Radio Check: Lizzie Welborn

Thought we'd catch up with one of our favorites from Sydney, Australia. You might recognize Lizzie from watching the Iron Series, her incredible performances at Molokai, or following along with her and Harriet Brown's education program, KaMana Community. Whether she is competing at the highest level or mentoring the next generation of athletes, Lizzie is inspirational both on and off the board. Here's Lizzie!

Where do you keep your paddleboards/ gear/ quiver set-up?

As I am an ironwoman and paddleboarder, I am lucky to have gear scattered all over the world. The main place I store my ironwoman gear is at my surf club at Newport SLSC in Sydney. I also have a set at home in my garage (this is my racing gear, so I like to keep it safely tucked away at home). I have a 16ft paddleboard at my parents house which I used to train for Molokai and I still have my racing 16ft paddleboard stored at a friend's house in Hawaii. I sadly haven't paddled that board in 6 years, it's so sad! 

What does your dream paddle look like?

My dream paddle is doing the Hawaii Kai run. It is the perfect distance, temperature and conditions for paddling. It is the most enjoyable paddle I have ever done.

If you had to listen to one song on repeat for the whole Catalina Classic (or equivalent), what would it be?

Heaven takes you home by Swedish House Mafia. But, I would rather listen to no music than listen to that 1000 times.

Something no one would believe about you?

My first Molokai 2 Oahu I think I cried for half the race. It was so hard.

If I didn’t spend so much time paddling, I would probably be doing _______ more.

Foiling more. (I am so bad at foiling but I think it is so cool and would love to be good at it)

What/who inspires you?

Watching people achieve their goals inspires me. I feel like I have lots of goals that I have been chasing for a really long time. Sometimes I feel like I will never get there, but seeing people achieve their goals motivates me to keep going. It is possible. 

Who is your paddling nemesis?

My best friend Harriet Brown. Before we did Molokai for the first time we raced each other in the ironwoman series. We both decided to do Molokai for the first time in the same year, Harriet smashed me. The next year she beat me by 10 minutes. Then on our third year she beat me by 45 seconds. I loved the challenge of training for Molokai with the goal of trying to beat Harriet. We both pushed each other but enjoyed the journey of racing overseas together. We then became big rivals for board paddling in SLS events. 

What is an item you don’t leave home without/ pack on every trip?

When it is a paddleboarding trip: my tights with knee pads sewn into them.

Worst paddle/ nutrition story of your life?

When I was training for Molokai once there was a massive low pressure system coming through Sydney, it was a howling southerly, massive surf raining and freezing cold. Perfect conditions for a silly winter adventure paddle. I was trying to do a 30km paddle up the coast. My dad came with me on a little rubber dinghy for safety. About an hour in we realised how bad the conditions were. The swell and winds were so big I couldn't get up on my knees. My dad had to sit so low in the boat trying to make sure he wouldn’t fall out or it wouldn’t flip over. I could hardly see him between the swells. I was so scared and cold, I started crying. I didn’t think I could keep on paddling but we couldn’t stop in at the beaches we were paddling because it was too big to get in. There was a harbour half way along that we ended up stopping at but I honestly thought I was not going to make it.

Show us your favorite selfie:

(looking cool)

Paddle scene hot take?

I would love to see more girls paddling unlimited boards.

A photo of a scar or scary moment and the story behind it.

I got this burn doing Molokai in 2018. My arm was rubbing against my legs for the whole race. I didn’t even feel it until I got to the end, it took ages to heal.

A goal you have- big or small.

I would love to win Molokai 2 Oahu, but I want to beat Harriet when I do it next. 

This is a photo of us training together in Sydney before the last race we did in 2019. We will do it again one day…

Send a photo of something you've made recently.

Every year before our surf club nationals our team makes a vision board of how we want to perform, act and do while we are there. This was the one we made for this year. Our team got 2nd overall which was our goal.