ADVENTURE WITH A PURPOSE

Not everyone would choose to swap the hustle and bustle of life in London for weeks of the unknown at sea, but Sian Sykes isn’t everyone. In May 2018, Sykes became the first person to circumnavigate Wales by SUP, solo and unsupported, on her journey to educate and inspire others to fight against the marine litter crisis, one the most significant threats to our oceans today. Sykes spent two months traveling 1000 kilometers via canal, river, and sea with nothing more than two dry bags, discovering the beauty and kindness of her home country while learning how little is needed for her own happiness.

Words: Sian Sykes

“Eight million pieces of plastic enter our oceans every day!” I was born in Wales, where my childhood was filled with adventure; I was wild camping at three weeks old and grew up swimming in the sea, climbing trees, exploring the gwyllt, and hiking up mountains. I was fascinated by the sea. My mother joked that I was a little mermaid, for being close to the water made me sparkle and shine, and made it her mission to educate me about the environment. She told me that I had a voice and inspired me to reduce my impact on the environment by boycotting certain brands, teaching that positive change was possible even by doing something small. During my 20s I headed to London to work in advertising. Immersed in the hustle and…

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Kayak Session (Digital) - 1 Issue, SUP World magazine 2019

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