“Through Adventure, We Live”: David Haze aka Nomadic Paddler takes on the Great Mediterranean Paddle with Yster SUP

With ultra-endurance and adventure paddlers, what interests us most is digging deeper  – in hope of uncovering the core why. The pull towards untouched places, the level of difficulty, the solitude and the cause that drives these challenges – whether environmental activism, specific charity or something more personal.

David Haze – aka Nomadic Paddler – embodies that complexity. Based on the south coast of England with strong ties to Dorset, he is a British multi SUP world record holder and ocean activist. Open about his past, including previous incarceration, he speaks humbly about finding a new path through the sea, grounded in a strong belief in second chances – his story captured in the award-winning documentary “David Haze – Prisoner, World Record Holder, Ocean Activist” (Winner of the 2024 Paddling Film Festival Best SUP Film).

“If my journey can show anything, it’s that both people and the environment deserve a second chance – and that with the right mindset, both can be protected and restored.”

One of the most striking aspects of David Haze’s story is this mindset: that our identity is shaped not just by what we do, but by what we refuse to accept – only acknowledging defeat once every possible option has been explored and every scenario exhausted.

A mindset he now takes into his next challenge, The Great Mediterranean Paddle, where – solo and unsupported – he will attempt to paddle the full Mediterranean, around 4,000 km from Turkey to Gibraltar via Greece, Albania, Italy, Sicily, Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco, including a 115 km open-water crossing.

He has teamed up with Yster SUP, the premium Swedish brand known for its ultra-endurance and expedition-ready boards, and recently tested their quiver in Malmö with founder Per Vallbo, selecting the right board for his expedition.

Per,  a dedicated long‑distance paddler who smashed the 2024 edition of the SUP 11‑City Tour and completed the SUP 11x challenge – to name just a few of his endurance feats – said:

“It was a pleasure welcoming David to Malmö, Sweden. I wanted him to get a proper feel for the Yster ISUP 14×28 Linear and the Yster ISUP 17’3×26” Linear, aka the Yukon board, across a range of conditions. To simulate a more demanding expedition setup, I arranged two 60-litre expedition drybags and secured them to the Yster ISUP 14×28 Linear. This added weight and raised the centre of gravity, introducing a degree of instability similar to what one might experience on a fully loaded long-distance paddle.

The weather in Malmö did not disappoint: rain, wind, and some current-driven chop provided an excellent testing ground. It was ideal for assessing how the boards perform in varied and slightly challenging environments. David instantly took to the Yster ISUP 14×28 Linear because of its versatility. It offers impressive glide whilst maintaining reassuring stability, even with added load, and it handles cargo very well without compromising performance.

The Yster ISUP 17’3×26” Linear would certainly be a strong option for longer expeditions, particularly where speed and tracking are priorities. However, it could present more of a challenge in side chop when carrying heavy cargo distributed along the full length of the board. It was a pleasure meeting David and I would gladly join him for a leg or two of his journey.” 

Hi David, a warm welcome to TotalSUP! Before we dive into your next challenge… This isn’t your first battle and deep, enduring connection with the elements. Why is it important for you to link endurance challenges with ocean and environmental activism?

Hello and thank you for the warm welcome, it’s great to be here. My background is probably a little different from most in this space. I’m open about the fact that I’ve spent time in prison and struggled with my mental health. Growing up, I always felt most like myself when I was outside adventuring, exploring, pushing my limits. But when I moved to London and began working in finance, I got caught up in that lifestyle and gradually lost my sense of identity.

After things fell apart for a second time, I had a moment of clarity. I realised just how important adventure was to me, not just as a passion, but as something that grounded me. That’s where I came up with my personal motto “through adventure, we live.” I try to carry that with me every day, because I genuinely believe life is one big adventure, and we should treat it that way.

Whilst I was in prison, my mum would send me SUP magazines and I’d read about these incredible journeys people were taking. It sparked something in me, I knew I wanted to create my own challenge. That’s when I came up with the idea of paddling the four longest lakes across the UK in four days, aiming for four world records. That goal gave me purpose, focus and something positive to hold onto during a very difficult time.

After my release, I completed the challenge across Scotland, England, Northern Ireland, and Wales. What I discovered about myself during that experience was more powerful than anything I had encountered in formal rehabilitation programs. It pushed me to keep growing, to keep testing my limits and to keep moving forward.

But during that journey, I also saw something that stayed with me, pollution, even in the most remote and seemingly untouched places. That really struck me. These environments that had given me so much clarity and healing were also under threat.

That’s when the connection became clear. The ocean and our waterways more broadly played a huge role in saving my life and giving me purpose again. So for me, linking endurance challenges with environmental activism isn’t just a choice, it feels like a responsibility. It’s about giving something back, protecting these spaces and hopefully inspiring others to see their value and do the same.

If my journey can show anything, it’s that both people and the environment deserve a second chance and that with the right mindset, both can be protected and restored.

Why does it have to be the world’s first, the hardest, the untested, the solo? What draws you to challenges that push these boundaries?

What draws me to those kinds of challenges is the unknown. The idea of attempting something that hasn’t been done before, where there’s no clear blueprint and no guarantee of success, that’s what really excites me. It’s a true test, not just physically, but mentally. You’re stepping into something where the outcome isn’t certain and that’s where you discover what you’re really capable of.

There’s also something powerful about turning what seems impossible into something real. That sense of accomplishment isn’t just about the achievement itself, it’s about proving that our limits are often far beyond what we assume. I genuinely believe people are capable of far more than they give themselves credit for and pushing those boundaries is my way of exploring that.

Choosing to do these challenges solo is a big part of it as well. When you’re alone, there’s nowhere to hide. You’re forced to confront your thoughts, your doubts and your fears head-on. That’s where real growth happens. It’s why I resonate with the idea of being the “Nomadic Paddler”, someone who embraces solitude, not to escape, but to understand themselves better.

For me these extreme, unconventional challenges aren’t just about adventure, they’re about building a deeper connection with who I am and once you’ve faced something that feels outrageous or near impossible, it changes your perspective. It gives you a kind of inner confidence, a belief that if you can overcome that, then everyday life, no matter how tough, is something you can handle.

It really resonated when you said in the documentary that it’s all about “what we don’t accept” – that “you only accept defeat when you’ve done everything you could and exhausted every scenario”. Can you expand on that mindset and how it shapes the way you approach challenges?

That idea really comes from experience. I used to be someone who would accept the situation in front of me without fully challenging it. A lot of people do, we see the obstacles, we feel the discomfort and we take that as a sign to stop. But over time, I’ve learned that discomfort and uncertainty aren’t reasons to quit, they’re part of the process.

For me, it’s about refusing to accept defeat until I know, without question, that I’ve done everything I possibly can. Not just the obvious attempts, but digging deeper, trying different approaches, pushing past the moments where your mind is telling you to stop. That’s where growth really happens.

As the challenges get bigger, the demands increase as well, physically, mentally, and emotionally. There are definitely moments where I question whether I can achieve what I’ve set out to do. But that’s exactly why I keep going. I keep digging, keep pushing, because those moments are where the real breakthroughs are.

Something that really has stuck with me is David Goggins’ “40% rule”, the idea that when we feel like we’ve hit our limit, we’re often nowhere near it. A lot of the time, it’s not our bodies that stop us, it’s our thoughts, the discomfort, the doubt. Learning to push beyond that, to not accept that first urge to quit, has completely changed how I approach challenges.

At the end of the day, I believe we’re all capable of far more than we realise. But it comes down to whether we’re willing to push past what’s comfortable and take responsibility for making those goals a reality.

Could you walk us through the Mediterranean Challenge – what exactly will you be taking on?

So, ‘The Great Mediterranean Paddle’, it should be “fun”… in a challenging kind of way.

I’ll be attempting to paddle the full length of the Mediterranean Sea, solo and unsupported. In total, that’s around 4,000 kilometres of continuous paddling, taking on whatever the elements throw at me along the way.

The journey will start in Turkey, heading into Greece, up towards Albania, then crossing over to Italy and down to Sicily. From there, one of the toughest sections begins, a 115-kilometre open water crossing to Tunisia. After that, I’ll continue along the North African coastline, through Algeria and into Morocco, before finishing in Gibraltar.

For the vast majority of the expedition, I’ll be completely solo and unsupported, carrying everything I need and following the coastline as closely as possible. There are two specific crossings where, due to legal requirements, I’ll need a support boat nearby  but aside from that, it’s just me, the board, and the ocean.

Beyond the physical challenge, this expedition is about purpose. I’ll be raising money for three incredible charities, ‘Alliance of Sport’, ‘Dorset Mind’, and ‘Adventure Therapy’, organisations that do vital work in supporting mental health, rehabilitation, and using sport as a tool for positive change.

It’s going to be relentless, unpredictable and at times incredibly tough but that’s exactly what makes it meaningful.

Why did you choose this specific stretch of the Mediterranean for the challenge? What makes it unique or meaningful?

This challenge has actually been in my mind for a long time. Years ago, I had the idea of paddling the entire Mediterranean but after looking into it properly, I realised just how big that undertaking was and decided to put it on hold.

Then, more recently, I was in Croatia, looking out over the Ionian Sea and I remember thinking how incredible it would be to paddle across it. That moment reignited the idea but this time with a clearer, more focused plan. Instead of trying to take on the entire Mediterranean, I chose a route that is still hugely demanding but realistic enough to execute properly.

What makes this stretch so unique is the diversity. I’ll be paddling through multiple countries, cultures, and coastlines, from Europe into North Africa, which is something very few people get to experience in this way. Every section will bring something different, whether that’s the conditions, the environment, or the people. That’s a big part of what draws me to it.

Paddleboarding gives you a completely different perspective, you’re low to the water, fully exposed and moving at a pace where you really take everything in. You see things most people would never notice and while the paddling itself is a huge part of the challenge, it’s not the whole story.

The experience off the board is just as important, meeting people along the way, camping, and documenting the environmental state of the Mediterranean. I want to capture both the beauty and the reality of what’s happening to these waters.

So for me, this route isn’t just about distance, it’s about connection, perspective and telling a story that goes beyond the challenge itself.

You’ve chosen Yster SUP gear for this challenge – How did the collaboration come about and what made it the right fit?

I’ve chosen Yster SUP as my board sponsor for this challenge because I was looking for something very specific, a true expedition board that could handle the scale and demands of what I’m about to take on.

Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to work with a number of brands, but for this challenge, it wasn’t just about performance, it was about reliability, durability, and trusting the equipment completely in extreme conditions.

The connection actually came through the paddling community. I follow a lot of experienced paddlers and when I saw Craig Sawyer and Scott ‘Skip’ Innes take on the Yukon 1000, it really caught my attention. I was curious about what board they were using for something that demanding and after speaking with them, they pointed me towards Yster.

From there, I reached out to Per Vallbo on social media and we ended up having a really in-depth conversation about the challenge, what I needed and what their boards could offer. That led to an invitation to Sweden to test them out properly.

As soon as I got on the board, I knew it was the right fit. It wasn’t just the quality of the equipment, it was the ethos of the company as well. They understand expedition paddling and what it truly requires and that alignment made the decision an easy one.

Following your session with Per in Malmö, what did you learn about the board and setup that will be critical for this kind of endurance challenge?

Following my session with Per in Malmö, one of the biggest takeaways was just how much knowledge and thought goes into building the right board for endurance challenges. Per isn’t just a designer, he’s an endurance paddler himself, so he truly understands what’s needed out there. His background, especially in flow dynamics, really shows in how the boards perform.

Originally, the plan was to use a hard board, but after testing and talking it through, it became clear that it wasn’t the most practical option for this kind of expedition. Since this isn’t a time based challenge, the focus is more on efficiency, stability, and long-term sustainability rather than outright speed.

We tested both a 17-foot and a 14-foot board in a range of conditions and for me, the 14-foot stood out as the right choice. There’s a physical and a psychological element to that decision. With a 17-foot board, there’s a tendency to carry more gear simply because you have the space, which ultimately adds unnecessary weight and slows you down.

The 14-foot board keeps things more disciplined, it encourages me to carry only what I truly need, which helps keep the overall weight down. At the same time, it offers the stability I need for open water, especially over long distances and in changing conditions.

That session really reinforced that success in a challenge like this isn’t just about pushing yourself, it’s about making the right decisions beforehand and setting everything up in a way that gives you the best possible chance once you’re out there.

What message do you hope people take away from following your journey?

For me, adventure has been one of the most powerful tools in helping me build a more meaningful life and become a better person. It’s given me direction, purpose, and a way to grow and that’s something I want others to see is possible for themselves too.

If there’s one message I hope people take away, it’s to push beyond their comfort zones. Growth doesn’t happen in the easy moments, it happens when you challenge yourself, even just a little bit more than you think you can. It’s amazing what can be achieved when you’re willing to take that step.

I know that from personal experience. There were times in my life where things felt impossible, struggling with addiction, mental health, suicide attempts and going through two prison sentences. But those moments don’t have to define where you end up. Today, I’m living what was once a childhood dream, building a life around adventure, setting world records, and taking on challenges I never thought I’d be capable of.

If I hadn’t chosen to face that adversity and follow a different path, I honestly don’t know where I’d be now. That’s why I’m so passionate about sharing this journey.

At the end of the day, I truly believe life is one big adventure and the more we lean into that, the more we discover what we’re capable of. As I always say, “through adventure, we live”.

Who are your key shoutouts and how can paddlers and the SUP community support your journey?

There are a few key organisations I really want to give a shoutout to because this journey wouldn’t be possible without that support. Yster SUP, Oscar Propulsion Sport, Nomadic Watches, Adventure Armchair Festival, and Givestar have all played a role and I’m incredibly grateful to be working alongside them.

That said, I’m still actively looking for sponsors who want to be part of this challenge and the wider mission behind it. If anyone connects with what I’m doing and wants to support, I’d genuinely love to hear from you.

A big part of this journey is also about giving back, I’m aiming to raise £30,000 for charity, so any support towards that, no matter how big or small, would mean a lot.

But just as important is the community side of things. Following the journey, sharing it, and helping spread the message goes a long way. I’ll be sharing a live tracker when I set off in September, so people can follow along in real time and if anyone happens to be along the route, I’d love for people to come down, say hello, and even jump on the water for a paddle. That connection with people along the way is a huge part of what makes these challenges so special.

Thank you for sharing your incredible story David – we hope to cross our SUP paths with you before the challenge!

Explore Yster SUP quiver at www.ystersup.com and follow the brand on Facebook and Instagram.

Follow David – Nomadic Paddler on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube

Watch David’s award‑winning documentary “David Haze – Prisoner, World Record Holder, Ocean Activist”, winner of Best SUP Film 2024, here.