I wanted to share a new project I’ve been working on—a podcast. A few months ago, my friend, Kurtis Loftus reached out with a “wild idea” to start a show focused on men’s mental, physical, and spiritual well-being.
For those who don’t know him, Kurtis is an accomplished creative—a former marketing firm owner, endurance athlete & two-time world-record-holding surfer, and founder of Jacksonville Beach’s “Deck the Chairs” event and arts program. He’s also a Christian and longtime mentor in recovery.
Kurtis and I share a lot—surfing, faith, creativity, and, most recently, cancer. He’s been fighting (and winning) a battle with stage 3 prostate cancer while I’ve been on my own journey, and that connection led us to co-host this podcast together. We’re diving into topics like perseverance, fear, love, motivation, and the human spirit.
Episodes are about 45 minutes long, and we’re planning to start bringing on guests soon, experts and other men with their own stories. We’re not doing it for money—just hoping it helps even one person who might need it. You can check it out here, below (this particular episode dives into my cancer experience): If it resonates, feel free to subscribe.
Friends, I regret to share that my journey in Outside Magazine’s Ultimate Explorer competition ended one round short of the Final last Thursday. I placed 4th in my Semifinal Group despite the incredible support from all of you and giving it my all. Gretchen and I are truly amazed and humbled by how many of you worked so hard to take me from 80,000 competitors to the final 64—and almost to the final eight! Just realizing that we have so many people who love and care for us– friends and family who would commit so much to try and will us to victory, means more to us than winning ever could.
We are deeply grateful to everyone who invested their time, energy and resources to help us. Know that all donations were directed to the National Parks Foundation, as worthy an organization as you will find, and one that happens to be in serious need now.
We also want to thank all of you who’ve supported us throughout my healthcare journey this year in so many practical and encouraging ways. Please continue sending your prayers—this is a challenge that I am winning, one in which I will prevail.
I entered this competition as an idea for how Gretchen and our family might celebrate the end of my chemo treatment in December and our 30th Anniversary in May. Rest assured, we still intend to commemorate these milestones in a very special way. This year has been unforgettable for so many reasons, and we’re so grateful to have all of you by our side this entire time.
CONFIRMED! I made it to the Semi-Finals of the Ultimate Explorer competition! Voting has already re-opened (October 4th) and it ends next Thursday, October 10th! The Final then runs from October 11th to October 17th. There are 8 groups of 8 people in the Semis, just 64 of us left. This is after 2 months and a competition that started with close to 80,000 competitors. THANK YOU EVERYONE for your votes and support in helping me get this far! You can vote every day for FREE! Below is my voting/profile link!
Friends and fam- I just wanted to report that I won my Group and made it to the Quarterfinals in Outside Magazine’s Ultimate Explorer competition! Votes now reset for the Quarters starting Sept. 23rd. The Semifinals begin Oct. 4th, and the Final, Oct. 11th. You can still vote for free everyday (the vote/profile link is in my bio). If you wish to purchase votes (with all funds going to the National Parks Foundation), then wait for the 2-for-1 vote days!
Thanks to all who helped me get so far in this comp! Gretchen and I appreciate your valuable time, generosity, and support. We’re getting excited about potentially being in position to win, although it’s going to be tough these last three rounds! It’s been a wild ride and we appreciate NEFL showing out in this national comp!
P.S. A lot of folks have been asking me about how many people I am/have been competing against in this competition. As a Quarterfinalist, I’m now in the Top 1%. There are currently 768 people left of the nearly 80,000 who started the contest. We are divided into 64 Groups of 12 people each. I am in first place in my Quarterfinal Group of 12, with 2 rounds left (the Semis and the Final).
I received confirmation on Thursday that I had made it into the Top 5 in my Group in Outside Magazine’sUltimate Explorer competition and I’m still leading my Group. If I maintain the lead and win it this week, then I move on to the Quarters against other Group Winners on Sept. 23rd. The votes reset at that time as they do for the Semis and Final from Sept. 23rd – Oct. 17th.
Thank you, again, EVERYONE, for your overwhelming support! Here’s the link if you’d like to vote for me (still free, every day) or just to follow my progress: https://ultexplorer.org/2024/tim-hamby-yIWY. As I‘ve maintained, there’s an option to purchase “extra” votes with funds going to the National Parks Foundation (it’s a fundraiser for them), but don’t feel like you have to do that for me (only if you have a heart for NPF!). Also– if you do wish to contribute, then it is probably best to hold off until Sept. 23rd or the two weeks following when the votes reset for each of the final three rounds. It is also always best to wait for one of the many days when “purchased” votes are 2 for 1.
IT’S OFFICIAL: TOP 10! Whoa! I’m still moving along in the Ultimate Explorer competition, and have moved into the Top 10 in my Group! Only two more weeks to survive to get to the Quarterfinals! I’ve been fortunate to be in first place in my Group the whole way, so I believe I can likely make it to the Quarters on Sept. 23rd. From there, things get most challenging when votes reset for the Quarterfinals, Semi-Final and Final from Sept. 23rd – Oct. 17th. On behalf of Gretchen and myself, we thank you again for voting (you can vote again for free every 24 hours), and sharing my profile (https://ultexplorer.org/2024/tim-hamby-yIWY). Thank you too to all those who have generously purchased “extra” votes, with all funds going to the National Parks Foundation, for which this fundraiser was created. (Don’t feel like you have to “buy” votes for me though– only if you have a heart for the NPF!)
TOP 15 – MOVING ON! THANK YOU, AGAIN, FRIENDS! – Gretchen and I want to extend our heartfelt appreciation for all of our friends and family who have propelled me to first place in my Group in Outside Magazine’s “Ultimate Explorer” contest. Thank you for voting, re-voting (you can vote again every 24 hours), and sharing my profile (https://ultexplorer.org/2024/tim-hamby-yIWY). Some of you have even generously purchased votes (funds go to the National Parks Foundation).
I wanted to share a little insight on how the contest works. Each week, the 5 competitors in each Group with the lowest votes are eliminated. The rest move on until there is only one competitor left in each Group. The winner in each Group (along with a wildcard winner) advance to Quarterfinal Groups where the VOTES RESET! Top competitors in each Group advance to Semifinals. VOTES RESET! Top Semifinal from each Group advance to Finals. VOTES RESET! Grand Prize Winner is determined October 17th. I’m in a great position now, but the competition heats up as we approach the Quarterfinals on September 23rd, when votes reset. Each time the votes reset, things get more challenging. So, if you’re feeling like you’d like to contribute, then Sept. 23 – Oct. 17 would be the best time for that. But we appreciate all of your votes, time and energy!
My wife, Gretchen and I would like to ask you for a HUGE favor! Will you vote for us to win $10,000 and a national parks expedition in a Winnebago RV in Outside Magazine’s “Ultimate Explorer” contest! The National Parks Foundation, Coca-Cola and Nature’s Valley area also sponsors. It’s a straightforward competition. The person with the most votes wins! You can vote EVERY DAY! There’s an option to buy votes, but please do not do that. Simply clicking and voting whenever you happen to think about us, is all we are asking. I’d like to take Gretchen on this trip for her irreplaceable role in helping me with my battle against cancer this year, and in celebration of our 30th anniversary coming in May.
As people who know me understand, I’m an outdoors addict. I’ve already made it through the application part of this contest, and am competing against a group of 107 in Rd. 1, so am off to a great start, but will no doubt need the help of friends / family to get enough votes to defeat some “outdoor influencers”. But I’ve always believed “You don’t know ‘till you go!”, so give us a click(s) and a vote, and wish us luck! Thank you so much for any time you take to do this. Here is my profile link: Here’s my profile link: https://ultexplorer.org/2024/tim-hamby-yIWY
Who’s to say I can’t do everything Well I can try And as I roll along I begin to find Things aren’t always just what they seem
I want to turn the whole thing upside down I’ll find the things they say just can’t be found I’ll share this love I find with everyone We’ll sing and dance to Mother Nature’s songs I don’t want this feeling to go away
– “Upside Down” by Jack Johnson.
I think our youngest daughter, Kaelyn, spends more time on her hands than her feet! : )
Some nice looking graphic art for this year’s Right Whale Festival swag! I did the 5K on Saturday am, Nov. 15th up in Jax Beach. Always fun, relaxed and for a great cause! The festival was going on all day. I’ve done the run a couple of times now and enjoy supporting them. I gave it good effort and finished 2nd in my age group, 16th overall with 8.10 min miles. Not too shabby, and listening to Jack Johnson the whole way! I can’t believe I’ve got a “50” hanging by my name in the results. I still feel 35 on most days, but doggone it, they got it right!
This was the scene on Tuesday evening, Sept. 16th, the evening before the Edouard swell hit. I went on a 3 mile beach run and was hoping to see some of the swell start filtering in. The ocean was clean, green and glassy as the sun went down with razor sharp little 1-1.5 ft. lines. The swell came in the next day, small in the morning but building significantly after about noon with epic 4-6+ surf for two days/nights. I took two days off from work and surfed all of it at Mickler’s, both days. It has been a slow summer and a lot of people were really stoked on the swell, none more than me!
Well, I made it through another year of Never Quit, an event I really enjoy. I competed in the Trident Solo, which includes a 5K Run, followed by a 500 Meter open ocean swim, followed by a 1,500 Meter surfboard paddle. It was a blast, as usual, and I met both of my personal goals- bettering last year’s time, and finishing in under an hour, despite a bum knee, which prevented me from doing any kind of serious prep work this year.
1st Place Sports results showed me as coming in third place in my age group, although they got that wrong. They showed my age as 49, placing me in the 45-49 age group. Truth be told, I turned 50 on May 1st, 30 days prior to the competition, which would have put me in 50-54 age group, where I actually would have placed 5th among men. But hey, happy to take third against the younger guys! : ) If you live in, or near Northeast Florida and have never participated in Never Quit, I encourage you to give it a go. There are all kinds of events and activities to participate in. I think it’s the best sporting event in our area, personally, but then I love the beach and the ocean.
The event is put on the Petroni family of Atlantic Beach, led by Erik Petroni (Some may recognize the Petroni name. Karina Petroni is a successful young pro surfer from the area). The event celebrates the life and spirit of Erik and Karina’s father, Capt. Gerard Petroni, who was a great patriot, athlete, waterman, Christian and family man. Capt. Petroni suffered a massive stroke in 2006 and fought valiantly to recover before eventually passing in 2009. During one of the most critical moments of his recovery, while unable to walk, eat or speak, his family handed him a piece of paper and asked him if he could write one thing on the paper, what would it be? He scribbled the words, “Never Quit”. Today the event celebrates the values that Capt. Petroni held dear- healthy living, love of family and friends and a relentless “Never Quit” approach to life. You can learn more about the event and Capt. Petroni’s amazing life in this fantastic video.
I’ve recently begun working on a new project during my spare time. My idea is a website that people would use as a resource for discovering things to do outside in Northeast Florida (hiking, biking, boating, fishing, surfing, SUPing, kayaking, ziplining, etc.) The best activities; best places to go; best guides/lessons/gear/rental equipment; etc. I’ve been thinking about doing it for a while, and finally decided to get started. I’ve looked around online for similar resources and while there are a few good niche sites for individual categories, I haven’t found a really good aggregation of information in one spot.
It’s a pretty big content challenge and I’m creating it myself (using an online web builder software). I think it will probably take all summer. But, it allows me to scratch my creative, entrepreneurial and outdoor adventurist itches all at the same time. I’m not looking at it so much in the interest of creating a business at this time, more of a community-minded effort because I think we need this in our area. If it ends up generating some consistent traffic, I can always monetize it later. As I am developing it, I am doing so with strategic SEO in mind.
Below are the first few screen shots. Some of the navigation is hidden, but I’ve included some of the drop-down menus so you can get an idea of where I’m headed. Wish me luck!
Looking for something really, really fun to do by yourself or with your family? Try Stand-up Paddleboarding with H20 Generation! My good friend, “Chickie” Dimain, perhaps better known locally, regionally and internationally as, “Da Buh” for his DaBuh.com surf forecast, has opened a new business providing lessons and guided tours for H20 Generation Paddleboards. Chickie offers tours inside Swimming Pen Creek, launching from Whitey’s fish camp on Fleming Island.
Currently, for just $25 per person, Chickie will provide a lesson and the tour (about a 2 mile round-trip paddle), where you’re likely to see a great deal of wildlife including manatees, turtles, blue herons and other species. If you prefer a shorter or longer distance, Chickie will accommodate you. Of course, if you prefer to paddle alone, you can do that too.
Chickie can also drop the boards off at any location and give you private lessons at your place. This is also great for groups, birthdays, corporate and team-building outings. Think, the baseball team or cheerleading squad! Chickie also sells his beautiful H20 Generation Boards. They are all MADE IN AMERICA! (NYC) and they are epoxy, which makes them incredibly durable, light and bouyant! They regularly retail for about $1,000, but he is providing deals right now while in start-up (great deals!) Check him out for rentals or sales at 904-444-2149.
I took my wife, 15-year old daughter and 11-year-old daughter this past weekend. They had never SUP’ed before, took a brief 10-minute lesson and none of them ever fell the entire day. Not once! The two miles were the perfect distance for all of us. My oldest daughter is now already asking for her own paddleboard for Christmas! I cannot recommend it highly enough. Chickie and his beautiful daughter, Ella, are great guides and will make you feel safe and right at home in the water, no matter your level of experience. If you’re surfer and it’s flat, you’ll love this, I assure you. I particularly enjoyed being in the water with my entire family, the light workout and just enjoying the scenic beauty of our natural surroundings. Speaking of natural surroundings, I won’t speculate on what kind of bush that is growing there in the parking lot at Whitey’s in the photo, below.
H20 Generation paddleboards are beautiful! Bouyant, lightweight, durable, affordable & MADE IN AMERICA!
Chickie and Ella provide Gretchen with some SUP instruction prior to our tour
Kendall and Kaelyn were up within minutes, paddled almost two miles and never fell!
Our day of SUPing was a Father’s Day gift from my daughters- a perfect choice! Thanks girls!
8/6/2013 Update on Beach Weeks... I was informed today by my former Operations Manager that Southeast Volusia County’s bed-tax collections for the month of June, 2013- the primary month that Beach Weeks took place – was $158,000 – the highest amount for this traditionally slow month in a decade (since the 2003 fiscal year!) GREAT results that should ensure the future of “Beach Weeks” for a long time to come, and a rewarding acknowledgement for a lot of hard work! Big shoutouts to my former SVAA Team Members including the Board of Directors, who trusted me enough to approve my recommended funding for this concept; Frank DeMarchi of Black Crow Productions, who spearheaded production and without whom it would never have occurred; Former Chairman of the SVAA Board, David Kosmas, who challenged me to make it happen this year, despite a short timetable; Liz Yancey, who helped steer some of the events/production and Elizabeth Gifford, who helped drive planning, budgeting and marketing from beginning to end. Thanks also to Sherry Hendershot, Myriah Chandler and Bobbie Clemente for all of their administrative and design work that went into this, and to Doug Garrison and Ed Bondi for their initial branding concepts! May Beach Weeks become a “can’t miss” annual event for Southeast Volusia County for years to come!
