Coastal Racing - Coastal Racing Club

 BIKES FOR THE WORLD

Club members voted Bikes for the World as our official club charity for 2008. Bikes for the World, in partnership with Coastal Racing Club, collects repairable or better-condition complete (or nearly-complete) bicycles and usable bike parts, for donation in developing countries.

Win cool schwag during the Coastal Crit* when you donate a repairable or better-condition, complete (or nearly-complete) bicycle or usable bike parts to the charity Bikes for the World. At the race, we will collect ANY serviceable bicycle, adult or children’s size, accompanied by a suggested $10 per bike donation to defray overseas shipping costs.   *must include $10 donation.

For more information, click here . 

OPERATION KUCHI DROP 

Coastal Racer Kim Torgerson organizes a shipment of clothing, jackets and shoes to send over to Afghanistan. As a club, our members donate clothes, cold weather gear, Kites, tooth brushes, toothpaste and sock puppets, among other great donations, around the first of May.

The Kuchi Tribes of Afghanistan are very poor and live as Nomads across the country. They live in tents and old abandoned facilities... pretty much anywhere that will protect them from the extremely harsh climate of Afghanistan. The children are no different then we were as kids, except that they grow up in a much less fortunate environment. The used clothing and such that you can provide will be delivered and distributed to the Kuchi Tribes by both American Contractors and U.S. Military forces operating out of remote Forward Bases.

Please email Coastal Racer This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it if you want to donate any used items or have any other ideas that might put a smile on a kids face. Kim would like to begin shipping things to Kabul as early as the 1st of May.

CAPE HENRY DUATHLON & RUNFEST

Coastal Racing supports the Cape Henry Duathlon & Runfest - a charitable race supporting the Virginia Beach Juvenile & Domestic Relations Circuit Court -  in November. Coastal Racing helps offset race expenses by supplying and manning the main race snack tent.

VIRGINIA BEACH LIFESAVING ASSOCIATION

Coastal Racing partners with the Virginia Beach Lifesaving Association (VBLA) for this summer’s Ocean Swim Series July 13, 27 & August 16 – (1K – 1K/3K – 1K/5K). The mission of VBLA is to spread the word about beach safety:

Learn To Swim: Learning to swim is the best defense against drowning. Teach children to swim at an early age. Children who are not taught when they are very young tend to avoid swim instruction as they age, probably due to embarrassment. Swimming instruction is a crucial step to protecting children from injury or death.

Swim Near a Lifeguard: USLA statistics over a ten year period show that the chance of drowning at the beach without lifeguard protection is almost five times as great as drowning at a beach with lifeguards. USLA has calculated the chance that a person will drown while attending a beach protected by USLA affiliated lifeguards at 1 in 18 million (.0000055%).

Never Swim Alone: Many drownings involve single swimmers. When you swim with a buddy, if one of you has a problem, the other may be able to help, including signaling for assistance from others. At least have someone onshore watching you. Always ask lifeguards about ocean conditions.

Don't Fight the Current: USLA has found that some 80% of rescues by USLA affiliated lifeguards at ocean beaches are caused by rip currents. These currents are formed by surf and gravity, because once surf pushes water up the slope of the beach, gravity pulls it back. This can create concentrated rivers of water moving offshore. Some people mistakenly call this an undertow, but there is no undercurrent, just an offshore current. If you are caught in a rip current, don't fight it by trying to swim directly to shore. Instead, swim parallel to shore until you feel the current relax, then swim to shore. Most rip currents are narrow and a short swim parallel to shore will bring you to safety. Know your ability.

Swim Sober: Alcohol is a major factor in drowning. Alcohol can reduce body temperature and impair swimming ability. Perhaps more importantly, both alcohol and drugs impair good judgment, which may cause people to take risks they would not otherwise take.

Leash Your Board: Surfboards and body boards should be used only with a leash. Leashes are usually attached to the board and the ankle or wrist. They are available in most shops where surfboards and body boards are sold or rented. With a leash, the user will not become separated from the floatation device. One additional consideration is a breakaway leash. A few drownings have been attributed to leashes becoming entangled in underwater obstructions. A breakaway leash avoids this problem.

Don't Float Where You Can't Swim: Non-swimmers often use floatation devices, like inflatable rafts, to go offshore. If they fall off, they can quickly drown. No one should use a floatation device unless they are able to swim. Use of a leash is not enough because a non-swimmer may panic and be unable to swim back to the floatation device, even with a leash. The only exception is a person wearing a Coast Guard approved life jacket.

Don't Dive Headfirst, Protect Your Neck: Serious, lifelong injuries, including paraplegia, occur every year due to diving headfirst into unknown water and striking the bottom. Bodysurfing can result in a serious neck injury when the swimmer's neck strikes the bottom. Check for depth and obstructions before diving, then go in feet first the first time; and use caution while bodysurfing, always extending a hand ahead of you.