Wild Buffalo Relay 2026: A Crossing I’ll Never Forget 

Every April, the Wild Buffalo Relay, presented by Puakea Designs, sends paddlers across 32 miles of open ocean from Catalina Island to the Newport Aquatic Center — a stretch of water that’s as unpredictable as it is beautiful. I’ve crossed that channel four times now, each one different, each one special. But this year’s crossing hit deeper than the rest. 

I put together a six-man OC-6 team, and we decided to take on the channel iron-man style — no changes, just the six of us grinding from Avalon to Newport. We trained for three months, early mornings and long Saturdays, building rhythm, trust, and a whole lot of excitement. Our goal was to raise $5,000 for We Are Ocean — and we blew past it, raising $7,300 to support future campers. That support came from friends, family, and some incredible companies who believed in what we were doing: M-Experiment, The Crab Cooker, West Coast Firestopping, Florence Marine X, Tony Pepperoni Pizzeria, Argos Home Systems, Unsung Brewing Company, and Shmaze Custom Coatings. 

But what really made this possible was my crew. It was me, my younger brother Lucas Howard, and my good friends Blake Yuhas, Michael Maiolo, Vinny VanDyke, and Brandon Smith. Only three of us had paddled before, me, Blake, and Michael. Brandon had to learn to steer and cross a channel three months later which is insane. He crushed it!! Lucas — who lives in Texas — only had one practice before race day. His second time ever in a boat was a channel crossing. And still, every single one of them said yes without hesitation. No second thoughts. No excuses. Just, “Let’s send it.” 

We crossed in 6.5 hours, pushing through fatigue, chop, and the mental battles that come with staring at the horizon for that long. Our coaches, James and Rob — two seasoned NAC paddlers — rode alongside us on the support boat, cheering, guiding, and ready to jump in if anything went sideways. Their commitment meant everything. 

Sharing that crossing with my brother was something I’ll carry forever. Watching him find his own passion for paddling, seeing my friends dig deep for a cause bigger than themselves — that’s what will stick with me forever. 

Why I Paddle 

I’m ten years cancer-free this year. Diagnosed with ALL in 2015, going through chemotherapy, full body radiation, and a stem cell transplant in 2016. Finding We Are Ocean in 2022 changed my life. It gave me community, purpose, and a way to reconnect with the ocean I grew up loving. I came back as an adventure guide in 2023 because I wanted to give back what was given to me. 

And a huge part of that inspiration came from Jack Shimko, the founder of We Are Ocean. Jack passed away recently, but his vision — that cancer fighters deserve adventure, healing, and connection — is alive in every paddle stroke we take. He believed the ocean heals. He believed in pushing limits. And he believed in living fully, not just surviving. 

I paddle to honor that. To honor him. To honor everyone who’s fought or is fighting. And to show that life after cancer can be big, bold, and full of adventure. 

What’s Next 

Every year I try to raise the bar. Every year I try to push myself a little further. And every year, the ocean gives me something back — strength, clarity, brotherhood, purpose. 

I hope my story encourages someone out there who’s going through their own battle. I hope it shows that you can come out the other side stronger, hungrier, and ready to take on things you never thought possible. 

And trust me — I’m already thinking about how to up the ante for next year. 

For Jack. For the ocean. For the fighters. For the ones who need to know they’re not alone.