Jorja Swain is a promising cyclist while her dad Brendan is an experienced skydiver. Photo / Michael Cunningham
As far as sporting families go, it's hard to look past Whangārei's Swain family.
Dad Brendan Swain is a seasoned skydiver, in fact it's how he met his now wife Tanya. Brendan competed for New Zealand this month, and Tanya has competed in the past.
Son Zak, 13, was a member of the Northland under-15 boys' premier hockey side who finished third at the national tournament.
Their eldest daughter Jorja is a newly minted cyclist wheeling out results that belie her limited experience.
Jorja Swain is a gritty, determined cyclist who is clocking up top results in her age group in her first year of competition.
The Whangārei Girls' High School student finished second in the girls under-20 road race at the National School Road Championships in Christchurch at the end of last month.
Swain said the bunch stayed together for most of the 35km race but with about 6km to go, one rider attacked off the front.
Swain said she looked around, saw no one else was going and decided to sprint across to her.
She won her age group and was the fifth female in the general classification in the Tour of Northland in March.
In September, the Paul Sumich coached rider took part in the Northern School Tour event where she was sixth in the time trial, second in the hill climb and fourth in the criterium which placed her fourth overall.
"I think just having a good coach, putting in all the hours every week and sticking to my training plan is paying off."
Swain will race in her first elite race at the Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge on November 24.
In the long term she wants to compete at the World Championships and turn professional.