VERO BEACH – People who live in Vero Beach hear the word “bridge” and serene card games come to mind. The Navy SEALs have a different, more challenging idea about bridge.
This weekend, while most people were still digesting Thanksgiving meals and watching football, an elite faction of the population was attempting feats of strength and stamina during the inaugural Navy SEAL Bridge Challenge.
More than 30 men and women, many representing various branches of the military, paid an entry fee of $85 to compete in a grueling contest involving physical and mental agility. Proceeds benefited the Navy SEAL Museum, located on A1A just south of the Indian River County line.
Riverside Cafe opened early so spectators and contestants could gather on the deck overlooking the Barber Bridge where the action was to take place.
Seagulls soared, as spectators drinking coffee and Bloody Marys watched sailboats gliding by. The nacho and wing eating watchers were in sharp contrast to the strong, lean competitors sipping water and energy drinks, intently scoping out their competition and planning their strategies.
Although the day dawned in the pouring rain, that was no deterrent to the 0-percent body fat, hardy warriors, whose hearts were set on competing.
“We’re Navy SEALs,” said one competitor. “Nothing will stop us, except maybe lightning.”
As the sky cleared to the strains of “Hold on Loosely,” the competition began and the first heat of participants dove fully clothed into the Indian River Lagoon. Each heat was comprised of two competitors who first swam approximately100-yards from the dock at Riverside to the bridge.
Following the swim, competitors had to climb a caving ladder for 70-feet to the top of the bridge, followed by a one-half mile run down to the west side of the bridge and back. Contestants next had to fast rope back down into the water and swim back to the dock. Upon completing the course, each was met with encouraging applause from the crowd.
Competitors scheduled for later heats watched intently as the earlier contestants completed the course, as no one had ever competed on this particular course.
According to participants, winds made the already difficult task of climbing up the thin rope ladder even more of a challenge.
Frank Storey, an active duty Marine between 1989 and 1993, was there for his 12-year old son, Jaden.
“It’s a challenge and I want to be a role model for my son,” said Storey. “It’s not necessarily about winning.”
Evan Culpepper, 18, waited to compete alongside a cheering section consisting of his grandparents, mother, and aunt. Culpepper, who is entering the Navy in March, was nonchalant about his preparation for the event.
“I just ran a lot, did a few pull ups, and some sit-ups,” said Culpepper modestly. His grandmother differed, relating that he had been running miles, doing thousands of pull-ups and thousands more sit-ups.
Former Navy SEAL Rich Graham was competing with his dog, Miko, a Belgian Shepherd Malinois weighing 40-pounds.
“I’ve done a course like this before but not with a dog attached to my back,” said Graham. “We’ve been rappelling before together so he’s used to the climbing. Normally, SEALs carry 40 to70-pounds on them anyway.”
Local psychiatrist Srinivas Yerneni was watching Graham prepare to compete. Asked if he was inspired to compete next year, Yerneni laughed.
“I will do it if he [Graham] and I are a two-man team, and if he is willing to do the swimming for me and carry me on his back.”
The sun was just beginning to set as the final championship heat took place. Culpepper and Justin Baker, the two finalists, repeated the course once again, the crowd cheering furiously. Baker won the event with a time of 12-minutes and 9-seconds, followed by Culpepper coming in at 13:22.