In most circumstances 22-miles is not that arduous a distance to fathom.  However, when you speak nautically the feat becomes a little more real.  When you add another variable like standing up on a paddleboard it becomes indisputably difficult.

Last week I took part in an event that had 27 international athletes from six different sports, many of whom had never been on a paddleboard before, crossing Lake Tahoe south to north.  The 22-mile journey took us around five and a half hours, and with around ten minutes total experience on a paddleboard before the event started I was a little wary of my decision to participate.  However, at 6:20am we left the beach and the water was calm and the lake was completely tranquil.  There was not a boat on the water aside from our support groups, and the wind was only moving just enough to assure us that our efforts were not feeble.

As the miles clicked off and we fell into a rhythm and got our stroke on, I found myself alone for a long period of time in the middle of the lake.  I continued to paddle, but it gave a me a lot of time to reflect of the true nature of our endeavor.  The event had been organized to bring some attention and support to the Bob Woodruff Family Foundation; which is an organization making waves in the world of traumatic brain injury (TBI) as well as post traumatic stress.  Many have asked, “How does crossing a lake help such a foundation?”  This is a valid concern, but when organizers Hinter Claxton and Rob Howard set out to start the event their idea was to get a unique group of individuals together and raise awareness as well as a little funding for a unique and commonly overlooked cause.  The idea was to gather a unique, but top-tear group of people together, and in the process undertake, and hopefully concur, a formidable endeavor.

This is exactly what they did, and the event was a spectacular experience for everyone involved.  The athlete and participant roster included some of the biggest names in Snow and Surf, as well as some unique individuals from different aspects of life.  Daron Rhalves, one of the most decorated American alpine skiers of all time; Jeremy Jones, who some say is the greatest big mountains snowboard pioneer of all time; Dave Kalama, big wave surfer and professional paddle-boarder; Julian Carr; world record holding big mountain skier; Chuck Patterson, skier as well as big wave surfer; Mark Wellman, the first and only paraplegic to climb Half Dome and El Capitan; Craig Sorensen, US “Top Gun” Navy Pilot who has logged the most combat and training flight hours in history; Ken “SkinDog” Collins , member of the Mavericks Crew big wave surf group; Dana Point Life Guards; JT Holmes, Skier and Professional BASE jumper; and the list goes on.  For many it was just an honor to be in the presence of such mythological creatures and heroes in their respective discipline.

This was the first of what hope to be an annual event, but next year organizers are already pondering ideas to make things a little more interesting.  “Maybe we do it at night under a full moon…?” Said Rob Howard.  Either way, whatever transpires I am sure the event will gather a select group of people and raise awareness for the foundations for which it is aligned.

The time we spent on the water offered the perfect setting to remember those who we were helping in the process as well as an opportune time to reminisce about experiences with friends who had suffered from brain injuries.  In the sport of skiing alone there has been miraculous recoveries from people like Charlie Gaylord, CR Johnson, and others whom have suffered from TBI in the last few years.  With support from organizations like The Bob Woodruff Family Foundation, people like Charlie and CR have been able to make solid recoveries, but there are those in the world that have been less fortunate and have not received the care and support needed to over come such tragedies.

Tragic stories keep rolling I from the Middle East, but there are few organizations like the BWFF that are making and effort to help these forgotten heroes.  Crossing lake Tahoe was only the start in a long line of support necessary to make such organizations a success and thanks to Hunter Claxton and Rob Howard for putting this together.  Sore, but proud, everyone finished the event humbled, but honored to take part. 

As we prepare for another season and wait for the snow to fall it is important to be aware of the greater story unfolding around us and be thankful for those making our experiences possible.  For more information please visit The Bob Woodruff Family Fund at www.bobwoodrufffamilyfund.org. 

To learn more about the Tahoe Stand-Up Paddle Board Crossing 2008 and how you or your firm can support for this worthy cause, please contact Dr. Robb Gaffney, 530-412-1325, robbgaffney@hotmail.com, or Rob Howard, 510-773-4701, rhoward@bikeskills.com. 

~Tyson Bolduc