Since OpenWater’s inception, Erin has been a steady force behind the scenes. She is a creative, an encourager, and the mom who ran everything smoothly at home so big dreams could take shape on the water. Born and raised in Huntington Beach, Erin built a career rooted in creativity and

Driven. Dedicated. Disciplined.  These are a few words that describe Gen Urquidi.  Born in the Philippines, Gen spent her first decade in Manila. Then, her family moved to Southern California, where she has called home for over 30 years.   Gen is a mother to three adult children. With her youngest

For Nani Kalama, paddling has always been more than a sport. It is a part of her culture. Her community. It is a way of life. “I was born and raised in Hawaii,” Nani shared. “My dad is Hawaiian. My mom is from California. They met in Hawaii surfing, so

This paddle represents more than endurance to me. It’s a way to process the past, mile by mile. Each stroke against the water feels like movement through the memories, the pain, and the chaos that still echo through my life. There’s a rhythm to it — pain turns into motion,

Meet Kevin — Active Duty Navy, Virginia Beach Ambassador, and 2024 Channel Crossing participant. Even though he didn’t know it at the time, the Channel Crossing would mark an epic change in his life. “I had settled on a direction of no longer physically challenging myself… Mentally there were a

The ocean is solace for a lot of people for a lot of reasons. For Huntington Beach firefighter and original OpenWater Rusty Anchor Kane Johnson, it’s a place to center himself, find peace, and as a first responder, recharge the batteries. Born in 1979, Johnson’s formative years unfolded against the