Uncategorized
Paddling race on Flathead Lake to benefit young adults with cancer
Published
12 years agoon
Epic Shore to Shore race Aug. 4 raises money for First Descents
By Emily Stifler, Explorebigsky.com Managing Editor
KALISPELL – A new race on northwest Montana’s Flathead Lake will challenge sea kayakers and other paddle-sports enthusiasts to challenge themselves while also raising money to support adventure therapy for young adults with cancer.
The inaugural Shore to Shore race, will benefit First Descents, a Denver, Colo.-based nonprofit. The event, held on Aug. 4, will host the 24-mile “epic” race for teams or solo paddlers, a 9.5-mile intermediate race and a fun 4.5-mile paddle. Beginning on the south end of Flathead Lake, the racers will crisscross the bays and inlets along the west shore of the lake.
First Descents founder and CEO Brad Ludden, 31, grew up in Kalispell and was a professional whitewater kayaker for 15 years. In that time he became Nike’s first sponsored kayaker, traveled to 40 countries to paddle, and did more than 100 first descents. Last year, after 11 years with Nike, he switched to Teva.
He started First Descents 12 years ago because his aunt was diagnosed with cancer when he was a young man, and it had “a pretty big impact on me.” Shortly after that, he started volunteering with his mother for a local pediatric oncology program, every summer taking his kayaks to the camp to teach the kids to paddle.
“I fell in love with it and decided to start my own nonprofit to serve people with cancer through the experience of kayaking,” Brad said. “I chose young adults because my aunt was a young adult and literally had no resources available to her so I recognized a need.”
With programs nationwide, First Descents offers young adult cancer fighters and survivors free outdoor adventures “designed to empower them to climb, paddle and surf beyond their diagnosis, defy their cancer, reclaim their lives and connect with others doing the same,” according to its mission statement.
“It’s something I’m as passionate about—or even more—than kayaking,” Brad said.
First Descents’ fundraising platform, Team FD, has been growing quickly since Brad started working full time on it last year. Two years ago it raised $120,000, last year $800,000, and this year Brad said it’s aiming for $1.25 million. The Shore to Shore race raised $3,000 the day it was first announced, July 15.
According to the Team FD mission, “it’s about each individual picking an activity which represents a challenge to him or her, training for it, setting a fundraising goal and completing that challenge.”
Brad’s family still lives in Kalispell, and he credits his mother with the idea for the Flathead Lake event and his father Chuck for organizing it. The Luddens organized past Big Fork Whitewater Festivals and have been paddlers for more than 20 years.
The Kalispell community has been First Descents’ largest supporter and helped it get off its feet, Brad said.
Chuck hopes to have at least 50 participants in the Shore to Shore race, and imagines there will be a mix of serious racers and also groups there to get out as a group and paddle for fun.
“If you do the epic, it’s the longest flatwater race on fresh water in the country,” Chuck said.
It’s also the same weekend as the wooden boat show in Lakeside, so the lake will be buzzing with festivities, Chuck said.
Participants can register on the Epic Shore to Shore website, epicshoretoshore.com, and follow race information on the event Facebook page. Event sponsors include Kalispell Toyota and Hammer Nutrition.
For more information, visit firstdescents.org or epicshoretoshore.com.
Megan Paulson is the Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer of Outlaw Partners.
Upcoming Events
april, 2024
Event Type :
All
All
Arts
Education
Music
Other
Sports
Event Details
Children turning 5 on or before 9/10/2024:
more
Event Details
Children turning 5 on or before
9/10/2024: Kindergarten
enrollment for the 2024-2025 school year can be completed by following the
registration process now.
Children
born on or after September 11, 2019: 4K enrollment is now open for
families that have a 4-year-old they would like to enroll in our program for
the 2023-2024 school year. Please complete the 4K Interest Form to
express your interest. Completing this form does not guarantee enrollment into
the 4K program. Enrollment is capped at twenty 4-year-olds currently
residing within Big Sky School District boundary full time and will be
determined by birth date in calendar order of those born on or after September
11, 2018. Interest form closes on May 30th.
Enrollment now is critical for fall preparations. Thank you!
Time
February 26 (Monday) - April 21 (Sunday)
Event Details
Saturday, March 23rd 6:00-8:00pm We will combine the heart-opening powers of cacao with the transcendental powers of breathwork and sound. Together, these practices will give us the opportunity for a deep
more
Event Details
Saturday, March 23rd 6:00-8:00pm
Time
March 23 (Saturday) 6:00 pm - April 23 (Tuesday) 8:00 pm
Location
Santosha Wellness Center
169 Snowy Mountain Circle
Event Details
We all are familiar with using a limited palette, but do you use one? Do you know how to use a
more
Event Details
We all are familiar with using a limited palette, but do you use one? Do you know how to use a limited palette to create different color combinations? Are you tired of carrying around 15-20 different tubes when you paint plein air? Have you ever wanted to create a certain “mood” in a painting but failed? Do you create a lot of mud? Do you struggle to achieve color harmony? All these problems are addressed in John’s workbook in clear and concise language!
Based on the bestselling “Limited Palatte, Unlimited Color” workbook written by John Pototschnik, the workshop is run by Maggie Shane and Annie McCoy, accomplished landscape (acrylic) and plein air (oil) artists,exhibitors at the Big Sky Artists’ Studio & Gallery and members of the Big Sky Artists Collective.
Each student will receive a copy of “Limited Palette, Unlimited Color” to keep and take home to continue your limited palette journey. We will show you how to use the color wheel and mix your own clean mixtures to successfully create a mood for your paintings.
Each day, we will create a different limited palette color chart and paint a version of a simple landscape using John’s directives. You will then be able to go home and paint more schemes using the book for guidance.
Workshop is open to painters (oil or acrylic) of any level although students must have some basic knowledge of the medium he or she uses. Students will be provided the book ($92 value), color wheel, value scale and canvas papers to complete the daily exercises.
Sundays, April 14, 21 and 28, 2024
Noon until 6PM.
$170.
Time
14 (Sunday) 12:00 pm - 28 (Sunday) 6:00 pm
Event Details
Come join us at Cowboy Coffee as we celebrate a fun night of drinks, games, and meeting others within the community. This event is from 6-8 and all are welcome
Event Details
Come join us at Cowboy Coffee as we celebrate a fun night of drinks, games, and meeting others within the community. This event is from 6-8 and all are welcome to come, if you don’t know who to bring come alone this is a great mixer event! This is an event hosted by Big Sky OUT as we work to provide queer safe spaces throughout the community.
Time
(Sunday) 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Location
Cowboy Coffee
25 Town Center Ave. Big Sky, MT 59716