Events
Windansea Paddle Out
We are grateful to our close friends in La Jolla, California, for creating a memorial bench at Windansea Beach facing the same sunsets Nick and his family have loved since the day Nick was born. This beach is where Nick’s passion for the ocean began and now everyone who sits on the bench and stares out at the sea will feel his spirit soar. There will be a paddle-out for spreading Nick’s ashes at Windansea on September 8th 3:00 pm PT.
Nick Would Foundation Surf Contest at La Jolla Shores Beach in San Diego, CA
Wax up your board and get ready to drop in! We’re excited to announce our upcoming Nick Would Foundation amateur surf competition and fundraiser on Saturday, September 7, 2024, at Kellogg Park on La Jolla Shores Beach in La Jolla, California. This fun, low-key surf competition will be fun for participants and spectators alike, with tents, surf comp T-shirts, food, libations and more. Come soak in the sun, sand, and salt, and join us for this fun event.
First Annual Olympiad (The “OlympNicks!”)
Get ready for some shenanigans! The “OlympNicks” is the brainchild of Nick’s river trip friends and family. One of Nick’s favorite parts of these adventures was the creative mini-competitions they spontaneously put together, from the best cliff jump, to soccer games on deserted beaches, to the fastest swim across the river. The antics were endless and hilarious. In this spirit, we’ve formulated the first-ever “OlympNicks” to be held at the Simon ranch on Sunday afternoon, June 23, 2024, from 2pm – 8pm. For an entry fee donation to the foundation, participants will join in friendly competitions including paddle boarding around the pond, a log carry, an archery contest, corn hole, a five-cast fly fishing contest, and more. For those who simply want to attend, there will also be music, food and drinks for all. Come join us in raising funds for the Nick Would Foundation and have a little fun along the way.
2nd Annual Free Concert VIP tent - The Kitchen Dwellers
Get ready! With the great success of last year’s VIP tent at the Steamboat Free Summer Concert Series, we are excited to do it again! Mark your calendars for The Kitchen Dwellers—a Bozeman-based, folk-tinged bluegrass band that will get you grooving—at the Nick Would Foundation’s VIP tent on June 22, 2024, at 5:30 pm. Just like last year, the VIP tent will have schwag, food and beverages for all supporting party-goers. Don’t miss out—it’s going to be a blast! Space is limited, so let us know if you’d like to join.
Team Outta Space: Race to Alaska
Olin Bruton (a good friend of Nick’s) is going on an epic sailing journey with two other friends, Caleb Rauch and Carlin Rauch - read about it here: “We are Team Outtaspace, an amalgamation of similar differences setting out to take a small sportboat far out of her comfort zone while racing from Port Townsend, Washington to Ketchikan, Alaska as part of Race to Alaska. This 750 mile journey through British Columbia's inside passage will test our limits of endurance, ingenuity, and craftsmanship. The rules are simple; no motors onboard, and no outside support of any kind. When the wind dies, the rowing and pedaling begins–a truly self-sufficient journey.
Before even being admitted into the race, the vetting team had to make sure that we were up for the challenge. With rescue potentially days away, they reviewed our vessel, experience, and individual strengths to assure we wouldn’t “end up dead”. That being said, we have our work cut out for us before we reach the starting line. Our vessel S/V Ripley is an Alien 21, the peak of early 80's sportboat design from all the way Down Under. This glorified fiberglass bathtoy will receive updated rigging, much improved safety measures, and a paltry few creature comforts. Holes need to be patched, ball bearings retrieved from under the couch, and spiders evicted.
These unknown elements of the route, without any options for easy escape are what drew us to R2AK. That, and a recent surprise bankruptcy that left 2/3rds of our team unemployed with plenty of time to fill our bodies with fiberglass and heads with delusions. This race, the culture, and characters behind it have transfixed us. We want to add Team Outtaspace to R2AK’s storied history and bring our supporters along for the ride.
Team Outtaspace is also proud to announce that we are partnering with the Nick Would Foundation to celebrate the life of Olin’s dear friend and raise funds to break down barriers to the outdoors through sport, wildland exploration, and artistic development. Nick always sought great adventure and we think he would be stoked to hear about our wild idea, we'll carry him with us the whole way north. Check out the website www.NickWould.com to learn more.”
Here is a link to their GoFundMe! https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-team-outtaspace-race-to-alaska
Rydoh’s & Friends Next Adventure: Highway-395: A Bike & Climb Tribute for Nick
He’s back at it again, folks! (And we couldn’t be more grateful.) Nick’s friend, Rydoh, is getting back on his trusty steed and fundraising yet again. This time, he plans to bike 400 miles down Highway 395, camp in the Sierras, and stop to climb massive granite spires along the way. Unlike his last bike adventure, Rydoh has recruited a handful of Nick’s friends to join him. They will also be making a short film about their adventure to get the Foundation even more exposure. His goal is to reach $20,000 in donations. Please consider donating to the NWF through this amazing young man with an even bigger heart. Read all about it here.
Free Concert Series
The Nick Would Foundation committed to donating to the Free Concert Series in Steamboat Springs for a June 23, 2023 show of the Grey Boy Allstars. You are all invited to join us in a VIP tent that evening and help us figure out how to make it into a fundraising event. The Concert Series already agreed to donate a loaded bar, so we can sell $10/drink and 100% of the funds will go back to the Nick Would Foundation. We will also be selling shirts, or hats at the event.
A Ride 4 Nick
My name is Ryan Doherty, I'm 25 years old and I'll be riding my bicycle 2,134 miles solo from Canada to Mexico, along Highway-1 to fundraise and bring awareness to the Nick Would Foundation- established to share opportunities to experience the thrill of outdoor sport, wildland exploration, and artistic development, by removing barriers and making these activities accessible to all.
Steamboat STARS
Huge thanks to everyone who made the first fundraising event with the #NickWould Foundation a huge success! The team raised over $15,000 to support the Steamboat STARS Adaptive Recreation Program!