Hey there fellow Zoners! I am stoked to announce my upcoming project, From Water, ...a full length documentary film capturing my re-attempt at a solo consecutive SUP and OC1 paddle of the California Channel Islands!
I would be honored if everyone who is interested would visit my Kickstarter campaign and back in at some level. I am not asking for donations. Each level in which you could back this project comes with fun rewards ranging from digital downloads of my films, great gear from SIC MAUI and Puakea Designs, and opportunities for Producer credits, your name in the film, plus more!
Aloha, Zoners. I haven't posted in a while but I have some exciting news that I just have to share! Many of you followed my unsupported SUP journey down the American Pacific Coastline from Canada to Mexico in 2014 (where is TallDude at, haha!). Well, I finally got off my lazy butt and finished the film documenting the trip. Through My Eyes is now completed!
Recently, the 2018 SUP Awards recently opened up voting for Movie of the Year and my film, "Through My Eyes" has been nominated! I am so stoked about it but I NEED YOUR HELP AND VOTES!
I thought this would be the special opportunity I was looking for to share my film with you. To make this worth your while and as a special bonus, I have created a promo code to rent my film on Vimeo FOR FREE during the voting period! Simply follow this link, https://vimeo.com/ondemand/throughmyeyesdoc, and enter the promo code "SUPAwards" at checkout to rent it for free for a 72 hour period. Then, if you feel that my film has won you over...please...please...by all means click on that voting link and show me some love! Additionally, as many people as you can share this with, the better! I am forever in your debt.
Lets get this bad boy promoted! Aloha, Will Schmidt
Hi guys. PLEASE PM ME IF YOU CAN HELP! I am leaving for an epic trip in May. With the help of SIC I will be solo paddling the West Coast of the US from Canada to Mexico to benefit charity.
I fly into Seattle airport on May 22nd at 9:30 pm. I am looking for two things:
1. Someone who I can ship a SIC F-16 and gear to in the Seattle area
2. That same person who can strap it to their vehicle, pick me up at the airport, and drive me to Neah Bay in NW Washington State.
I am more than willing to pay for gas and your time. Any leads anyone can give me would also be super helpful.
Hi guys. PLEASE PM ME IF YOU CAN HELP! I am leaving for an epic trip in May. With the help of SIC I will be solo paddling the West Coast of the US from Canada to Mexico to benefit charity.
I fly into Seattle airport on May 22nd at 9:30 pm. I am looking for two things:
1. Someone who I can ship a SIC F-16 and gear to in the Seattle area
2. That same person who can strap it to their vehicle, pick me up at the airport, and drive me to Neah Bay in NW Washington State.
I am more than willing to pay for gas and your time. Any leads anyone can give me would also be super helpful.
I feel proud and honored to finally present to you, Stand Up Paddle Against Depression: the journey continues, A FULL LENGTH DOCUMENTARY STAND UP PADDLE FILM!
As you all know, in mid September, 2013, the crew of the Campbell's Sloop, a 34' Catalina sailboat, and I embarked on a solo stand up paddle through the California Channel Island chain to raise funds and awareness for the Wounded Warrior Project and the Casa Hogar Orphanage in Ensenada, Mexico. The result was a life changing, life affirming experience that I want to share with the world!
Of course I ask that you enjoy the film at no charge, download it free if youd like but please, please, LIKE, SHARE, EMAIL, and FORWARD our film to anyone and everyone who would be interested in viewing it!
Fundraising for the Wounded Warrior Project and Casa Hogar Orphanage CONTINUES at http://www.gofundme.com/3xjulo. If you feel so inclined, leave us a thank you donation.
Ive been blabbing about this thing forever but Ive finally finished the documentary of my Channel Islands marathon paddle that I did in September. We are premiering it at Stillwater Spirits and Sounds in Dana Point, CA on Feb the 8th at 5pm.
There will be drink specials, a silent auction and raffle to benefit the Wounded Warrior Project with items from Infinity, SUP Gladiator, boat charters, Chargers/Ducks/Kings swag, and so much more!
Our friend and King's team rider, Terri Plunkett, had her brand new KING's SUP surfboard, 7'8" stolen right out of her locked truck yesterday. Keep an eye out for us on the Zone as well as Craigslist, EatonSurf, etc.
Crossing two more channels this Saturday and Sunday (Oct 12-13th). If youd like to follow the satellite tracker, visit my website, www.AreYouInspiredYet.com and click on the 'Spot' photo.
Hello everyone! I have emerged from the far reaches of the Channel Islands unscathed! (Maybe minus a few pounds and some additional blisters.)
If you had been following our tracking, you will see that we did not make it past Santa Cruz Island. Despite two attempts we could not safely navigate against the gale force headwinds and 10 ft seas with wind waves. A dense fog cover didnt help the situation either. The key to any successful physical challenge in the ocean is the safety of the crew, the boat, and the athlete. There was at least a 90% chance that someone would have gotten seriously hurt or worse had we continued with Plan 1.
Luckily, we had a Plan 2!
Plan 2 consisted of a launch from mainland California in Oxnard and navigating to touch all INNER Channel Islands. Friday I successfully completed this goal. We traveled from Channel Islands Harbor to Anacapa Island, Santa Cruz Is, Santa Barbara Is, Cat Harbor on Catalina Is, San Clemente Is, then back to Avalon on Catalina Island for the night before my final paddle into Dana Point. My stats for the trip: 5 islands touched (one twice for a total of 6 island landings), 7 channels crossed, and a trip total of 220 statute miles traversed solo on a 14' stand up paddleboard in the California Channel Island chain.
Altogether 5 stand up paddle records were set on this trip. I became the first person to stand up paddle all inner Channel Islands from shore to shore, the first person to paddle the Catalina Channel lengthwise twice, as well as laying claim to the most miles paddled in the Channel Islands, a record previously held by Karen Wrenn at 150 miles. An unexpected result of this paddle (verified by 3 separate GPS tracking devices) was my Catalina Channel crossing time of 7:47:33 which blows away the 14' solo record as well as the all time solo SUP record set by Jared Vargas on an unlimited in 2009 with 7:52:34. The discrepancy between our 3 tracking devices was a mere +- 30 seconds.
Lots of pics and vids to come soon and, yes, I am still collecting donations for the Wounded Warrior Project through http://www.gofundme.com/3xjulo or through the link at my personal site, AreYouInspiredYet.com.
I thought yesterday's BLUE WHALE was close but check this one out! He buzzed me by about 5 feet. If this doesn't INSPIRE you to buck up and donate to my fundraiser benefiting the Wounded Warrior Project then I'll just post one of me riding the whale next time! Please share this vid and go to www.AreYouInspiredYet.com to get involved. At least that is what BIG BLUE whispered to me! -Ego
Ive been posting around about my upcoming September charity paddle campaign. Though some of the Zoners would be interested as well!
(cut and paste from my donation site)...
For those of you who are just learning of my adventures as well as those who followed me in the past, Id like to extend a warm ALOHA!
This April after surviving a near deadly battle with debilitating anxiety and depression, I shared my new lease on life with the world by stand up paddling the entirety of the Catalina Channel solo and nonstop to benefit anxiety/depression research through the Wounded Warrior Project. I successfully completed a 45.2 mile nonstop journey from Avalon, Catalina Island to Dana Point Harbor, CA on April 6th, 2013.
HERE WE GO AGAIN!
Im going to take it a step further this time. Actually I plan to take this one right off the map! My crew has been picked, the boat is in order, our minds are focused, and our intentions are golden!
This SEPTEMBER 13th, 2013, myself and the crew of the Campbell Sloop will begin an attempt to SOLO STAND UP PADDLE THE CALIFORNIA CHANNEL ISLANDS CHAIN FROM OXNARD, CA TO DANA POINT, CA.
You read that right! Our goal is to launch from mainland California in Oxnard and touch each of the 8 islands in the chain over the period of one week ending us back at our home harbor of Dana Point, CA. The crew of the Sloop will be close at hand as I negotiate approximately 320 NAUTICAL MILES of open ocean with nothing but a 14 foot slab of foam beneath my feet and a 7 foot paddle in my hand.
The motivation behind these undertakings was my history as a U.S. Marine. I have so many friends who have come out of hot zones with severe symptoms of anxiety, depression, and PTSD. Many symptoms that I suffer from as well although not military related. It is of the utmost importance that I raise awareness for those who suffer from this silent and un-diagnosable disease.
For this challenge, Susan Campbell (Captain of the Sloop) has generously offered her time and vessel to me to help me complete my task. In turn, 50 percent of the funds raised from this event will go to her charity, Casa Hogar, benefiting orphaned children in Mexico.
I will be fundraising through this month and during the event as well as an undefined period of time afterwards. I have set a goal of $30,000 however I would love to surpass it and donate as much as possible to our respective charities. Please, please, please feel free to donate at http://www.gofundme.com/3xjulo as well as post my link on your Facebook, and Twitter pages as well as email as many friends as you can to ask the same of them. You can also visit my website AreYouInspiredYet.com or email me personally at Info@AreYouInspiredYet.com and I will put you on my update list for future events!
------Your favorite California Waterman, Will Schmidt-----
I am looking for an escort boat for a distance paddle that I have planned over the Labor Day weekend in SoCal. Approx from Pt Concepcion to South OC. Anyone up for an adventure or know someone you could refer me to for a boat? Preferably a sailboat so to save on gas. All expenses paid. PM me. -Ego
Hi Zoners, here is an update for my paddle across the channel. Lots of pics and vids to come but here is a fun video to start. I traversed the channel in 10 hours and 15 minutes with a grand total of 45.2 miles according to my Nike+ Sportband. We got blown around a bit so that accounted for the additional 5ish miles. There is a link to my fundraising site in the story that goes with this video for those of you who would still like to make a donation to the Wounded Warrior Project. Funding ends May 1st.
I have been keeping everyone informed about my charity paddle. Here is a copy of my latest update email in case anyone is interested. -Ego
Hello once again friends, family, fellow paddlers, and all of my supporters! It has been a wild ride since the inception of this paddle event. I am amazed at the overwhelming recognition and support that I have received. Here are some new fun updates and press releases!
--Professional Waterman and Lifestyle Athlete, Laird Hamilton, contacted me about posting on Laird's Facebook and Twitter. Take a minute to "like" and follow his page. https://www.facebook.com/LairdLife --
--I have been officially recognized as a Wounded Warriors Project charity event. The WWP has posted the links on their Twitter @wwpinc and @greenjobs4vets --
--SUP Gladiator and Fibre Glass Fin Co has offered up a new Pro Model Gladiator fin for the trip. Check them out at http://www.supgladiator.com/ with links to the Larry Allison Fin Co as well.--
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