Community Corner

Update: Will Schmidt's Catalina-to-Dana Point SUP Attempt Looking Good

The Laguna Niguel resident and former Marine will try to make the 40-mile stroke from Catalina to Dana Point on April 6.

So with just over a week to go, how's Laguna Niguel resident Will Schmidt doing with the prep work in his some-would-say-crazy attempt to stand-up paddleboard the 40 miles from Catalina to Dana Point, which we first wrote about earlier this month?

Pretty good, Schmidt tells Patch. He's nailed down some extra sponsors and determined his start time.

"I am looking to hit the water by 7 a.m. on April 6th, which will put me into Baby Beach between 1 and 3 p.m. that afternoon," Schmidt says. "The chase boat is ready to go, and we just have to get it there and hope for decent conditions."

Find out what's happening in Laguna Niguel-Dana Pointwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

As Schmidt says, the point of the marathon paddle is to raise awareness about depression and post-traumatic stress disorder issues. The former Marine has also landed sponsorship from KT Tape, SUP Gladiator, Green Jobs 4 Vets, and even his favorite band, 311.

The Wounded Warrior Project is also now officially on board as the beneficiary of any donations Schmidt raises from the paddle. You can donate directly to Schmidt's Wounded Warrior page by going here, or donate to his GoGetFunding page here as well.
 
Other than that, his paddleboard training continues -- sometimes by himself, but sometimes with his dolphin friends, which you can glean from the YouTube clip we've posted in the photo box above ...

Find out what's happening in Laguna Niguel-Dana Pointwith free, real-time updates from Patch.


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