Asbury Park Man To Represent NJ At Paddle Boarding Marathon

As one of Asbury Park’s preeminent traditional prone paddlers, local resident Ryan Matthews is preparing for one of the world’s most challenging paddling events, SEA Paddle NYC, which takes place Saturday, August 3, and is hosted by the Surfer’s Environmental Alliance.

Matthews, a SEA Paddle ambassador and elite paddler will be one of over 100 paddlers from as far away as Hawaii, who will glide their way around the waters of Manhattan in a grueling, 25-mile course that traverses some of the world’s most dangerous waters.

In the process, they’ll be raising funds in support of various autism and environmental causes that protect the waters off the New Jersey coast and beyond.

This is Matthews’ eighth year tackling the event. Matthews has been with the organization since the first SEA Paddle event in 2007.

“The community that is built around the SEA Paddle is important to me,” Matthews said. “I love seeing these paddlers at other races. We always ask one another, ‘Are you coming back?’ The answer is almost always a big YES from everyone.”

Matthews says it’s so rewarding to see new faces paddling every year: “Each year there are a few new faces among the veterans that are both stoked and a little fearful of paddling 25 miles around Manhattan. Hopefully, they’ll catch the same bug as those of us who return every year.”

While Matthews loves every part of the event, he admits that he looks forward to paddling under the George Washington Bridge the most.

He notes that the event is about much more than just winning or losing. Matthews explained, “I have had years where I’m competitive, and some years when I am not. Both bring the same excitement because I know I’m supporting some great causes, like helping people deal with autism or working to save the environment.”

The success of this charity event depends highly on those who volunteer, participate, and donate, and Matthews urges people to participate in some way—paddling, volunteering, donating or just spreading the word on their social media.

To learn more or register for the event, visit http://seapaddlenyc.org.