Competition was fierce, but in the end, Ararwak Expedtion’s team, above and below, won the chaotic kayak race which raised money for wounded veterans in TRR’s USVI program.
Thanks to the huge support from the St. John community, 24 wounded veterans will enjoy a week of health and healing at Cinnamon Bay Campground this November.
A total of 28 three-person kayak teams squared off at Oppenheimer Beach on Sunday, August 26, in the second annual St. John Chaotic Kayak, a fundraiser for Team River Runner.
The event raised $23,500 for the program, which teaches adaptive kayak skills to wounded veterans. TRR hosts kayak trips across the country, from the Grand Canyon to the Florida Keys. The group has been spending a week on St. John for the past five years and the Love City trip, thanks to fundraisers and support from businesses, is now self-sustaining.
“We are so overwhelmed by the love and support from the St. John community,” said John Schuld, TRR national fundraiser. “There were so many people who wanted to be a part of the event. It was certainly epic for sure.”
On the heels of last year’s event, which raised $20,000, organizers were hoping for more competitors and a more organized afternoon. They succeeded on both accounts.
“The competition went really smoothly and was faster than last year,” said Schuld, who organized the event along with Sadie Sea owner Tom Larson. “Last year we had 16 teams and this year we had 28.”
One thing which was the same as last year at the Chaotic Kayak was the outcome, the team from Arawak Expeditions won again.
The race featured teams of two paddlers, with one person manning a water gun and creating chaos, shoving off from the shore at Oppenheimer, rounding Sadie Sea and returning to the beach.
Competition was tight, but in the end the professionals from Arawak Expeditions once again beat out all other boats to claim victory and take home the golden paddle.
With parking scarce at Oppenheimer, organizers relied on Celia Kalousek and the St. John Dial-a-Ride vehicle to transport participants from Cruz Bay. Major sponsorship for the event came from Miller High Life, Premier Wines and Spirits and St. John Brewers with Michael Garbo and Skinny Legs supplying food for the day.
Locals on the Eight and the musicians from Ish provided live entertainment for the afternoon while emcee Gary “Sinbad” Cox, who was also celebrating his birthday, kept the crowd in stitches, explained Schuld.
“There are so many people to thank, I can’t possibly name them all,” he said. “But I have to say that Sinbad did an incredible job entertaining the crowd on his birthday. Also Mike Garbo and Skinny Legs did a great job with the food again and Celia at the St. John Community Foundation made sure that parking was not an issue.”
“Our major sponsors were Miller High Life, Premier Wines and Spirits and St. John Brewers,” said Schuld. “But so many people helped out, it was really the whole community that came together for this.”
Several wounded veterans who took part in TRR’s St. John program last year also made the trip to Love City last month to take part in the fundraiser, Schuld explained.
“A few of the veterans who were part of the program last year, who were so inspiring and have grown so much internally, came down for the race,” said Schuld. “It was great to give these guys the opportunity to see the incredible outpouring of love and support of the St. John community and have them go back to their neighborhoods and friends and tell them about what we did here.”
All of the funds raised at the event go to TRR’s St. John program, which literally translates into airfare and accommodations for 24 wounded warriors, Schuld added.
“Raising $23,500 means that we can continue the program,” he said. “We’ll combine that with other St. John fundraisers like Moe Chabuz’s 8 Tuff Miles Run and that will allow us to bring 24 wounded veterans and staff to St. John November 3 through 11.”
Schuld is already starting to plan next year’s St. John Chaotic Kayak, and the trend might be spreading, he added.
“Of course, we’ll be back next year; we’re already planning on the third annual St. John Chaotic Kayak,” said Schuld. “And Chaotic Kayak might spread across the country. There is a TRR group in Cincinnati which has asked about our fundraiser, so we’re going to share things that we’ve learned putting this on twice now.”
All of the fun and competition couldn’t be for a better cause: helping wounded veterans, Schuld added.
“TRR is a fantastic program that really does put wounded veterans in a healing mode to move forward with their lives and do more for themselves and for other veterans,” he said.
Anyone who missed the kayak race can still donate to TRR’s St. John program. Just check out www.stjohnchaotickayak.com or email John Schuld at john@teamriverrunner.org.
