R2AK 2017 - Team Heart of Gold
Donation protected
Would you sign up for 750 MILES of paddling on a Stand Up Paddleboard? Karl Kruger of TEAM HEART OF GOLD did. And will.
Last June 2016, Karl joined a riotous array of watercraft bound from Port Townsend, WA to Ketchikan, AK. The second annual Race to Alaska (R2AK) had just begun, and the field of racers was entering "The Proving Grounds," a 40 miles stretch of open water, two sets of shipping lanes, and an international border. Successful completion of this first race leg, across the Straits of Juan de Fuca, would qualify racers for the second stage of the race....the remaining 710 miles to Alaska.
The Race to Alaska's website describes it like this: "It’s like the Iditarod, on a boat, with a chance of drowning, being run down by a freighter, or eaten by a grizzly bear. There are squalls, killer whales, tidal currents that run upwards of 20 miles an hour, and some of the most beautiful scenery on god’s green earth." And there are only two rules: No Engines, and No Support.
Karl, the solo member of TEAM HEART OF GOLD, registered for the race as the first and only Stand Up Paddle Boarder. Burly? Yes. Crazy? Just the right amount. In the words of the fantastic writers at R2AK, "Team Heart of Gold’s Karl Kruger wasn’t a guy with a board and a paddle and a delusional dream, he had planned and trained for a year—more than that, he had done the math. Lots of math. From calculating weight to knowing how far and how fast he could travel in every condition, to exactly how many calories he could subsist on and how he would get them."
Yes. The preparation and training for racing R2AK on a paddle board was intense. And there was absolutely nothing cavalier in the undertaking, nor in the doing. By day three of the second leg of the race, Team Heart of Gold's solo performance was ahead of even some of the trimarans (say whaaaatt!?!?)... and the level of emotional support we received via Facebook, email, and social media was incredible, heart-warming, and--just like the race that inspired it all--intense.
We were completely blown away by just how serious of a support squad TEAM HEART OF GOLD was blessed with. There were the R2AK Race Trackers following him every moment of the day. There were community members and friends who contributed financially to the undertaking. There were strangers on the dock who became new friends and unexpected benefactors. We were riding high on a wave of enthusiasm, Karl was paddling with great endurance... until it all unraveled. In planning for the race, Karl chose the best board he could... given that no one was making an exepedition race board at the time. With an increased load and heavy chop in the Straits, the board's behavior changed, suffered hairline cracks, and began taking on water. This in turn negatively affected how the board handled, and exacerbated the vulnerability of his weaker side. Ultimately paddling paddling four times more on his left side than he was on his right, Karl began suffering severe knee pain and chose to retire from the race before permanently injuring himself. It was time to go home, and time to start planning.... R2AK 2017.
This time, things will be different, starting with the board. TEAM HEART OF GOLD needs an expedition race Stand Up Paddle Board designed specifcally to the demanding parameters of R2AK. Karl has already spoken with Joe Bark of Bark Paddle Boards, the designer of more race winning boards than any other brand. The R2AK design is conceived, we are ready to begin, but we need to raise the funds for both the building of this R2AK SUP, and for the numerous expenses incurred by undertaking this race. Following is a breakdown of exactly how the money raised will be used:
Expedition Race SUP by Joe Bark: $5,500
Shipping Cost of Board; $500
R2AK Entry Fee: $850
Race Gear (personal locator beacon, handheld GPS, rain gear, spare half paddle): $1,000
Race Endurance Food: $650
Travel & Accommodations (pre & post race): $1,000
The sooner we are able to raise the funds for the board, the sooner it can be built and the sooner Karl can begin training on it for the race. Which raises the question; "Why would you do this race on a paddle board??"
The waters along this coast have been plied by paddle driven craft for millennia. Anyone who has dipped a blade in these waters can attest to that fact. The SUP is an attractive tool for this race because of its ruthless austerity, speed, simplicity and unfiltered experience.
SUP is a distillation of a millennia of evolution...hence, it is a powerful tool. It is not useful for moving much cargo...but it is potently useful for moving a person and their personal gear, very quickly, in a wide range of conditions...all traits that this race requires. Additionally, SUP provides many options for different stances and strokes to give the body a chance to recover.
Karl's approach is modeled on his years as an alpine climber...go light, go fast, and all discomforts will pass eventually. Every ounce is carefully considered.
Lastly, to crack the code of this coast by any craft is an achievement. To do it unsupported, ALONE, on a SUP... Yes, alone, but at once supported by the incredible community who was inspired by Karl's first attempt... This is the "Success of Failure". This is R2AK. This is Karl Kruger's posse.
Our goal is to raise the required funds by no later than January 1st, 2017. Once funds are available, it will take six weeks for the board to be built. The dream is that TEAM HEART OF GOLD will have plenty of time to train on the board before the starting gun on June 8th.
Training and Race updates will be posted on the Kruger Escapes - Ski, Sail, Surf Facebook page and website. (Jess loved getting to be the news/race correspondent last year). The whole thing was an incredible experience, and we hope you will join us in Karl's second bid to become the first Stand Up Paddle Boarder to complete R2AK. We hope you'll cheer from the starting line, or from a beach along the way, or across the web of social media that keeps us connected across great distances. We hope you'll stay glued to the R2AK Race Tracker, and we hope you'll know how much all of your support, enthusiasm and love means to us. We thank you. Again and again, we thank you for believing in Karl taking on this race. And we thank you for being an integral part of TEAM HEART OF GOLD. Paddle on!!
Last June 2016, Karl joined a riotous array of watercraft bound from Port Townsend, WA to Ketchikan, AK. The second annual Race to Alaska (R2AK) had just begun, and the field of racers was entering "The Proving Grounds," a 40 miles stretch of open water, two sets of shipping lanes, and an international border. Successful completion of this first race leg, across the Straits of Juan de Fuca, would qualify racers for the second stage of the race....the remaining 710 miles to Alaska.
The Race to Alaska's website describes it like this: "It’s like the Iditarod, on a boat, with a chance of drowning, being run down by a freighter, or eaten by a grizzly bear. There are squalls, killer whales, tidal currents that run upwards of 20 miles an hour, and some of the most beautiful scenery on god’s green earth." And there are only two rules: No Engines, and No Support.
Karl, the solo member of TEAM HEART OF GOLD, registered for the race as the first and only Stand Up Paddle Boarder. Burly? Yes. Crazy? Just the right amount. In the words of the fantastic writers at R2AK, "Team Heart of Gold’s Karl Kruger wasn’t a guy with a board and a paddle and a delusional dream, he had planned and trained for a year—more than that, he had done the math. Lots of math. From calculating weight to knowing how far and how fast he could travel in every condition, to exactly how many calories he could subsist on and how he would get them."
Yes. The preparation and training for racing R2AK on a paddle board was intense. And there was absolutely nothing cavalier in the undertaking, nor in the doing. By day three of the second leg of the race, Team Heart of Gold's solo performance was ahead of even some of the trimarans (say whaaaatt!?!?)... and the level of emotional support we received via Facebook, email, and social media was incredible, heart-warming, and--just like the race that inspired it all--intense.
We were completely blown away by just how serious of a support squad TEAM HEART OF GOLD was blessed with. There were the R2AK Race Trackers following him every moment of the day. There were community members and friends who contributed financially to the undertaking. There were strangers on the dock who became new friends and unexpected benefactors. We were riding high on a wave of enthusiasm, Karl was paddling with great endurance... until it all unraveled. In planning for the race, Karl chose the best board he could... given that no one was making an exepedition race board at the time. With an increased load and heavy chop in the Straits, the board's behavior changed, suffered hairline cracks, and began taking on water. This in turn negatively affected how the board handled, and exacerbated the vulnerability of his weaker side. Ultimately paddling paddling four times more on his left side than he was on his right, Karl began suffering severe knee pain and chose to retire from the race before permanently injuring himself. It was time to go home, and time to start planning.... R2AK 2017.
This time, things will be different, starting with the board. TEAM HEART OF GOLD needs an expedition race Stand Up Paddle Board designed specifcally to the demanding parameters of R2AK. Karl has already spoken with Joe Bark of Bark Paddle Boards, the designer of more race winning boards than any other brand. The R2AK design is conceived, we are ready to begin, but we need to raise the funds for both the building of this R2AK SUP, and for the numerous expenses incurred by undertaking this race. Following is a breakdown of exactly how the money raised will be used:
Expedition Race SUP by Joe Bark: $5,500
Shipping Cost of Board; $500
R2AK Entry Fee: $850
Race Gear (personal locator beacon, handheld GPS, rain gear, spare half paddle): $1,000
Race Endurance Food: $650
Travel & Accommodations (pre & post race): $1,000
The sooner we are able to raise the funds for the board, the sooner it can be built and the sooner Karl can begin training on it for the race. Which raises the question; "Why would you do this race on a paddle board??"
The waters along this coast have been plied by paddle driven craft for millennia. Anyone who has dipped a blade in these waters can attest to that fact. The SUP is an attractive tool for this race because of its ruthless austerity, speed, simplicity and unfiltered experience.
SUP is a distillation of a millennia of evolution...hence, it is a powerful tool. It is not useful for moving much cargo...but it is potently useful for moving a person and their personal gear, very quickly, in a wide range of conditions...all traits that this race requires. Additionally, SUP provides many options for different stances and strokes to give the body a chance to recover.
Karl's approach is modeled on his years as an alpine climber...go light, go fast, and all discomforts will pass eventually. Every ounce is carefully considered.
Lastly, to crack the code of this coast by any craft is an achievement. To do it unsupported, ALONE, on a SUP... Yes, alone, but at once supported by the incredible community who was inspired by Karl's first attempt... This is the "Success of Failure". This is R2AK. This is Karl Kruger's posse.
Our goal is to raise the required funds by no later than January 1st, 2017. Once funds are available, it will take six weeks for the board to be built. The dream is that TEAM HEART OF GOLD will have plenty of time to train on the board before the starting gun on June 8th.
Training and Race updates will be posted on the Kruger Escapes - Ski, Sail, Surf Facebook page and website. (Jess loved getting to be the news/race correspondent last year). The whole thing was an incredible experience, and we hope you will join us in Karl's second bid to become the first Stand Up Paddle Boarder to complete R2AK. We hope you'll cheer from the starting line, or from a beach along the way, or across the web of social media that keeps us connected across great distances. We hope you'll stay glued to the R2AK Race Tracker, and we hope you'll know how much all of your support, enthusiasm and love means to us. We thank you. Again and again, we thank you for believing in Karl taking on this race. And we thank you for being an integral part of TEAM HEART OF GOLD. Paddle on!!
Organizer
Jessica Kruger
Organizer
Skull Rock, WA