Riding High

WORDS BY ALLEY PASCOE PHOTOS BY CHARLIE BLISS + STEPHEN GOAT 

This local lad is taking the kiteboarding scene by storm! 

If it’s a windy day in Darwin, you can count on two things: the flags above Bagot Road Overpass will be flapping, and Fynn Goat will be flying. Well, as close to flying as you can get. “It’s the ultimate freedom,” says Fynn, describing the feeling of soaring through the air on his kiteboard. “There’s nothing holding you back, you’re basically flying.”

At 12 years old, Fynn is (by far) the youngest member of Darwin’s kiteboarding community. He first showed an interest in the sport at age six, on his way home from school driving past Kite Corner at Rapid Creek on the Nightcliff Foreshore. A year later he flew his first kite, and two years after that he bought his own board, following in the footsteps of his dad, Stephen, who’s also a kiteboarder. 

In January this year, Fynn took part in his first ever competition in Western Australia. A week later, he was standing on the podium at the Kiteboarding Australia Freestyle Nationals in South Australia, having won silver in the Under 14’s competition, and bronze in the Under 18’s. A champion. A wildcard. A revelation. “To be honest, no one was expecting Fynn to place in the comp. He was that kid from Darwin,” explains Stephen. 

Fynn might have gone into the comp as the underdog, but he proved to be a serious contender. His epic – and unexpected – win took a while to sink in. “It didn’t actually hit me until we flew back home, and everyone was saying congrats,” admits Fynn, who was born and bred in Darwin and is entirely self-taught in the sport. 

Without a coach or outside support, Fynn has reached a competitive standard all on his own. His talent and drive have caught the attention of the Queensland Academy of Sport, who have invited him to be a part of the NextGen wing foil program, which is a stepping stone to an Olympic pathway.

“I really do want to go to the Olympics one day. Later this year, I am hoping to attend the GKA Youth World Championships in Tarifa (Spain)” says Fynn, who lives by the motto ‘Just send it.’

With a last name like Goat – which could very well stand for ‘Greatest of all Time’ – Fynn is destined for big things. 

You can follow Fynn’s journey on instagram http://www.instagram.com/fynn_goat/