Live Water Foundation's President Brian Meyer Bay Paddle Recap
by Brian Meyer September 28, 2021
The Bay Paddle for our President Brian Meyer, simply put, was the best water-based accomplishment of his life. The statement says a lot because Brian has pursued the Waterman lifestyle for all of his adult life and has been fortunate to be involved in some incredible water experiences. He grew up on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, frequenting the Chesapeake Bay from his childhood home on the Wicomico River.
As a teenager, Brian fell in love with surfing and the culture around the sport, which led him to attend the University of Hawaii. He surfed some of the best waves in the world and got introduced to the sport of paddling. He competed in the 2011 Molokai Hoe, the world championship outrigger canoe race. An event that is on any paddler's bucket list. Brian has also paddled in Tahiti and has competed in paddle races throughout North America and the Caribbean. Yet, the Bay Paddle is #1 in his book.
The Bay Paddle provided everything he ever wanted in a race, the ultimate challenge both physically and mentally.
Brian did not have any expectations going into the Bay paddle because he had never done a multi-day endurance race. The farthest he had ever paddled solo was 32 miles, and that was Chattajack which is flatwater - paddling don't he Chesapeake Bay is far from flat, and he knew he would get tested in all conditions.
Brian owes this experience to Chris Hopkinson, the Bay Paddle race director and the first person to paddle the entire length of the Chesapeake Bay, an achievement he accomplished in 2020 on a stand up paddleboard. Brian would also like to congratulate the other Bay Paddle solo paddlers and everyone who participated on the relay teams. Everyone should be very proud of their accomplishments; what they all achieved was historic.
Brian is already looking forward to doing the Bay Paddle next year, solo, but on his fliteboard (@fliteboard), an electric hydrofoil, which will allow him to go faster and be a bit less strenuous. This will give him more time to cheer everyone on!