With over 30 participants in Virginia Beach, Kevin’s focus has been to get people on the water. He wants them to experience the impact of OpenWater through community and time on the water, like he has. With intentionality and warmth, OpenWater’s chapter in Virginia Beach is growing each year.
“We’ve been getting on the water more, getting reps,” Kevin explains, who leads the Virginia Beach chapter. He was a part of the class of 2024.
Since 2024, California native and Navy Veteran Kevin has led the chapter. He was tapped in by Seamus, who was a part of the Class of 2022.
“We worked together in the Navy. He told me, ‘Hey man, you should do this thing.’” After Seamus moved and Kevin returned from the Veteran’s Day Channel Crossing, Kevin decided to take lead, continuing to bring the OpenWater experience to the East Coast.
“For me, OpenWater reconnected me to the water.” Kevin said, “My whole thing has been to get folks together, have some fellowship, community with those you have shared experiences with and a shared love for the water. That’s what we’ve been focusing on.”
Growing primarily through word of mouth, Virginia Beach has another participant at this year’s Performance Camp – JT, an eight-year Fireman at the Virginia Beach Fire Department. As neighbors and friends witness the unique impact and challenge OpenWater brings, the interest has been growing.
“The dream and goal is that we’ll have a few folks go through Performance Camp and the Channel Crossing, and bring back the stoke to the East Coast,” Kevin says, “Virginia Beach can have its own flavor and our own community, so to bring that California experience here.”
As weather is unpredictable on the East Coast, events often depend on daily conditions. When water conditions are clear, it can be a fantastic, glassy day. More often than not, however, ocean conditions are affected by the Chesapeake Bay, James River, various storms, and different inlets that all feed into the unpredictability of swells and tides.
“There’s been a couple funny stories when we have plenty of time, start paddling back and the tide turns against us. Then, we’re paddling our butts off so everyone can get to work on time.”
Kevin describes local engagement as a “slow, steady wave.” A majority of the growth has been through word of mouth. Local senior watermen have recently got involved, wanting to help grow the chapter through offering their homes for cookouts or sharing their knowledge of the sea. The Virginia Beach Fire Department has offered to host events and store boards as needed.
Last year, OWVB hosted a pilot event with over a dozen attendees. They crossed a part of the Chesapeake Bay – from the Eastern Shore to Virginia Beach. The paddle was choppy and challenging, but local support brought the paddlers together for the adventure. “We integrated support from Virginia Beach Fire, Police, and EMS.”
This summer, OWVB hosted an Adventure Paddle down the oceanfront. They continue to add more events and bring the local community together.
“Everything that we do, we’re focused on getting people on the water and giving them the OpenWater experience.” Kevin explains.
Kevin’s long-term hope for the Virginia Beach chapter is to continue to establish a community along the East Coast, host qualifying events for participants across the nation, and to truly have a “soul of its own.”
“I hope we can keep the steam moving forward, get more people out there, come back stoked, and want to pass it on to the next guy.” Kevin explains.
“It’s been cool to see it grow over the years. It’s been steady, and it’s cool to see people coming together in this shared experience in this medium that we all love and respect and be together and have some fun. That’s been the coolest part – to watch this slowly wind together,” Kevin shares.
