Jamie Mitchell's motivation is simple.

Win.

Thanks in part to his addiction to winning, Mitchell has become virtually unbeatable in the sport of paddleboarding in recent years.

He will take a three-year winning streak into tomorrow's Quiksilveredition Moloka'i to O'ahu Paddleboard Race.

"Once you know what it feels like to beat everybody to that finish line, you know you can do it," said Mitchell, who is a lifeguard in Queensland, Australia. "But then you want to keep doing it. It really is like an addiction."

The Moloka'i race is a 32-mile course across the Kaiwi Channel, and it is considered the world championship of long-distance paddleboard racing. Mitchell is the three-time defending champion, including a course record of 4 hours, 56 minutes, 3 seconds, last year.

Mitchell has won every paddleboard race he has entered since 2002, a streak of more than 20 races in Australia, California and Hawai'i.

"What's it going to take to beat him? Probably him having an off day and somebody else having an on day," said California's Ryan Addison. "Either that or an act of God."

Addison is considered one of the top contenders for an upset. Others include Australians Mick Dibetta and Nathan Henderson. Top Hawai'i entries include Brian Rocheleau and Guy Pere.

"When you know everyone is out to get you, that's even more motivation," Mitchell said. "But if I give my absolute all and somebody is good enough to beat me, I'll still feel good."

Mitchell, 28, has been training in Hawai'i for the past six weeks. He has dominated several "short" races on O'ahu in recent weeks, including last week's Hennessey's International race.

"He's pretty much at a level above everybody else right now," Rocheleau said. "He's definitely the guy to beat, but at the same time, him being at that level has elevated everyone else. A lot of guys have had to step up in training just to keep up with him."

Addison has placed second to Mitchell in two races already this month.

"I kind of feed on the frustration," Addison said. "But that also means there's no pressure on me. Everyone expects Jamie to win this thing."

But Mitchell is also aware of the unpredictable conditions across the Kaiwi Channel.

"Moloka'i is a whole different animal," he said. "So many things can happen out there, and a lot of things have to go right for you to win this race."

Perhaps that is why Mitchell considers the Moloka'i race his ultimate goal each year.

"Just knowing you crossed that line going from island to island is an achievement in itself," he said. "It doesn't matter if you're first or last, really. There's a pure enjoyment of getting across the channel for everybody who does it."

All the top contenders are expected to use 17-foot paddleboards, although by different designers.

Paddleboards are streamlined surfboards designed to ride ocean swells. They are powered by arm strokes, much like paddling a surfboard.

DUNCAN, BATEUP ARE TOP FEMALE CONTENDERS

Hawai'i's Kanesa Duncan and Australia's Hayley Bateup are considered the top entries in the women's division.

Duncan won the race in 2001, 2002 and last year, when she set a women's course record of 5:53:49. Bateup won the race in 2003 but did not enter last year.

"Having Hayley back definitely makes it more exciting for me," Duncan said. "The last four years, I've been able to go faster each year, so that's my goal again."

Bateup beat Duncan in last week's Hennessey's International race.

"When I won this race in 2003, it was the worst possible conditions and I told myself I would never come back," Bateup said. "But then I saw how fast the times were last year, and so I wanted to come back and try it again."

Bateup and Duncan will both use 12-foot paddleboards.