She is one of six New Zealanders (one of four females) competing in the invite-only Molokai-2-Oahu race on Sunday (Monday New Zealand time), and will race in the stock paddleboard open women’s division.
“I am so excited and nervous for this race,” she said.
“I've wanted to compete in it for about five years, when dad first showed me footage of the race. It's such a prestigious event for paddleboarding and there is so much history behind this race.
“It's pretty cool to be a part of it. I can’t wait to get out into the channel.
“I'm not really going in with a mindset of winning. I will focus on actually completing the race first.”
The inaugural event was in 1997 and since then it has grown to become the sport’s top global event.
It is held annually in the Hawaiian summer which, conditions permitting, enables paddleboarders to surf ocean swells travelling towards Oahu during the crossing.
The Ka’iwi (Kah-ee-vee) Channel translates as the “Channel of Bones” and has brought destruction to entire ancient canoe fleets and claimed the lives of modern-day fishermen and athletes.
Hawaiian big-wave rider and waterman Eddie Aikau died in the Ka’iwi Channel during the 1978 Polynesian voyage of the Hokule’a sailing canoe.
Gale force windsAfter gale force winds and 9m swells disabled the Hokule’a, Mr Aikau left the ship on his rescue paddleboard to seek help for his stranded crewmates. His body and board were never found. A big wave surfing tournament is held each year in Oahu’s Waimea Bay in Mr Aikau’s memory.
Gisborne’s three-time world ironman champion Cory Hutchings, who came second in the race in 2004, said the Molokai-2-Oahu was “one of the toughest things I have ever done”.
Hutchings is one of several Gisborne paddleboarders to have competed in the Molokai-2-Oahu race, coming out of retirement in 2004 for the race and coming in second to Australian paddleboarding legend Jamie Mitchell.
“It was definitely the most gruelling race I've done, the biggest challenge of my career.”
The 52km, open-ocean paddle was as much a mental as a physical challenge.
“There are a lot of demons out there. It's a personal challenge, battling yourself more than anyone else.
“Your body is dealing with a lot but you just need to push through. I vomited five times during the paddle. It's just the reality of what your body goes through.
“Once you get to the other side though, it's intensely rewarding.
“You're part of an elite group. Anybody who does it by themselves is an absolute legend.
“It's not just for fit athletes, but those adept in the water, in sync with the ocean.
“My advice is to enjoy it, have fun, but race it. Don’t just participate. The longer you spend out there the less chance you have of getting there.
“Jasmine is up to it. She has good ocean and safety knowledge, having grown up at Wainui.”
Training in AustraliaSmith has been training with a group of competitors in Australia, but has never trained for anything like the Molokai-2-Oahu.
“I usually train for a paddle race that will take me four minutes to complete, whereas in the Molokai I'm expecting six to seven hours.
“I have been learning as I go, especially when it comes to things like nutrition and hydration, and keeping focused for longer than two hours, which is usually how long I train for.”
Smith is travelling to Hawaii with her parents, Gary and Chrissie, and younger sisters, Stella and Ava.
“It's pretty cool. It will be a great experience for her,” said Gary, who tried unsuccessfully to get into the event himself several years ago.
He will be on a support boat near his daughter during the race.
Smith will ride a custom 12-foot (3.6m) board, made by Gisborne’s Sonic Surf Craft NZ.
Two weeks after the event Smith will travel to Denmark with sister Stella to compete at the International Surfing Association World Stand up Paddleboard Championships.
