors man, offbeat adventurer and writer of books, just to name a few. Madman that he is, Beau recently spent 15 days travelling from mainland Australia to Tasmania in a sea kayak. He is also our newest ambassador, and we caught up with Beau to find out more about his world.
How did you get into what you're doing?
I've fallen into storytelling as a job. Not that I think of it that way most of the time, but if I'm to write anything on my incoming passenger card now-a-days (if I were to go overseas!), it would be Storyteller. Not to be wanky, but to simply say I write, make films, tell yarns — all of which can be batched together as storyteller. I'm not much good as a teacher, not really, but my one saving grace was that I tell stories while teaching, which is basically teaching via metaphors that are relatable, and often fun. Another way to put it; I enjoyed films like most people when growing up, and love a good book, so thought, “I'd like to do that”.
What is the edgiest experience you've had on the job?
Gee. I've had a bunch of close calls — which I often forget to learn hard and fast lessons from. A massive wave in South Africa was petrifying. Genuine, hardcore, scared to my bones, too-close. It became the opening chapter of my book and PhD, because I don't intend on repeating the experience — yet I'm glad I felt it, and came through the other side. Very much a Brad-Pitt-holding-a-gun-to-a-service-station-attendant's-head moment (Fight Club).
What is your most touching experience?
3:05pm, Oct 19th, 2019. May [my daughter] came along.
What motivates you?
Not sure. I mean, really, I'm not sure. I get asked this a lot and it's hard to pin down why I give a damn about anything; doing things, loving, loathing, writing, film making, being ambitious. It's all a bit of a mystery. But it's there, not broken, and so I simply go with it.
How do you continue to educate yourself?
I try to nudge my thresholds physically, emotionally and professionally, which is code for being active and busy, and always, without fail one-upping myself. I often called myself a polyjobist, a made up word that tries to exaggerate the fact that I like doing lots of things to a good level (I'm not smart enough to be a polymath — an expert at lots of things). Plus, I make a habit of hanging out with people who are good at what they do, and the odd bit rubs off.
Who in your field inspires you?
Athletes that seem humble (Mack Horton and Steph Gilmore types); Creatives that are uncompromising (Alejandro González Iñárritu — director of The Revenant and writer Paul Thoreaux types). I give a nod, and think about, people who do it tough that don't know how hard they have it. I know I have it good, easy, on-toast and both world famous doers and hard-nosed livers make me appreciate my patch.
What is your advice for anyone wanting to get involved in your field?
I don't really advise people. Not my game. My advice is to not be advised, as such. Do what you want because you never have to make a decision then (this is a bit flakey, but key to all this; trust yourself and take no prisoners into how you spend your time).
If there was a one-word reminder that encouraged you to keep going, what would it be?
You're okay (mate)
(ok, two words...well, three really).
]]>Ripping kitesurfer — and brand new SunButter ambassador — Peri Roberts is currently ranked #2 on the Kite World Tour. We love Peri for her can-do attitude and fiery passion for the ocean.
How did you get into what you’re doing?
I started kitesurfing after watching my Dad rip at a young age. He was and still is my biggest motivator... haven’t looked back since.
Have you ever had a scary experience?
Does getting dragged across a reef count? Scary experiences are kind of a common occurrence, but that’s what makes the sport so fun.
What’s your most touching experience?
Anytime someone comes up to me on the beach and says I’m an inspiration to them! I love that I inspire girls and guys to get out there and take charge! Also popping champagne on the podium, I’ll never forget that one.
What’s your advice for anyone wanting to get involved?
Find your local shop and get a lesson off them. Watch some good old YouTube videos and do your research. Kiting is for everyone!
What motivates you?
My drive to be the best I can be, taking influence and inspiration from others around me. Also the hunger to be #1 one day.
How do you continue to educate yourself?
Practice. Listening to my intuition and pushing myself out of the comfort zone. You learn by experience.
Who in your field inspires you?
The up-and-coming groms. I remember being a kid and having this desire to be the best. Seeing that as an adult now keeps me hyped, especially when the groms are bringing so much to the table these days.
What’s your message/mission statement?
Photo: Oliver Godbold
SunButter's newest ambassador is Michaela Davis-Meehan, an epic big mountain snowboarder currently on the Freeride World Ride, where she placed second this year. When Michaela's not in the snow she's in the surf or sky (paragliding) near her new home on the Mornington Peninsula, VIC.
How did you get into what you’re doing?
I come from a ski family and we always made trips to the snow from Newcastle. I started with Perisher Winter Sports Club when I was a teenager, and the rest is history!
What motivates you?
Having fun, being out in nature, having the ability to do what I love and of course winning!
Have you ever had a scary experience?
Every time I strap on my snowboard! It's all about the adrenaline and making the heart skip a few beats.
It's what I live for!
Photo: Tom Hoy
What’s your daily routine to stay in the zone?
What I love about being a traveller is there are no routines, you just go with the flow.
How do you continue to educate yourself?
I'm always looking for a new challenge, trying new things, meeting new people and currently I'm studying for my diploma in film and television.
Who in your field inspires you?
All the amazing people I ride and compete with! Going out riding with a bunch of friends, having a good time and pushing each other to go bigger and better inspires me every time!
...And my favourite snowboarder Travis Rice.
What’s your advice for anyone wanting to get involved?
Get out there and give it a crack!
DM me on Instagram, I have a Discover Freeride camp in the making and always happy to give advice.
What’s your message/mission statement?
Surf, Snowboard, Have Fun.
If you had a billboard, what it would it say?
Just Wing It.
If there was a one-word reminder that kept you going, what would it be?
POWDER]]>
SunButter ambassador Kale Brock — or @kalesbroccoli, as he's known in the Instagram world — is an award nominated-writer, film producer, speaker and free surfer with a special interest in health and wellbeing. You can check out Kale's Youtube surf channel ~ How To Rip.
How did you get into what you’re doing?
What motivates you?
Have you ever had a scary experience?
What’s your most touching experience?
What’s your daily routine to stay in the zone?
How do you continue to educate yourself?
Who in your field inspires you?
How did you get into what you’re doing?
I started roller skating at a young age, my Dad use to take me to all my lessons and competitions as a kid, I already loved the sensation of rolling. I was a competitive skater as a kid and when I was 16 I left the sport to explore the world. At the age of 22 (to cut a long story short) I got back into skating but just wanted to do it for fun and health and thus I started my business @rollerfit.
Have you ever had a scary experience?
Yes. I I sailed with my brother, my one-year-old niece and sister in-law Cosmos from Vanuatu to Australia. It was supposed to be a chilled trade winds sales nine-day passage, but we hit some very intense weather. We got to Australia 12 days later alive. It was so scary !
What’s your daily routine to stay in the zone?
It changes depending on the month and year haha but at the moment, grabbing a coffee at my local cafe in the small town I live in and walking out of the house with my headphones and listening to some good tunes. #paulkelly
Who in your field inspires you?
So, so, so many! However right now it's two main groups: The owner of Moxi Roller Skates and the #moxiskateteam, Estrojen. Look her up on Instagram and you will see why! GOALS in skating, GOALS in running a business. And all the NEW people coming into roller skating — beginners are so inspiring in the way they pick up a new activity and make it their own.
If you had a billboard, what it would it say?
Sometimes the bravest, most important thing you can do is just show up.
If there was a one word reminder that kept you going, what is it?
SKATE
]]>How did you get into what you’re doing?
I think my passion for the ocean led me to the path I am on today. I must admit I have done many random jobs (e.g. scrubbing bush drop toilets) which somehow ended up leading me to photography and television for natural history. It's been a wild ride and I can't wait to see where it goes next.
What motivates you?
Conservation, the ocean and the great outdoors is definitely what motivates me. I am pretty lucky to live in Exmouth WA which is a hotspot for all things ocean and wildlife. Going into the unknown to see what you can capture every day to put towards conservation is pretty special. I also work on a whale shark/humpback whale swim boat and seeing the thrill and joy on peoples face's the first time they see one of these incredible creatures is so motivating and I want to continue helping to spreading this joy. It's important for people to see and experience so they realise how special the underwater world is and that we should protect it for years to come. Also my partner Dre is super motivating. He is always teaching me new things, pushing me to chase my dreams and is pretty much my life coach hahaha a lot of what I know has come from him.
Have you ever had a scary experience?
I think everyone who works in or around the ocean has some pretty salty stories to tell hahaha. I think one of my scariest experiences was during a kayak tour working on the west coast. It started off as a glassy, no wind day and about half way through the tour about 1km off shore the wind started blowing about 25 knots northerly due to a change in course from a passing tropical cyclone which wasn't forecasted. Kayaks were flipping left right and centre and I had a guy on tour who was paralysed from the waist down on the kayak tour. His kayak flipped and he was held under water for quite some time before I could get over there and flip the kayak back the right way (he was strapped in to the kayak for balance). No one was hurt on the tour, but it taught me to never be complacent as I was feeling pretty relaxed with how the morning was going before this point. It taught me that no matter what nature is always powerful and you should always be ready for whatever it can throw at you.
What’s your most touching experience?
I must admit I have been very blessed with touching experiences with wildlife, the animals really make my heart happy. One that sticks in my mind however is from some years ago when I was in Indonesia. I was out on a morning run and came across a a turtle nest being washed away with the tide and turtle eggs were flowing into the ocean. I was young at the time — 18 — and didn't have much experience with conservation back then so I called over some locals and asked what to do. They told me to dig up the eggs and carry them across the island to the turtle sanctuary. So we dug up 140 turtle eggs which I put in a box filled with sand. I then started running across the island to the turtle sanctuary. The message had spread across the island and all the locals were yelling out "turtle girl this way this way". It would of been a sight — me legging it carrying a huge box salty and sandy as heck but I made it to the sanctuary and they were ready with a hole to put the eggs back into as soon as possible. I hope at least one of the turtles survived, I don't think I have ever run so fast in all my life! As we went to leave the sanctuary that day, another nest they had at the sanctuary hatched and we got to watch the babies run down to the ocean. It was almost like a special thank you!
How do you continue to educate yourself?
Someone once told me to learn something new every day and I definitely try to. I think reading and volunteering are great ones to learn as well as just talking to people. I think it's always important to listen to what others have to say that is the best way of learning for me.
What’s your advice for anyone wanting to get involved?
Something I have definitely learnt over the years is to accept opportunities that come your way no matter how weird or hard they may seem. I never knew what was coming my way before I moved to Exmouth. The first job I took was a housekeeping job in the national park and part of that was scrubbing the drop dunnies but, you know, that led to tour guiding, underwater photography and presenting for National Geographic so yeah just go with your gut and make a positive experience out of everything and it will always work out how it's meant to.
Also volunteering for anything you want to get into is a great way to start because you learn the ins and outs, network and meet people working in a field you want to get in to and usually end up having heaps of fun and learning so much. A lot of the wildlife conservation filming/photography I have done started as volunteer and then turned into jobs later on.
What’s your message/mission statement?
Protect what you love. To me that's the ocean and its creatures. It was my first love and it will be my last. Even doing a little ends up going a long way.
If there was a one word reminder that kept you going, what is it?
When the going gets tough, the tough gets going. This is something my parents used to say to me as a kid and I think it applies to everyone you keep going because you will get there in the end yew!
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Based in Western Australia’s Exmouth, Andre Rerekura is a photographer-videographer, freediver, surfer and SunButter ambassador.
How did you get into what you’re doing? It was a hobby and passion which has slowly turned into my dream job.
What motivates you? Learning more and more about what you love, it seems to be endless, it keeps me going and pushing harder. There are a lot of inspiring things and people out there.
Have you ever had a scary experience? I've had a few close calls underwater, I was caught on the bottom surfing once, there was lots of water movement from big swell which made it really hard to reach my leg to release my legrope. It was on the third attempt that I was able to get it off.
What’s your most touching experience? There are thousands of touching moments, most of them lay beneath the ocean. My most recent would be a mother and calf humpback whale encounter. It was a super clear and beautiful day off Exmouth. I noticed the mother pass about 20 metres from me, I was actually talking to her and then they both suddenly turned and swam directly at me, I couldn't do much but lay still so I would pump them with my fins trying to swim out of the road, The mother swam under my belly and the calf moved its pec fin over my head. It made me realise how in touch they are with there surroundings and how much they have such a minimal impact on the planet.
What’s your daily routine to stay in the zone? I seem to always wake up with the sun, make my bed and then either a run on the beach with Nush and the doggo or a little surf — but that's only when I have a routine in Exmouth. Most the time it's just non-stop and routine is out the window ha ha.
How do you continue to educate yourself? Working with other people and youtube ha ha throwing yourself in the deep end can make you learn quickly, too. I have been involved in a lot of research film projects where I always learn lots about marine life, the area we are in etc.
Who in your field inspires you? Nush always inspires me, she is a go-getter, super smart and so creative, she makes things look easy. She never puts here self first and she is so caring.
Russel Ord has always inspired me, he is so unreal in his field of work and always teaching himself new things and mixing it up. He is great at creating work and projects in a friendly way — he always seems to become good mates with the client and always delivers.
Ryan Chatfield never ceases to amaze me. He is one of the most creative humans i know and his work just gets better and better, I love working with him because I learn so much, he juggles work and family life so well.
What’s your advice for anyone wanting to get involved? Just chase what you love doing and don't stop, help out whenever you can as you never know where it can take you, never expect anything and life will always have great surprises.
What’s your message/mission statement? We only have one planet, it's amazing and should be appreciated. It's great to protect what you love.
]]>Marine biologist, ocean advocate, wildlife guide and SunButter ambassador Alice Forrest shares how she got to where she is and what keeps her going.
How did you get into what you’re doing?
I actually started in this job after meeting the awesome founders of Sunbutter Tom and Sacha! I was looking for a way to work in my field (marine biology) and was feeling disillusioned with the world of science and academia. So it was a gamechanger to learn about work as an expedition guide, taking people to wild places and teaching them about the wildlife (and hopefully using it as a platform to create change).
In a broader sense, I got involved in marine conservation because I spent time in the ocean, was constantly astounded by the magic to be experienced there, and wanted to be part of protecting it and caring for it. To me it feels like a responsibility to give back to this planet that gives us so much!
Have you ever had a scary experience?
All the time!! I think if you're not scared frequently then you're not making the most of this one wild and precious life. I try to do things that scare me as often as possible, most recently that has been driving Zodiacs through ice in Antarctica and learning to paraglide, but it doesn't have to be something over the top. Just getting outside your comfort zone is the best place to learn and grow.
What’s your most touching experience?
While visiting Tonga several years ago, I was snorkelling with a particularly curious baby humpback whale. She swam right up next to me, twirling and almost dancing under the water. We locked eyes and for a moment we twirled and danced together. It's moments like those that keep me motivated forever to keep protecting the ocean, just to protect that one magical baby whale.
What’s your advice for anyone wanting to get involved?
Do what you love doing, don't let people tell you that you need to have a "real job" or that there's a certain path you need to be following. Don't limit yourself, and aim for exceptional goals. Volunteer with groups that are already working in the field that you're interested in, whether that's dive cleanups or monkey conservation or environmental engineering. Never stop learning.
What’s your message/mission statement?
Protect what you love. Get out into nature, interact with wild creatures, get salty or breathe in fresh mountain air. Connect to your backyard or to the most remote locations. And remember that we are an integral and connected part of it all. Falling in love with this magical planet we live on is the best motivation to keep fighting to protect it.
]]>Rachael Walshe tells us about the journey that led her to be accepted onto eXXpedition — an all-women voyage to help clean up plastic in the ocean
I was raised in rural Australia, where our reliance on a healthy environment, clean waterways and understanding of natural processes was a necessity to thrive. In the Australian bush, life is spent outdoors and under the sun, much like the coast — except that you can't escape the flies, your dam is your swimming hole and you’re usually covered in some form of dirt.
Fast forward a decade and a change of scenery, I found myself on the Sunshine Coast, where everything I learnt as a child had come full circle. My upbringing in the pristine Australian bush had pushed me towards a degree in Environmental Management at the University of the Sunshine Coast. I quickly realised that not all people were as lucky as I had been, and that for the children of today and tomorrow, seeing litter is an accepted part of daily life. It dawned on me that living a low-to-zero waste lifestyle was the only logical way for me to live. After many attempts and multiple fails, I could genuinely say I really was doing all I could to reduce plastic consumption.
Or was I? I was living a specific lifestyle, but I wasn’t that doing much for the broader community. So, using my network at university I began hosting fundraising events aimed at preventing plastic pollution, organising and participating in beach clean-ups and looking into what I could do in the citizen science realm. That's when I found eXXpedition's all-women, round the world voyage looking at plastic pollution and community outreach.
eXXpedition Round the World is an all-women sailing voyage and research mission that covers over 38,000 nautical miles and 30 voyage legs starting and ending in the United Kingdom. After a lengthy interview and selection process I was finally in and part of what we call a 'sea-sterhood’. The sea-sterhood is really out there, researching plastic pollution in our oceans (where all plastic ultimately ends up) and raising awareness as we go. Onboard S.V. TravelEdge, eXXpedition crews will explore plastics and toxics in our ocean, via four of the five oceanic gyres and the Arctic.
Connected by a passion for protecting our shared ocean, it is enabling 300 women to experience and witness the effects of what plastic is really doing to our beloved earth and participate in science missions that are supporting broader research projects. eXXpedition is about community, creating a cleaner future for tomorrow and embracing the abilities of women all over the world!
After I’d been accepted it hit me that I would be out on the high seas for ten days, sailing from Vanuatu to Cairns, under the harsh sun that us Australians know all too well. I've used eco-friendly, tinned zincs for a while now while but had yet to find a sunscreen that could cover me head to toe and ticked all the boxes. Some are reef-safe, some are zero waste and eco-friendly, some feel like butter on the skin… but few are all three. That's when I found and then reached out to SunButter, an Australian company whose product ticked every box; it even ticked my box of using local Australian products. I take the threat of sun safety quite seriously, and I have always found myself compromising in the sunscreen department, mostly due to the plastic waste it created. Knowing that I can go on this epic adventure using products that align so well with both my own and eXXpedition’s values is a huge win for me.
I love the water and anything that gets me close to it really brings me home. Still, I've never been sailing, and I will be one of the few people on eXXpedition that hasn’t been at sea for more than a night or two. After all, I grew up 500 kilometres from the ocean. This is all entirely new to me and I will admit, it makes me incredibly nervous. Stepping outside my comfort zone here with the world watching is daunting, but having a community who is so supportive gives me the determination to embrace any challenge this adventure throws at me. I can't wait to depart Port Vila on June 5 with eXXpedition, and I am even more excited to be entering Australian waters with the team. I think what excites me most is that I'm doing justice to my younger self and her dream of ensuring that other children get to experience the environment in the way most of us did: clean and plastic-free.
I'll check in once I am back, until then, you can follow the journey on eXXpedition’s social media, or you can help my journey financially here. Regardless, your well wishes for what I am sure will be an exciting, educational, fulfilling and probably challenging time are most definitely accepted!