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RJ, Laird Hamilton, Don Wildman, Jason Winn, Tim CommerfordBack in the saddle for Coach RJ for some ultraendurance racing action!
I’ve teamed up with my fitness friends in Malibu, CA from Team Surfing USA for the 2009 Race Across America (RAAM) bicycle event. This is not only a celebrity team—but also a team of highly skilled and well trained athletes, and important to me, ALL huge advocates of life-long fitness and health.
I’ll be the crew chief for our bike team that will race 3,000 miles across America from Oceanside California to Annapolis, Maryland. We have four racers and 24 crew members, a tour bus, a large RV, two race vans, and one crew chief/mechanic van—plus our trailer hauling the surf boards, extra bikes, and even a cool scooter for Coach RJ’s occasional roadside spins. I’m taking three people very special to me…Kevin Rail, fellow Avenger of Health and my partner in The Lean Berets, Jim Marchesini, my kettlebell training partner and work colleague, and Marlee Bisbey, my world-class massage therapist and RAAM racer veteran that helped me in 1995-96.
We leave Saturday, June 20th and will push to finish on Thursday, June 25th. Since this is a “Surfer” bike team, they must hit the waves! Plus these guys love to get a great workout whether it be land or sea and rarely want anything less than maximum output and effort. They will be on the surf paddle boards for about 24 hours straight from Malibu to Oceanside the day before the race. We’re hauling the boards across the USA with us. After the finish of the RAAM, we’ll bike 240 miles or so to NY where they will hit the ocean again and then paddle surf into NYC. We’ll be covered by Today Show as we finish this amazing transcontinental surfing and biking journey. If we are time, look for our TV coverage on Friday, the 26th (Saturday at the latest).
We are shooting a film documentary to chronicle the journey’s purpose or raising charity for ALS, Autism, and bicycle advocacy. The film producer is legendary Don King-called the “Zen Master” of surf and skate epic films like Blue Crush and Lords of Dogtown. King is the same producer that has done Laird’s surfing movies. I’ll also be shooting some professional photos to document the event as well.
This is a four-man relay team that will race 24/7 for 3,000 miles. It will take us around 5 ½ days to arrive depending upon weather, etc.
Here are my friends and All-Star Team:
Don Wildman (Founder, Bally’s Fitness, age 76 and still going strong!)
http://www.esquire.com/features/don-wildman-0508
Laird Hamilton (Pro Surfing Legend, Big Wave Expert, Surf Innovator)
http://www.lairdhamilton.com
Tim Commerford (Bass Player for Rage Against the Machine rock band)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_Commerford
Jason Winn (Founder and President, Bonk Breaker Energy Bars)
http://www.bonkbreaker.com
RAAM Homepage:
http://www.raceacrossamerica.org
I’ve raced RAAM twice winning with my team in 1995 and 1996. In 96, we set a new world record of 5 days, 6 hours, and 4 minutes with an average speed of 23.0 MPH. In 1997, I was the crew chief for Team Brazil from Sao Paulo. It’s been a while, but some things never change in RAAM…INTENSITY!!! What I really love about these guys and everyone on the crew is that they all throw down…gotta love the throw downs of fitness horsepower Comrades!
See ya in 3000 miles Dudes!
Cowabunga,
Coach RJ, Co-Founder, The Lean Berets
I’ve teamed up with my fitness friends in Malibu, CA from Team Surfing USA for the 2009 Race Across America (RAAM) bicycle event. This is not only a celebrity team—but also a team of highly skilled and well trained athletes, and important to me, ALL huge advocates of life-long fitness and health.
I’ll be the crew chief for our bike team that will race 3,000 miles across America from Oceanside California to Annapolis, Maryland. We have four racers and 24 crew members, a tour bus, a large RV, two race vans, and one crew chief/mechanic van—plus our trailer hauling the surf boards, extra bikes, and even a cool scooter for Coach RJ’s occasional roadside spins. I’m taking three people very special to me…Kevin Rail, fellow Avenger of Health and my partner in The Lean Berets, Jim Marchesini, my kettlebell training partner and work colleague, and Marlee Bisbey, my world-class massage therapist and RAAM racer veteran that helped me in 1995-96.
We leave Saturday, June 20th and will push to finish on Thursday, June 25th. Since this is a “Surfer” bike team, they must hit the waves! Plus these guys love to get a great workout whether it be land or sea and rarely want anything less than maximum output and effort. They will be on the surf paddle boards for about 24 hours straight from Malibu to Oceanside the day before the race. We’re hauling the boards across the USA with us. After the finish of the RAAM, we’ll bike 240 miles or so to NY where they will hit the ocean again and then paddle surf into NYC. We’ll be covered by Today Show as we finish this amazing transcontinental surfing and biking journey. If we are time, look for our TV coverage on Friday, the 26th (Saturday at the latest).
We are shooting a film documentary to chronicle the journey’s purpose or raising charity for ALS, Autism, and bicycle advocacy. The film producer is legendary Don King-called the “Zen Master” of surf and skate epic films like Blue Crush and Lords of Dogtown. King is the same producer that has done Laird’s surfing movies. I’ll also be shooting some professional photos to document the event as well.
This is a four-man relay team that will race 24/7 for 3,000 miles. It will take us around 5 ½ days to arrive depending upon weather, etc.
Here are my friends and All-Star Team:
Don Wildman (Founder, Bally’s Fitness, age 76 and still going strong!)
http://www.esquire.com/features/don-wildman-0508
Laird Hamilton (Pro Surfing Legend, Big Wave Expert, Surf Innovator)
http://www.lairdhamilton.com
Tim Commerford (Bass Player for Rage Against the Machine rock band)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_Commerford
Jason Winn (Founder and President, Bonk Breaker Energy Bars)
http://www.bonkbreaker.com
RAAM Homepage:
http://www.raceacrossamerica.org
I’ve raced RAAM twice winning with my team in 1995 and 1996. In 96, we set a new world record of 5 days, 6 hours, and 4 minutes with an average speed of 23.0 MPH. In 1997, I was the crew chief for Team Brazil from Sao Paulo. It’s been a while, but some things never change in RAAM…INTENSITY!!! What I really love about these guys and everyone on the crew is that they all throw down…gotta love the throw downs of fitness horsepower Comrades!
See ya in 3000 miles Dudes!
Cowabunga,
Coach RJ, Co-Founder, The Lean Berets
Avengers of Health!
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3 comments:
You guys are inspirational. As if the RAAM is not difficult enough, you decide to throw in some paddle surfing before and after. Best of luck!
Wow, this truly is an all-star team!!
Good luck to all of you on your training!!! I can't wait to see you at the 4th of July party which should be Rocken' as usual! Until then Happy Father's Day to the coolest, toughest Grandpa around! :)
Great to see such a diverse group of guys take up the challenge!...sorry to read about the crash. all the best and see you on the road :)
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