The 9th Annual Conquer the Coast Ride benefiting Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Athletics invites you to join their ride on September 22, 2012 starting at Whataburger Field, Corpus Christi, TX, United States
We were lucky enough to be granted an interview with Angela Hanley, coordinator of Conquer the Coast Ride to ask some questions about their upcoming ride.
Why join the Conquer the Coast Ride?
It’s the premiere cycling event in South Texas and offers a ride along the Texas Coast like no other.
How long has the event been around?
2012 is the 9th year for Conquer the Coast
What was the motivation behind starting the tour and who benefits from it?
It was originally started as a fundraiser for Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Athletics and to raise awareness for cycling, those are still two of the main components of the event.
How have they been able to utilize the funds in the past?
Islander Athletic fund and bike safety programs for youths and adults.
Do you hav a map of the start facility showing registration point, parking, all toilets, water/snacks, start line?
Venue Maps: https://wheelbrothers.com//wp-content/uploads/2012/09/CTC.pdf
Logistically, can you give us an idea how many volunteers, finances, and planning it takes to put on this event?
A lot. You’re talking about 65 miles that go thru six different communities and two counties. There’s a core group of ten volunteers that work about six months out of the year, and then over 200 additional on the day of the event.
What was the most rewarding experience throughout the years hosting this event?
Seeing families that have never had anything to do together as a group make this not only an annual outing, but a part of their everyday lives.
What is the average number of participants per year?
How many riders do you assist during the average race? It’s started out with a couple hundred and has grown to over a 1,000 the last few years.
What was the most unforgettable experience or worst accident you had in this event?(prefer the rewarding/unforgettable experience ;o))
We once had a rider get arrested and thrown in jail because he punched a ferry operator that wouldn’t let him get on the ferry because it was already too crowded.
What can folks do to support you and your mission?
Sign up, enjoy the ride and tell their friends!
What is your role in this race and to the success of it?
Coordinator and liason between the event owner (CC Chamber of Commerce), event manager Ryan Sanders Entertainment and volunteer steering committee. I just try to put the right people in the right place and let them go.
If you had to come up with a David Letterman style top 10 about the race, what would it read like?
Top Ten Things You Get to See and Do at Conquer the Coast
10) Ride the “Toughest 18 Miles in Texas” from Port Aransas to North Padre Island (there is usually a STIFF southeast breeze in your face the whole time)
9) Eat a Whataburger in the hometown of…………..Whataburger
8) Ride past one former (Naval Station Ingleside) and one current (Naval Station Corpus Christi) military installations
7) Ride over the JFK causeway overlooking Marker 37 and “Snoopy’s”
6) Ride thru the Corpus Christi Marina
5) Finish inside Whataburger Field, the home of the Corpus Christi Hooks, Double-A Affiliate of the Houston Astros
4) Ride down beautiful Ocean Drive and the mansions that line it
3) Ride over the Harbor Bridge and look down on the Texas State Aquarium
2) Ride over the Harbor Bridge and look down on the historic USS Lexington
1) See a dolphin or two while riding on the Port Aransas Ferry (if you don’t get arrested for punching the boat operator)
Additional stuff you would like the folks to know about this year’s ride?
This year there are a few new things. We are honoring long-time cycling leader Donny Kloster who was killed in a cycling accident a few years ago.
We will select a different member of the cycling community each year that has the same vision as Donny and let them lead the race from the start. For the finish, it’s actually going to end INSIDE Whataburger Field this year with a big party on the outfield grass.
Thanks Angela for this quick interview and we hope to catch everyone at the ride!
Click here to view the event details of the 9th Annual Conquer the Coast Ride 2012
