The 5th Annual Puddle for the Ducks Bike Ride happening on February 04, 2012 at Sun & Ski Sports, Katy Mills Mall Katy, Texas, 77450
We were lucky enough to be granted an interview with PatArthur, Ride Director of Puddle for the Ducks to ask some questions about their upcoming ride.
Why Join this year’s ride?
This year’s ride is the Fifth Annual PUDDLE FOR THE DUCKS, A Ducks Unlimited Bike Ride. The ride has developed one of the best reputations in the Houston area because of the great volunteers, unique rest stops, and after ride refreshments. Additionally, one of the PUDDLE FOR THE DUCKS major sponsors, Silver Eagle Distributors, L.P., has donated a bike to be given away each year.
How long has the event been around and how did it start?
The PUDDLE FOR THE DUCKS was first held on February 9, 2008. However, the genesis for the ride was a call from Vence Petronella with Silver Eagle Distributors, L.P., to Ducks Unlimited Regional Director Tim Soderquist in July 2007 to ask if Ducks Unlimited would be interested in sponsoring a bike ride on a date that had just opened on the ride calendar for the Houston area. Tim assured Vence that DU would be interested and a meeting was held with potential sponsors and volunteers in August. The ride planning began in earnest and the first ride was held with approximately 700 riders, including the Michelob Ultra and Sun & Ski Sports Teams.
What was the motivation behind starting the tour and who benefits from it?
The major desire was to hold a new and unique fund raising event for Ducks Unlimited. Ducks Unlimited is the largest and most successful conservation organization in North America conserving over 12,000,000 acres of wetlands since its founding. The PUDDLE FOR THE DUCKS is the only bike ride done by Ducks Unlimited Volunteers in North America. Ducks Unlimited utilizes many different fund raising events but the PUDDLE FOR THE DUCKS appeals to a much different demographic than usual and allows us to show and tell a new group about the Ducks Unlimited mission and programs.
How have they been able to utilize the funds in the past?
Ducks Unlimited conserves, restores, and manages wetlands and associated habitats for North America’s waterfowl. These habitats also benefit other wildlife and people. DU is an international organization with conservation of waterfowl habitat in Mexico and Canada as well as the United States. In the past four years the PUDDLE FOR THE DUCKS has raised over $36,000 or enough to conserve 145 acres of wetland habitat.
Logistically, can you give us an idea how many volunteers, finances, and planning it takes to put on this event?
We have over 100 volunteers every year. These volunteers are all Ducks Unlimited members that share a vision of conservation through mutual effort. Additionally, we have major sponsors that include Sun & Ski Sports, Silver Eagle Distributors, Sellers Bros and Trailer Frame and Wheel. These sponsors help maximize the conservation funds raised by the ride by providing donations and funding. Planning the event usually starts in June with ride committee meetings that are held monthly until January at which time the meetings are held weekly. The committee is a great forum for new ideas and a way to keep the ride plan fresh.
What was the most rewarding experience throughout the years hosting this event?
Knowing we helped conserve 145 acres of valuable wetlands. Another rewarding experience was when THE PUDDLE FOR THE DUCKS being nominated for an award at the national level. Ducks Unlimited give a Wings Of
Innovation Award annually to a committee that has developed a fund raising event that is unique, repeatable and provides a forum to get information about Ducks Unlimited to a new group. The PUDDLE FOR THE DUCKS was nominated for the award in 2009 and while it did not win, the nomination itself was extremely gratifying.
How many riders do you assist during the average race?
We have a great group of SAG Volunteers, Motorcycle Support Group, Ride Marshal, Ride Medic and Ride Police that help throughout the day as well as mechanical support by Sun & Ski Sports at four of the five rest stops. In all, it is estimated that between 15% and 20% of the riders need assistance of some kind on the ride. Most of this assistance is minor but without the support that the PUDDLE FOR THE DUCKS enjoys, the ride would be much smaller and not as much fun.
What was the most unforgettable experience or worst accident you had in this event?
The most unforgettable experiences have always come at the end of the ride when riders are arriving telling about the great volunteers and incredible rest stops and when they realize that the support continues with a snack and fun at the end of the ride, we are really happy. Additionally, we try to visit with the riders during this time and let them know about DU, it successes and the continuing challenges in conservation.
What can folks do to support you and your mission?
Ducks Unlimited can always use new volunteers to help put on fund raising events. The easiest way to help. other than volunteering, is to attend a Ducks Unlimited event. There are over 200 different events across Texas alone and approximately 5000 events across the United States and Canada. If someone wants to help but not volunteer they can always help by donating directly to our ride or help underwrite the costs associated with it.
What is your role in this race and to the success of it?
I have been fortunate enough to have been the Ride Director or Co-Director since the beginning of the ride. The success is due to the volunteers, sponsors and , most of all, to the riders that have recognized the PUDDLE FOR THE DUCKS is a ride that they WANT to ride in.
Do you ride and if yes, what kind of bicycle do you ride and what is your favorite route in your area?
There are two Ride Co-Directors, Pat Arthur & Chris Sechelski:
Pat:
Yes, I ride regularly, usually three or four days a week. I am currently riding a LightSpeed Tuscany that I have had for eight years. I tend to keep my bikes for a LONG time. I live near Braes Bayou in Houston and use the Braes Bayou Trail. On a “normal” day my riding buddy and I do between 18 and 20 miles on the trail. On he weekends we usually do 25-30 miles, either on the trail or with one of the organized rides in the Houston area
Chris:
I have two bikes I use regularly, a 2011 Specialized Stumpjumper FSR and 2010 Niner SIR 9 Single Speed Locally I ride the Cypresswood Trails, Memorial Park Trails (AKA Ho Chi Minh Trail), The Anthills, Jack Brooks Park, Huntsville, and Double Lake. Short fun rides are 10-20 miles. Training rides usually are between 25-50 miles.
Which are your top 3 favorite MUST DO rides in Texas (besides your own)?
Pat: The Space Race, The Gator Ride and The Piney Woods Purgatory
Chris: Excruciation Exam (80-85 mile mountain bike race — the longest in TX), Chihuanhuan Desert Dirt Fest, The Big Ring Challenge (XC mountain bike race)
Additional stuff you would like the folks to know about this year’s ride?
We have had long sleeve shirts for the ride shirt every year and this year’s shirts is really cool. It will definitely stand out. As most rider do, we have multiple ride shirts but getting a long sleeve shirt is rare and really special. Please join us if you can. Everyone that registers before January 29 will get a ride shirt. Go to www.puddlefortheducks.org to register.
Thanks Pat Arthur for this quick interview and we hope to catch everyone at the ride!
Click here to view the event details of the 5th Annual Puddle for the Ducks Bike Ride