Sports
Inaugural Sail for Seldovia’s Young Sailor and Boat Builder
by Jenny Chissus
There are some things in life you might regret – like not following your dreams and having the courage to pursue a different path than your peers. This is not the case for young Richard – who at 13 years old – took action! All he wanted to do was – sail, and build his own sailboat.
When most 13 year olds are begging for a new PS4 game, paintball guns or money for Christmas, in 2013 all Richard wanted was marine plywood and plans to build a boat! Richard had found the plans for the perfect small boat online, on Phil Bolger’s website! His parents, Jen Gordon and Bruce Rein were more than supportive of his dreams and gave him the 10 sheets of marine plywood and boat plans he needed to get started on his project for his Christmas present!
Construction began in January 2014 in the neighbor’s garage! With his dad’s help – over the next year and a half, on weekends and after school, his dream came together!
“When I was sailing on our family boat I always thought it would be really cool to have my own boat, a little boat here that would actually be mine! We have a 14 foot Capri, but it is not ours, it’s my dad’s boss’ boat, but he lets us use it!” When I asked Richard what his favorite part about the process was, he smiled and replied, “Probably launching just a little bit ago!”
When asked what was the most challenging part of the project, he thought for a minute and said, “Making the mast was probably the hardest part. There’s two 2x4s, and we had to route out the inside of the boards to make them hollow, then we glued them together, and we had to turn a square post into a circle, it was just a lot of work!”
The boat’s name is “Lynx” – though she doesn’t have it painted on the boat quite yet. The name came from the design, which is called the Bobcat – and Richard thought that since the Lynx is an Alaska cat – that name fit perfectly!
It was a cloudy but totally calm day in the harbor, and I was enjoying a visit with Richard at the dock, while he waited for the wind to pick up! He kept looking out at the water and skies – I could see his longing to go – but knowing the sailing would be better if we got some wind – otherwise he’d be rowing!
This dream of sailing really started as a young boy – traveling with his experienced sailing parents on their boat. When asked what he liked about living aboard – his response was simple: “I liked all of it! I liked going to new places everyday, I love sailing, this is just the beginning. Once I’m out of high school, I have plans to sail around the world, solo.” I responded “Just like Dove?” and he smiled and shuffled his feet “Yea, Just like Dove, I’ve read that book dozens of times!”
He and his mom will be here in Seldovia all summer, “Sailing all summer!” He mentioned that he could probably fit one more person in the boat, and that it would be fun to have a friend along. (As proof of that, his mom, Jen, sent me this photo of Richard and Zac out for a cruise a few days later!)
Besides sailing all around the bay, he’s also looking forward to exploring! “I was actually thinking of taking the boat camping this summer, to hang a tarp over the boom.” As we parted ways he assured me that he’ll always wear his life jacket and that he’ll continue moving in the direction of his dreams!
Reminds me a bit of Mark Twain “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”
So Richard, at 14 you have already taken hold of a very simple – yet difficult concept, taking action towards making your dreams a reality!
We are happy for your success and persistence and hard work that brought you here to this day, making your dream happen – setting off in your own boat for the very first time!
Thanks for making Seldovia your first port of call, your home port and celebrating your inaugural sail with us! We wish you the very best in your endeavors and many days of strong winds and safe sailing!
“Watch The Chips Fly” – Another Huge Success
by Jenny Chissus
The excitement of the competition is palpable! The noise is something you can’t ignore – and the draw to the event site each day is something phenomenal! To see our beautiful natural spruce logs turn into incredible masterpieces each year in the most beautifully situated community in Alaska is an experience that becomes an addiction! If you’ve never seen a chainsaw carving competition, or been to Seldovia – you are missing out!
The Chainsaw Carving Competition is a very special Seldovia event, which not only brings a fantastic weekend of activity, excitement, art and fun to Seldovia, but adds a flavor to our town, a growing ‘outdoor museum’ of art that enriches our community that we are able to enjoy year-round!
This was Seldovia’s 9th Annual CICCC (Craft Invitational Chainsaw Carving Competition) which started in 2006 under the guidance and encouragement of two local carvers, Toby and Elaine Craft. (Pictured at the right) Toby and Elaine had competed before in chainsaw carving events and thought it would be a fantastic competition to host in Seldovia. There had always been the ice carving festival in Fairbanks, but the chainsaw carving of local spruce, this was the first of its kind in Alaska! Tom and Mary Glover were instrumental in gathering the committee and an amazing tradition was formed!
This year, along with two carvers from out-of-state, Jeff Samudosky from Gig Harbor, and Chris Foltz from North Bend Oregon, Toby and Elaine came all the way from Texas to be a part of our event as judges! We truly appreciated the opportunity to thank them in person for this GREAT idea – and acknowledge them for being the inspiration and the namesake of our competition! It was so good to see them again in Seldovia! Toby generously awarded our People’s Choice Winner – Jeff Samudosky, with a pair of beautiful hand carved orcas.
The Master Carvers for the 2014 Craft Invitational Chainsaw Carving Competition were:
Log 1
29″ x 8’4″
Rob Younkins
Anchorage, Alaska
Log 2
35″ x 8’9″
Jeff Samudosky
Gig Harbor, Washington
1st Place and People’s Choice
Log 3
31.5″ x 8’4″
Chris Foltz
North Bend, Oregon
3rd Place
Log 4
35″ x 8’5″
Ben Firth
Anchor Point, Alaska
Log 5
39″ x 7’4″
Derrick Stanton
Kenai, Alaska
2nd Place
With the competition this year, we have almost 50 carvings in our community, representing 9 years of competition! Some folks have referred to the masterpieces as Seldovia’s Outdoor Carving “Museum”! Most of the carvings are outdoors, under cover and in front of businesses and in parks about town, don’t miss those that are located inside the library, museum and Multi-purpose room! If you look at photo blogs from Seldovia, you will note that the majority of the photographers have found that our carvings are one of the most photographed items in Seldovia! The otters, the slough homes and the carvings are the symbols representing our community!
If you are a Chamber of Commerce member, and are interested in hosting one of the carvings at your place of business – please feel free to contact one of the Chainsaw Committee members for consideration. We have our 2014 carvings to place as well as a few others that will be relocated this year.
We want to extend a very appreciative thank you to our 1st Platinum Sponsor, Conoco Phillips, who was our top sponsor of the event this year. We are working with them as they are in the sponsorship position to select a carving of their choice from the competition to place in their corporate office! We will let you know when that is decided!
To the following Silver Sponsors who donated at least $1,000, in cash or in-kind: AeroTech LLC, Alaska Air Taxi, City of Seldovia, Elitewood Cabinets, Seldovia Fishing Adventures, Seldovia Chamber of Commerce, Seldovia Property and Winter Watch. Thank you for your very generous donations and assistance with this event!
We appreciate the community for their support and excitement in hosting the carvers and their families. Thank you to Tobben and Tanya Spurkland, Dick and Sammie Reason, Cory and Dawhn Bodyfelt, Brent and Raewyn Weyer with Seldovia Fishing Adventures and Mike and Nicola Holman who generously offered their homes and rooms to host our carvers this year!
I also have to acknowledge the most AWESOME Committee ever – that truly pulled together to bring this great event to you this year. Unfortunately, due to a family emergency, I had to fly out of Seldovia on the 1st day of the event, leaving the committee to manage the weekend without me. Thankfully, I have an incredible husband, Paul “Sonny” Chissus, who loves the Chainsaw Competition as much as I do, and we have a committee of fantastic individuals: Chris and Liane Crosta, Byron and Margie McCord and Suzie Stranik – who made it all come together!
Thank you to my in-laws, Paul and Ginny Chissus who rallied even more volunteers (Carolyn, Cathy, Harmony & Jan) to assist with the auctions and registration for the Mini Marathon as well as helped out in any other way that came about! Thanks for jumping in and doing whatever needed to be done to make things happen! We totally appreciate Tobben Spurkland who added his experience and professionalism to our 1st annual Mini Marathon! And to the Crosta family, including Bryce and Lindsey who helped mark the course and monitor the marathon! Thank you to Mike Webber and Mark Wegner who assisted on the site and helped Sonny with the logistics and details of running such a busy event!
Thank you so much to Chris and Liane Crosta who took great photos of the event – please enjoy their slideshow below!
To the carvers – Ben, Chris, Derrick, Jeff, and Rob – THANK YOU for being a part of our 9th Annual Craft Invitational Chainsaw Carving Competition! You guys are AMAZING, and we are thrilled to host you and your families! We are so fortunate to have your masterpieces become a part of our Seldovia Community! To Chris and Jeff, who took a chance – and flew all the way from Washington and Oregon to be a part of this small community event! We hope you have enjoyed your time in Seldovia, and that you could feel our appreciation and enjoy the small-town hospitality and exceptional working environment!! Isn’t this the MOST BEAUTIFUL setting for a competition you’ve ever seen? We hope that you will consider competing in our event in the future and bringing your families!
- In the women’s division, Naomi Gallien came in first place, with Jennifer Giles (Swick) in second, and Cola Lewis bringing up 3rd place.
- In the men’s category, Jeff Swick took 1st, Bryan Chartier with 2nd and Keith Swick came in 3rd.
- In the Senior division, Ed Packer took 1st place, and Margie and Byron McCord came in tied for 2nd.
- There was only one runner for the 10K this year – so Lars Spurkland won 1st place (that was easy!) – but I have to mention that he didn’t come in last overall due to the double distance – he crossed the finish line before 9 of the 5K competitors! Great job Lars!
- We did have a Red Lantern Award – which honors the last person to cross the finish line – and that went to Crystal and Courtney Collier!