Three junior world champion wakeboarders are swapping tricks for tides as they launch an ambitious kayak journey from Noosa to Caloundra.
Lifelong mates Mac Fort, Bentley Bland and Mikayo Mundy are marking a 16th birthday with a mission: to spotlight men’s mental health, particularly among athletes facing identity challenges after injury.
“We’re all injured right now and can’t ride, so instead of sitting still we thought—let’s get out there,” Mikayo said.
“The ocean has always been a place to reset. This trip is our way of showing that getting outdoors can be the best medicine.”
Turning 16 on the day of the mission, Bentley Bland has been wakeboarding on the Sunshine Coast since he was six years old.
He’s already battled through a fractured tibia and now a ruptured spinal ligament, yet continues to find joy and purpose through adventure.
It was Bentley’s idea that started it all, last year on his birthday, he and Mikayo pushed wheelbarrows 50 km across Double Island Point collecting rubbish.
That spontaneous beach mission became the spark for what’s now known as The Bushboys — a movement dedicated to healing through nature, mateship, and purpose.
The “Tip to Tip” Kayak Mission will see the group cover roughly 50 kilometres of coastline over sunrise to sunset, sharing conversations about resilience, recovery, and the healing power of movement in nature.
The journey highlights the challenges many young athletes face when sidelined by injury, and how reconnecting with the outdoors can play a critical role in maintaining mental well-being.
At just 21 years old, Sunshine Coast local Mikayo Mundy has already experienced more highs and lows in sport than most do in a lifetime.
A former Junior Pro World Champion wakeboarder, Mikayo has undergone four surgeries from sporting injuries, the latest being a syndesmosis operation only two weeks ago.
Unable to walk for another month, he’s taking to the water by kayak to show that resilience knows no limits.
With a Bachelor of Filmmaking, Mikayo plans to use his storytelling skills and this mission to raise awareness for men’s mental health in injury, inspiring the next generation of athletes to learn from his setbacks and train smarter, not harder.
Supporters are encouraged to follow the journey on social media and join the conversation by sharing their own stories of recovery and outdoor adventure.
Donate to the cause on GoFundMe at gofund.me/7d47704dd
