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Hayley Bateup has a gruelling paddling world record on her mind, finds DUNCAN HORSCROFT
So, you think you're tough, do you ... well, try this quick quiz. Can you paddle a board for three hours to win a world championship? Are you fit enough to take on a gruelling 20-hours plus paddle with three teammates, from Florida to Cuba? And are you good enough to back that up with a 25km solo effort in Los Angeles.
If you answered yes to the above then you might be one of the few people who can provide competition for former Australian ironwoman and board paddling champion Hayley Bateup, because that's exactly what she has planned.
Bateup, who took out the ironwoman and board paddling titles in 2001 at the Australian Surf Life Saving Championships at Kurrawa, is flying to America at the end of June to prepare for the Cuba Crossing. Leaving from the Florida mainland on July 5, the crossing is expected to take around 20 hours for the 180km journey.
"I'll be doing it with a couple of girls from America and South Africa and we'll be trying to break the existing record of around 20 hours," says Bateup.
"We think it will be a world...