The Crossing - Damien Wildes, A Paddleboard & The Irish Sea

The personification of quiet determination, this summer Damien Wildes humbly achieved a world first - crossing the Irish Sea from Hollyhead to Greystones on a prone paddleboard using only the power of his hands to paddle the 100+km to take him through the wind and waves.

Damien's matter of fact delivery makes this insane endeavour seem almost humdrum, like he just woke up as we all would and grabbed a paddleboard and went to work. But his achievement is anything but ordinary - enduring incredible hardship and discomfort, not to mention the sheer physical effort that is required to keep your body paddling for over 15 hours.

He's a role model that is required today - a man that seeks challenge without want of gratification or external reward, the antithesis of our instagram generation. Our only remaining question - what next??