Last Saturday Heather, Hayden and I traveled to the Jericho Sailing Center in Vancouver, BC, for the 10th annual Oceanman Swim-Paddle-Run Triathlon. Heather did the family name proud by winning the Iron Women’s division (you can read her blog HERE) while Hayden and I supported her as “shore crew.”
A couple hours after the race we were enjoying a salmon feast on the beach when a small flotilla of orange kayaks paddled up from the south. We ran out onto the pier to investigate, and learned that this was no ordinary kayak trip. It was the Coastal T.E.A.M. Challenge wrapping up their 9-day voyage from Anacortes. The paddlers were all injured military veterans from the U.S. and Canada, and they had paddled and camped the entire way, having set out on August 1st.

World T.E.A.M. Sports, based in Southborough, Massachusetts, posts this Mission Statement on their website: 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.

The organization’s website, www.worldteamsports.org, features other events they’ve pulled off with able-bodied and disabled veterans, including multi-sport adventure races, 100+ mile bike rides, white water rafting challenges and more. The photos galleries are exceptional and worth checking out.
We haven’t heard of or been aware of this organization up ‘til now, but seeing the kayakers pull up to the pier at Jericho looking just as fit and professional as any expedition I’ve come across… was truly inspiring. Check it out!

~In the Spirit of Compassion and Adventure~

Heather, Brandon and Hayden