| In the fall of 2009, two exhausted cyclists will arrive to Cancun, Mexico on their bamboo made tandem bicycle. This team is composed by Diego
Gonzalez Joven and Rachael Scdoris. Their journey begins nearly six months earlier, 6,600 miles away, in Anchorage, Alaska. This courageous team will set three world records, captivate audiences worldwide and inspire millions. The mission of this journey is not only to raise awareness about climate change and encourage people to generate a sustainable way of life, but this inspirational team will use this expedition to prove people that “nothing is impossible” as log as one commits to their goals. Through the frozen glaciers in the north, down the breathtaking coastline of the west, they will raise awareness about global climate change and motivate people to achieve their own dreams. The name of their expedition serves as a challenge to each person they encounter – “What’s Your Impossible?” The “What’s Your Impossible” team – two friends and man’s best friend – is about to embark on one of the most daring, exciting and intense expeditions in history.
THE TEAM
Diego Gonzalez Joven, 26, loves to travel and explore, no matter how high the mountain, no matter how dangerous the terrain. Diego has a fearlessness that could match Indiana Jones. Born in Mexico City, Diego has traveled to all seven continents, climbing mountains, cycling on open
roads, and swimming across deep waters. Nothing seems to faze this audacious adventurer. In 2007 he travelled on a 22,000-mile expedition that took place from the North Pole to the South Pole. Shortly after that, he set a goal of swimming 100 miles which he finished in less than a weekA professional sled dog racer from Bend, Oregon, born with a rare Congenital Achromatopsia generated national media attention by becoming the youngest athlete to ever finish a 500-mile sled dog race at the age of 15. In 2006 she made history by finishing the annual 1,200-mile Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race from Anchorage to Nome, Alaska - one of the most grueling and harshest races in the world This team shares the same passion for exploring and motivating people. Their accomplishments have helped them to realize that “nothing is impossible”. These tests of strength and endurance have brought them to a new challenge, the biggest of their lives. This summer, they will embark on a dangerous, intense expedition that will test their endurance – a 6600-mile journey where they will cycle across three countries and swim across the Sea of Cortes, a feat never accomplished before.
The First Leg of the Expedition
Rachael and Diego will cycle on a bamboo tandem bike, with Angel in a trailer attached to the back of the bike, for 4,500 miles, from Alaska to the Baja Peninsula. It will take them three months. On the first leg, here are some of the places they’ll pass through. The Yukon and British
Columbia. The region’s strong winds, thunderstorms, steep hills and uneven roads make it a difficult ride. They must also be on the lookout for bears and buffalo – and since Rachael is legally blind, Diego must be extra aware. On Day 37, they will cross back into the U.S. and cycle
south, through Washington State and Oregon. Rachael’s hometown of Bend, Oregon. Local media, friends and family will give a welcome reception, and Rachael’s family will provide home- cooked food and warm beds. Rachael will leave Angel at home and continue with her other fourtime Iditarod leader, Brick. We’ll also learn a bit more about Rachael – the disease that limits her sight… her Iditarod race… and determination she has to overcome the obstacles associated stereotypically with being “legally blind” .The team will cycle down the scenic coast of California,
passing through San Francisco and Los Angeles. They’ll stop at the Calfee Design bike factory, the maker of their bamboo tandem bike and the most eco-friendly bike manufacturer in the world. We’ll see how Calfee makes the bikes and how they specially designed the tandem bike for the “What’s Your Impossible” team. Next, they’ll continue south through San Diego, crossing the Mexican border on Day 67.
Second Leg of the Expedition
Continuing south through the Baja Peninsula, the team nears the end of the first cycling portion of the trip. When they reach the southern tip of Baja, Diego will slip on his specially designed XTERRA wetsuit and swim 180 miles across the Sea of Cortez. Rachael and Angel will follow alongside him in a boat. Here are some of the dangers they’ll face:
- Strong tidal currents. This makes swimming and steering the boat very difficult.
- Sharks. Of the 400 shark species in the world, about 150 live in the Sea of Cortez.For protection, the team will equip the boat with sonar technology and a safety net.
- Unpredictable weather. Severe storms and gusty winds could capsize the boat.
- Exhaustion. By this point, the team will have pushed their bodies to the limit for about four months.
Third Leg of the Expedition
Fourteen days later, when they reach Mazatlan, the team will jump back on their tandem bike for the next portion of cycling – a 1600-mile trip across Mexico, which will take them 34 days. When they reach Diego’s hometown of Mexico City, police escorts will guide them downtown to
the city’s main square, where various heads of government will congratulate them in a public ceremony. The team will remain there for a week giving talks and presentations before cycling across the east cost of Mexico towards Cancun . Upon their arrival to Cancun, they will likely be exhausted and sunburned, but their goal will be reached, millions will be inspired and three records will be set.
THE MISSION
Throughout their prior adventures, Rachael and Diego have witnessed the devastating effects of climate change and pollution. They have seen
the retreating glaciers in Alaska and have visited towns where rising rivers have wiped out homes. During their upcoming 6600-mile trek, they will further document what they’ve seen – flooded communities struggling to rebuild, melted icecaps and drought-stricken fields. The team will partner with the Tourism Bureau of every Mexican state and plant trees with families along their route. They want to bring attention to environmental issues. By using manpowered modes of travel the duo hopes to set a good example, practicing what they preach.
- Cycling and swimming. During their expedition, they’ll travel using eco-friendly means.
- Bamboo bikes. They’ll ride on a bamboo tandem bicycle made by the most “green,” environmentally friendly bike manufacturer in the world.
- Solar energy. They’ll charge their gear batteries using solar panels.
- Consuming fresh, organic food from local markets along the route.
A portion of the proceeds from their expedition will be donated to UNICEF, an organization that, on a trip to Peru, Diego witnessed providing relief to earthquake victims. He was so impressed with the organization that he wanted to pitch in. The team has already raised $6,000 by selling blue UNICEF wristbands on their web site. During their expedition, the duo will team up with a group of scientists to accurately document their observations. Climate change experts and biologists will help assess the landscape and provide scientific explanations for the major changes occurring along the 6600-mile route, such as:
- Melting artic glaciers
- Loss of habitat and wildlife
- Rising sea levels
- Widespread pollution
- Declining air and water quality
The team has already begun a series of speaking engagements across the U.S. During their expedition, they will continue to give presentations to schools and organizations, spreading their message of environmental conservation. They will also motivate audiences around the world with their main message: Nothing is Impossible.
THE GROUNDSWELL
Rachael, Diego and Angel have received substantial financial and promotional support for this project from companies such as GlobalStar and XTERRA Wetsuits, among others. The media has already picked up on the story. The expedition has been profiled in USA Today and the New York Times, as well as on Univision, CNN and the BBC. Both Oprah Winfrey and Ellen DeGeneres have invited the team to appear on their talk shows. The team has also received a tentative invitation to attend a reception at the White House upon completing the expedition! As the world learns about this historic expedition, the team continues an intense training regimen to prepare them for this incredible adventure. NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE Upon completion of their journey, Diego, Rachael and Angel will set three world records:
- The first team to cross the continental U.S. with a legally blind person and a dog on a tandem bicycle
- The first team to cross Mexico with a legally blind person and a dog on a tandem bicycle
- The first person ever to cross the Sea of Cortez by swimming (180 miles from Los Cabos to Mazatlan)
This is an epic journey that will test both the endurance of the body and the strength of the human spirit.
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