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Coastal TEAM Challenge – Anacortes to Vancouver, August 1–9, 2009

Coastal TEAM Challenge – Anacortes to Vancouver, August 1–9, 2009

World T.E.A.M Sports (The Exceptional Athlete Matters) uses the universal power of sports to create soul-stirring experiences by teaming disabled athletes with able-bodied athletes, forming a true TEAM. Our Principal Aspirations and Objectives are to increase and promote inclusive sports opportunities for all people, especially reaching out to disabled people. To organize and host innovative and challenging sporting events that encourage, all individuals, especially those with disabilities, to participate in lifetime sports. Promote diversity and increase awareness, acceptance and integration of those with disabilities.

The idea for the “Coastal Team Challenge”, is a high profile, group expedition, consisting of a mix of Canadian and US disabled troops, active or otherwise. Launching at Washington Park in Anacortes, the team will kayak north through Puget Sound, entering the Strait of Georgia in British Columbian waters and arriving, finally, in downtown Vancouver. The event should generate international camaraderie among the athletes, hopefully act as a kind of lead in to the Winter Olympics held in Vancouver a few months later, and provide a challenging personal experience for each participant.

Kayaking north from Anacortes, the seascape will evolve from urban waterfront to outlying urban, passing through increasingly isolated areas that reflect a signature northwest marine environment—forested and rocky seashores, green and white ferries shuttling cars and passengers between islands, seals, bald eagles, whales perhaps—until approaching the BC border and ultimately the striking skyline of Vancouver with white capped mountains towering behind. The journey is roughly 82 nautical miles. The trip is scheduled for Saturday August 1st to Sunday August 9th.

Monday, August 3, 2009

CTC Monday 8-3-09

What a difference a day makes. After a sumptuous breakfast we waited until the marine layer burnt off and we launched about noon. We know it might have been more of a challenge to launch before daylight but we know you want us to be safe.


Mondays first 2-3 miles started up two different shipping crossings dogging tugs towing massive container ships. Suddenly we were paddling down wind and even better, down tidal current. Unbelievably, we then entered a white water downstream tidal flow and everyone enjoyed shooting the rapids. Mountain white water rafters would have been jealous. We then hugged the shoreline for a close up view of this beautiful wilderness coast line.


Also the fishing finally started up with Rich, Ryan & James catching several fish.


We arrived in camp in just 31/2 hours as our team found their paddling rhythm and are beginning to look like professionals.

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1 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi guys - glad things are going well, especially after the difficult trip on Sunday. Great job, well done!! Don't eat TOO much of that great food, you're liable to get too fat to fit into the kayaks! Looking forward to seeing all of you Wednesday at Birch Bay. Soldier on!!
Love to all,
Joni

10:03 PM PDT

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