About The Project
The idea to do a challenging course from hood to coast came to me as me and my dad were driving up to hood to do backcountry split-boarding for the first time. My goal was to create a challenging, memorable and interesting trip that would allow me, and others, to see the beautiful route from hood to coast from outside of a car. As well as give both brands and me visibility. So, for the next month, I worked toward designing a feasible route and creating this website. My original plan was to swim across the Columbia river at some point, however I realized it would add way too much time, and exhaustion so would never make it to the coast in a reasonable amount of time. After about four remakes of the route I settled on the one below, Illumination rock to government camp, government camp to sandy ridge, loop sandy ridge, sandy ridge to short sands. This will incorporate split-boarding, running, mountain biking, road biking and surfing. The overall goal is to make it in seventeen hours, from peak to barrel, all during daylight.
I mainly want to do this because ever since it entered my head it was a personal challenge to myself, and I can never accept defeat on a challenge. Also it just seemed like such a cool idea I couldn't just let it go like some other ideas I've had. A lot of times I will let an idea go because I fell like its not possible or I'm just not passionate about it, but this one stayed in my brain like a parasite, eating at my thoughts and constantly on my mind until I realized I could actually pull it off. As soon as I realized it was plausible I dove into it. This is the outcome. I want this project and the resulting video and story to inspire others that think they are too young, or too unnoticed by their community to make themselves known, and let them know that it can be done. All they need is some time, passion and an idea.
THE NAME
The name came to me as I thought deeper about the purpose of this project, and where it could lead in the future. I wanted to use this course as a way to see the pacific northwest in a different way, from outside of vehicles and houses. It is also going to show other people the beauty of the outdoors. Sure, I made it into a challenge, but my base inspiration was to see everything from a new, more natural perspective. I hope that when people see it, it will challenge them to view their world in a new way.
THE NAME
The name came to me as I thought deeper about the purpose of this project, and where it could lead in the future. I wanted to use this course as a way to see the pacific northwest in a different way, from outside of vehicles and houses. It is also going to show other people the beauty of the outdoors. Sure, I made it into a challenge, but my base inspiration was to see everything from a new, more natural perspective. I hope that when people see it, it will challenge them to view their world in a new way.
About Me
My name is Skyler Purwins. I am fifteen, a sophomore in high school and live in the suburbs of Portland in the beautiful pacific northwest. I am addicted to working out, healthy food, the outdoors, Edward Abbey and adrenaline. Sports have been a part of my life since I was very young, I started skiing when I was 4, and learned to ride a bike at 3. I did the mundane sports like baseball for a bit before deciding I wanted a rowdier lifestyle. Through my later elementary school years I competitively scootered, until one of my buddies moved and I had nobody to ride with. I began doing taekwondo and lacrosse at the end of 5th grade, two years later I had my black belt and a couple medals, so I quit taekwondo, but play lacrosse to this day. After scootering I longboarded, that ended once I found mountain biking. My first trip on a real mountain bike trail I was riding an old trek hardtail and had zero braking ability. After the long, brutally rough ride I was hooked and immediately started looking at full suspension bikes. Ever since I got one I have been addicted to riding. I began weightlifting in eighth grade to get bigger for lacrosse, since then I have gained over fifty pounds and zero fat, and maintained my endurance and speed. I play midfield for lacrosse and run the second fastest mile on my team. Reading this might make you doubt that I can do the full 145 miles in the time allotted. I agree it seems far fetched, but consider that I am in perfect health and physical shape, able to run at a consistent 7 minutes per mile and am extraordinarily stubborn when it comes to physical challenges. I know for a fact that I can pull this off, and will be doing a dry run before the actual go. All I need is support.