Growing up in Papua New Guinea, Liz Wardley got so used to going barefoot she now hates wearing shoes of any description.
The PNG sailor, who lived in Sydney, Australia, for many years has skippered her own yacht, Dixie Chicken in three Sydney to Hobart races barefoot but found that in the Southern Ocean she had little choice but to cover up. 

Named Junior female athlete in 1999, she also won PNG’s SP Sportswoman of the Year in 1999 and 2000 with sports administrators recognising her yachting talent as bringing a unique distinction to the country. 
Wardley is well known in Australian and PNG racing circles. She completed the 1997 and 1999 Hobart races but in 1998 was forced to retire after standing beside a disabled fellow competitor for 40 hours after the worst storm in history smashed the fleet.
She has now joined on with Zhik as a member of the new Paddling team.