Photo: Jordan Siemens / Stone / Getty Images
Earlier this week, 125 days after departing on December 19th, Tez Steinberg successfully completed a four-month solo rowing journey from Hawaii to Australia. When he arrived in Queensland, the 36-year-old Colorado man was greeted by cheering supporters. The epic journey, aimed at raising awareness for ocean conservation, was inspired by his earlier solo row from California to Hawaii in 2020, where he saw the heartbreaking sight of plastic pollution against the backdrop of the beautiful ocean
Steinberg's personal journey began as a way to battle depression, later evolving into a mission to inspire others to believe in their own strength and potential for growth. Despite facing physical setbacks, including a heart attack in 2022, he remained committed to his cause, and worked hard to prepare for the voyage both mentally and physically.
Through his nonprofit organization, United World Challenge, Steinberg managed to raise over $50-thousand, helping to clean up nearly 80-thousand pounds of ocean-bound plastic. He hopes to encourage people to find a way to challenge themselves to take small actions every day that will contribute to creating a cleaner, more sustainable future.