← WA360 Home ← 2025 WA360 Teams
Crew: Ben Bottoms and Paul Pittman
Hometown: Seattle, WA
Vessel: 2020 Hobie Mirage Tandem Island
Class: The Wind Division
Get to know Team Holy Schnikes!
First thing first. Why race in WA360?
We are racing for the physical and mental challenge. While we expect to be tired, scared, unnerved, and confused, we plan to overcome those barriers with burger pit stops. In addition, we are trying to see how many days it will take us to discover the meaning of Toby Keith’s song, “I aint as good as I once was.” Oh yea and we want to overcome the challenge of spending every waking (and sleeping) moment with each other for up to 14 days!
What’s your connection to these waters?
Both of us learned to sail in these waters. We have owned several boats on these waters. Some of each of our personal favorite memories have been on these waters. As residents of this incredible state, being on the water is one of the truly unique ways to explore and participate in the beauty that is the Puget Sound.
Superpowers. Each crew member gets one. What are they and why?
Paul has the superpower of an ever expanding and iron stomach. When it comes to food the answer is usually yes (please). This has the benefit of not letting food go to waste and always having the stored “on-body” energy for multi-day activities.
Ben was bit in the leg by a harbor seal when he was scuba diving so now his superpower is he can comfortably sleep on rocks, docks, beaches or drifting ice. Also, he is now fairly awkward moving on land.
Defend your vessel choice for WA360. What makes it so cool and worthy?
The Hobie Tandem Island is the ultimate WA360 rig—it sails when there’s wind, pedals when there’s not, and just crushes in gnarly conditions. It’s super stable with the outriggers, so you’re not flipping every time a gust hits, and you’ve got room for all your gear, snacks, and even a quick nap if you need it. It’s like an adventure yacht you can power with your legs, and it handles whatever the race throws at you. If only we had such capable versions of ourselves ; )
What are your adventure qualifications for WA360? What makes you (y’all) cool and capable?
Between one of us with a receding hairline and the other one with a pair of polarized prescription sunglasses we don’t have a problem staying cool. We are excited for the adventure and hope to bring our years of sailing, boating, camping, hiking, scuba diving and swimming experience to good use!
What is going to break?
Fingers crossed it isn’t our sense of humor. Although that may be broken already. Besides that we anticipate several things on the boat to break, some that we anticipate and some we never even thought of. That’s why we are bringing extra line to keep the boat together and peanut butter to heal our spirits.