Last weekend’s Surf to Sound standup paddleboard challenge attracted competitors from as far away as Canada. A few flew here. Some made the trip to Wrightsville Beach by car.
And then there’s Jules Gismondi and LouAnne Harris, from Manhattan, New York. These paddleboard instructors made the Surf to Sound just another stop on what is shaping up to be an incredible journey down the East Coast by way of paddleboard.
They call themselves the Atlantic SUPergirls, and the pair departed Manhattan on paddleboard Oct. 12, making their way toward their final destination: Key West. Besides embarking on the adventure of a lifetime and building camaraderie between themselves and the people they meet along the way, they also have a charitable goal.
“Our objective is to inspire action toward a healthier planet and a healthier way of life,” Gismondi said.
They weren’t here to compete with the dedicated paddleboarders who participated in the challenging Surf to Sound race, which traveled a course from the ocean at the Blockade Runner to the resort’s sound-side docks. Instead, they competed in Saturday’s Harbor Island competition, a 4-mile race on Banks Channel. On Sunday, the duo entered the more grueling 9-mile challenge of the flatwater competition.
In order to make it to the race on time, the pair got a ride from Virginia, but left their paddleboards there, rented race boards in Wrightsville Beach, and returned to Virginia and resumed their journey this week.
During the Surf to Sound event, Gismondi and Harris met fellow paddleboarders and raised money and awareness for two causes. One is Mission Blue, an organization seeking to establish marine protected areas over 20 percent of the world’s oceans. The other is First Descents, a group that provides outdoor adventures for young adults that have been impacted by cancer.
So far, the two have raised $12,000, toward their goal of $30,000.
But for them, it’s not just about raising money, but also about spreading awareness of their purpose, including preserving water quality. Along the way, they take water quality tests every few days.
“So far, the experience has been surreal,” Harris said.
The pair travels 15 to 20 miles a day, each on a standup paddleboard. Whether they paddle south on the Atlantic Ocean or take the Intracoastal Waterway depends upon the ocean conditions.
“We can handle the ocean if the swells aren’t bigger than three feet,” Gismondi said.
They carry with them a dry bag on their back of their paddleboards and two dry bags in the front. They also have a solar power unit that gives them power for their photos, which is vital for them to update their followers on social media platforms. Along the way, they pick up supplies to carry with them, often donated by fellow supporters of their cause.
“The best part is camping on the beach,” said Gismondi, who added they will stay in hotels or with friends on some occasions.
Originally scheduled to end their trip in Miami, the two have since decided to extend it to Key West. In Miami, they will join up with a group of friends for the final leg of the journey.
Their original plan was to make a long journey sometime next year. But they changed their plans after Gismondi successfully paddled around Long Island this summer.
“We wanted to do a longer trip,” Harris said. “So we said ‘Let’s just do it.’”
The pair concludes each day’s trip with a ritual that demonstrates the tight bond they have built.
“No matter what happens during the day out there, when we’re safe on land and done for the day, we hug,” Gismondi said.
Donations to the Atlantic SUPergirls can be made through their Go Fund Me site at https://www.gofundme.com/nyctomiabysup. You can follow and friend them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/atlanticsupergirls.
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