BEN DID GO 10.0
Words by Tony Wodarck
Florence is proud to once again support such an integral event in the Newport Beach community. The Ben Did Go 10.0 is a channel crossing held in honor of fallen lifeguard Ben Carlson, who gave his life rescuing a distressed swimmer on Fourth of July weekend in 2014.
Photo: Tim BurnhamThis year, more than 130 paddlers trained all summer to make the 30 mile crossing from Avalon back to Newport in Ben’s honor. Together, we raised nearly half a million dollars for water safety initiatives that directly impact our community, funds that are already saving lives. To everyone who donated and helped us hit our goal: thank you. Your support means the ocean is safer every day for my family, for yours, and for everyone who enters the water.
Photos: Tim BurnhamThese long endurance events are as much problem-solving exercises as they are physical challenges. Last year I learned the hard way about under-fueling, relying too heavily on flavored gels until I felt nauseous and was on a bit of an energy rollercoaster. This year I came prepared: Tailwind drink mix, Maurten gels, and solid food at every stop. I averaged over 85 grams of carbs an hour, and for the first time, felt strong from start to finish.
Equipment matters, too. I wore Hydratight Shorts under Cordura Airtex Boardshorts and paired them with the Utility Pocket Long Sleeve Rashguard. Each piece had its role—the tights let me shed a long john wetsuit mid-channel without issue, the Cordura Airtex boardies are my tried-and-true favorite after thousands of miles, and the rashguard not only gave me sun protection but extra storage for gels and headphones. On my head, my go-to Airtex Unstructured Hat, the only hat I’ve trusted for the past three years.
We couldn’t have asked for better conditions: 30 miles of wind at our backs, mostly overcast skies to stay cool, warm 70+ degree water, and a current carrying us straight home. It was a gift, especially compared to last year when we battled headwind and current for half the day.
The only thing better than the conditions? Sharing them with friends. Huge thanks to Jack, Katie, and Slader Bark, and Davy Thomas for making the crossing alongside us, and to my friend, coworker, and training partner Kayla Coscino for pulling off the logistics with ease while also being one of the strongest paddlers out there. She was the glue that held our whole operation together.
By the time we hit land, my lips were fried, my eyes were sunburnt, and my body still swayed like I was on the Mai Tai (the boat, not the drink). My shoulders were worked, but those aches will fade. The memory of Ben, and the community that continues to honor him, will last forever.
Words by Kayla Coscino
There’s not much more you can ask for than the day we had for the Ben Did Go 10.0. The conditions, the experience, and the impact of Saturday, September 13th are things that will stick with me—and 130 others—for a long time to come.
This year was my second year paddling from Avalon to Newport in honor of Ben Carlson, and my mindset going into was much different than last year. Last year, I was fighting for myself, just trying to keep up, head down, paddling hard to finish. With everything I learned last year, I was able to go into this year with a much more relaxed approach. No music, no strict knee paddling intervals, no worrying about where I was in the pack. This year, I wanted to share all the moments of the crossing with the people around me and truly enjoy every part of it, the easy parts and the hard parts.
I am lucky to say that the conditions we got allowed for that. There were so many familiar and unfamiliar faces I got to spend time talking to over that 7.5 hours and I think that is one of the best things that comes out of an event like this. While we are all there together for the same cause, supporting the same person, honoring Ben, we are also challenging ourselves physically and mentally. It can be lonely and brutal at times, but I am positive that each paddler out there on Saturday felt an overwhelming feeling of support and community, which I am honored to be a part of. The work we have done to honor Ben and raise funds to support ocean safety and lifeguards is something to celebrate. And the physical and mental challenge we all overcame is something to be proud of as well. To me, Saturday’s channel crossing was a reminder of the reward (or the sweet treat) we get after pushing ourselves and doing something very hard.
My tested gear was: Utility Pocket Hooded Rashguard, which I used the pocket to keep my waterproof digital camera in.
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