Paddleboarding From Key West to Maine For A Cause

[ricki]

I met Mike Simpson and Will Rich Thursday night at Lauderdale Marina. These two guys are paddling SUP boards from Key West to Portland, Maine over a five month period. That is over 1800 miles! They are regular guys, watermen but not world famous standup paddlers, yet anyway.



Mike on the right and Will on the left.

You can track their progress realtime via GPS coordinates which appear on their website, http://www.supthecoast.com/ or by clicking on http://www.findmespot.com/mylocation/?id=4QkNU



The guys are riding two custom 17 ft. long displacement SUPs complete with running lights.


They both have a passion for the ocean and paddling. It goes beyond that however, they are trying to draw attention to two deserving causes, Wounded Warrior Project and SUP Clean-up.




The Wounded Warrior Project, WWP, is aptly described on their website:

"In doing this we hope to spread awareness and raise money for two specific causes which stem from these passions. The first is Wounded Warrior Project, a national organization which supports America's service men and women, particularly upon their return from duty. The by-line of the group is: "the greatest casualty of war is being forgotten". Regardless of what one's stance is on the US involvement in the Middle East, the fact is that these people put their lives on the line for the rest of us every day. We think it's only right to stand up for those who stood up for us. There's another quote regarding our troops which says: "All gave some, and some gave all ". If this resounds with you, please see the WWP page http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/ "

SUP Cleanup


What they do:
"The manifest activities of SUP Cleanup include identifying impending cleanup sites and scheduling monthly cleanups. Along the way, the organization also aims to recruit new members, inform the public about the trash problem strangling our beaches and oceans and develops new chapters along coasts throughout the states."
http://www.supcleanup.com/



I shot a quick interview with the guys last night at Lauderdale Marina in Ft. Lauderdale, Fl:




(note to self, when using a Droid make sure your subject isn't backlit or too much in shadow!)



Hanalei Bay, Kauai where the idea to make the long paddle came to Mike.



You need gear for an adventure on the water like this, 80 pounds each as it turns out!


Why not try to meet the guys on their paddle? That would appreciate it and even better to join them as they glide up the coast.

More to come ...



http://www.supthecoast.com/

They're also on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/pages/SUP-th...27666660625758


Thanks to Jimmy Balboni for telling me about this!

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