The Challenges Are Set
On the paddle out to Esther, the group of friends I paddled with had been talking about the requirements needed to cross the channel, mostly for the Ben Did Go event. The Ben Did Go paddle is a little chiller charity paddle where the paddlers raise money for the Ben Carlson Foundation, leading up to the channel crossing.
A little background on the Ben Did Go. It is a charity paddle that was started in honor of Ben Carlson, a Newport Beach Lifeguard who gave his life in the line of duty during a rescue on July 6, 2014. While performing a rescue, the lifelong waterman was taken over the falls of a large wave during turbulent surf in the waters off Newport Beach, CA. A statue commissioned by the community and city stands in the square at the base of the McFadden Pier.
This year will be the 10th year of the paddle held in this lifeguard’s honor.
There are 3 simple requirements to take part in this channel crossing.
Raise $1500 for the Foundation.
Maintain a 4 MPH pace. A 4 mph pace ensures the paddlers will cross the channel in 8 hours.
Find your way to the island with your board and provide a support boat for the crossing.
That’s it.
The first one, I believe, should be easy enough for me to achieve. While in elementary school, I was horrible at the fundraising that children seemed to be required to do at that age. It’s probably because a small, chubby face is hard to say no to, so we willingly shell over our hard-earned dough for cookies and sweets.
I am a horrible salesman. I don’t want to swindle you into shelling over your money on something you might not need, so I can make a few extra bucks on a check. I’d rather just help you, be honest with the info, and let you decide. Will this hinder my chances of raising the money? I don’t think so. So number one is done since the money is strictly for another foundation. The way I like it. I help and never have to see the money.
The second requirement, I can also check off my list. While doing my last paddle training on Friday. I was able to maintain a 4 MPH pace through the harbor. This wasn’t a straight course by any means. I had quite a few hairpin turns in there and a little side lagoon exploration. The fact that I could keep that speed with the slowing down of the turns is an optimistic feeling.
The third challenge, though, is finding a boat big enough to carry myself, a board, and provisions for the trip out the day before, the sleepover at the island, and then following me back to the mainland.
Something in me tells me to find my boat, which means to buy. Rather than hiring a support boat. I don’t know why. Well, I know why. When I get a nagging feeling I can not let go of, it’s God showing me the future, and I’m excited to catch up to this vision.
Now when I can get all of that together. The money, the mph to finish, and a boat, I then must complete a series of “Events”, as my friend Judy calls them.
There are 12 Events to be finished and completed before I can even be considered. Needless to say, my summer dance card is already very full. Let’s take a look at them.
May 21st - Meeting at the Lido Theatre
May 10th - The Loop (11 Miles) around Coronado Island in San Diego
May 31st - NAC El Morro Classic (15 Miles)
June 21st - #1 Ben Did Go Qualifier
June 28th - The Waterman Challenge (15 Miles)
July 2 - #2 Ben Did Go Qualifier
July 13th - Rock 2 Rock channel crossing (22 miles)
July 16th - #3 Ben Did Go Qualifier
July 19th - Paddle to Laguna Beach (15 Miles)
July 26th - #4 Ben Did Go Qualifier
August 2nd - #5 Ben Did Go Qualifier
August 13th - #6 Ben Did Go Qualifier
August 26th or 27th - #7 Ben Did Go Qualifier
September 13th - Ben Did Go 10.0 Channel Crossing (32 Miles)
That is it. Woof. It looks like a ton, and I wonder if I’ll complete this task.
I know I will, and am confident. The task has already been completed, now I only have to catch up.
Thank you so much for taking the time to read this post and follow along on this journey.
