Photo by Mike Goodman
Hi, I’m Melinda Edward, as I’m called on social media.
My paddling story begins with a summer trip to South Carolina where I had my first opportunity to kayak in the marshes. The paddling instructor thought that I found my “niche", and I agreed. When I moved to New Jersey from New York State in 2008, I yearned to be on the water paddling regularly. I began kayaking under the instruction of John Pagani, owner of Kayak East. Although I enjoyed paddling in placid, protected places, I still dreamed of sea kayaking in interesting conditions. On the fateful day of July 25, 2010, I took a trip on the Shrewsbury River with Kayak East and faced my fears in open water when a squall suddenly broke the calmness of the day. After panic then rescue at a house along the Shrewsbury, I realized that I had to learn how to swim. Then, I went to my local YMCA and finally learned the skills I needed to pursue coastal sea kayaking. With John Pagani’s coaching and support, I went on many day expeditions offered by Kayak East, including circumnavigations of Sandy Hook and the Statue of Liberty.
7/25/10. You can tell from my smile and my hair, that I had no inkling of the storm about to challenge me on the Shrewsbury River. Photo by John Pagani
In the midst of my sea kayaking adventures, John encouraged me to try racing. But unrelated injury and chronic pain threatened any paddling I desired to do the next years. Eventually getting tired of pain dictating my life, I decided to defy my limitations. First, as a member of the Jersey Shore Sea Kayaking Association, I started organizing paddles on the local rivers and bays.
Hudson River trip (Nyack-Haverstraw) I organized for JSSKA. Here, Marshall Seddon and I contemplate crossing over to Sing Sing Prison. Feb 2018, photo by Richard Koppel
Sandy Hook-Coney Island, round trip. My favorite paddle I led for JSSKA. Sept 2019
But then, still desiring to race in spite of daily physical discomfort, I entered my first race on my Valley Gemini ST sea kayak with the 2018 Treasure Island Pirate Paddle on the Manasquan River. Thanks to Race director Rich Bubnowski, my first experience of a paddling competition was a first-class organized race. I also met at that same event Eric Costanzo, co-owner of Shark River Paddling, LLC who introduced me to the novelty of surfski paddling. Why carry a 60-lb sea kayak when I could be self-sufficient on land and on water with a 27.5-lb Epic surfski? As fate demanded, I met Wesley Echols, owner of Surfskiracing at my second race at the Narragansett Bay Regatta on the Seekonk River. Fast forward to the fall of 2018, after much needed back surgery and gifting myself with an Epic v8 pro from Shark River Paddling, the next chapter of my paddling life began.
Hooked on races not for competition but for the pursuit of self-perfection through paddling and for the wonderful camaraderie I found in the paddlesports racing community, I decided that I wanted to bring back the Toms River Paddle Race after it was canceled in 2019. In the worst of years, I accomplished my goal of directing a safe, law-abiding and CDC-compliant event while raising money for local charities. With further encouragement of sponsors and friends, I founded Competitive Paddlesports of New Jersey in February 2022.
No doubt with the advent of my company, I am embarking on yet another new chapter of my paddling life but please don’t ask which number of chapter this one is: I have had countless journeys that brought me to this one, this journey, this chapter, which I hope serves the paddling community and local organizations that protect New Jersey’s waters.
Joe Ervin and I congratulate each other after the Lighthouse to Lighthouse Race 2019
Lesson with Wesley, August 2020, photo by Wesley Echols
Still reaching higher and higher this year
Chillin' after another workout at my nearest gym, Round Valley Reservoir.
Acknowledgements
Besides John Pagani of Kayak East, I have so many to thank for enabling me to be where I am today. Local kayak legend Jersey Joe Ervin and Wesley Echols of Surfskiracing have been amazing surfski coaches, without whom, I would not be independent on the water as I am now. I also thank Wesley for inspiring me to make this very website and for giving me added self-confidence as I manage a business similar to Surfskiracing.
George Grant and Fred Linkhart, original members of the Toms River Racing Club and SUP champions Josette Lata and her husband Ed O’Kinsky continue to help me maintain the Toms River Race.
Marshall Seddon, owner of the River Connection in Hyde Park, supported me through my first races and continues to be a source of advice and help with the Toms River Race.
Finally, I thank the following New Jersey paddlers for their help with the race and their wise advise: former Olympian hopeful and local surfski hero Sean Brennan, NJ optometrist, surfski paddler, and Toms River Race sponsor John Costello, and fellow surfski paddler and cyclist William Ruthrauff.