By Bike, Hike, Kayak, Welcome Him Home to Yonkers Sat. May 14
By Dan Murphy
Meet Chev Dixon, from Yonkers, Director of the Hudson River Riders, a program of the Yonkers Paddling & Rowing Club that provides recreational access to and environmental awareness of the Hudson River for undeserved communities through free kayak paddles, tours and training.
Chev provides abolut 1200 kayak rides and paddleboard trips on the Hudson every year through the YPRC’s Hudson Riders Program, but he wanted to try and provide an even greater example to the youth in Yonkers and in other communities, that there is an alternative to the violence of the streets.
Chev is in the middle of a 300 mile journey of hiking, biking, runnng and kayaking, from New York City to Albany and back called the Hudson Valley Challenge.
“Growing up in Jamaica, the structure that I had was different from Yonkers,” said Chev in a video promoting the Hudson Valley Challenge https://www.facebook.com/HudsonRiverRiders/videos/654347935666223/
One day playing basketball, another player pulled out a knife on Chev. “That shook me up a bit,” admitted Chev, who eventually with his friends started hanging out down by the Yonkers Pier where they found the Yonkers Paddling and Rowing Club, YPRC. A member of the club opened the gates and Chev became a member and fell in love with kayaking and the pleasure of being out on the Hudson River.
“Being on the River gave me a sense of purpose and pride that I was doing something unique.” He began working out every day, and began eating healthy, “It’s good that young people get to see the possibilities and the committment that i’m making to this, and the work ethic, and to know that they can follow in the same footsteps. I challenged the Board to see if we could do more, and that’s how Hudson River Riders came about. To give kids an opportunity and to challenge themselves in a different way.”
“Now with the Hudson River Challenge, I hope to open up their perspective, come paddle here and learn the skills that can take you anywhere in this world. I realize that kayaking is only one part of it. Anyone can join me on this challenge, and be a part of the community that is always there for each other, and that encourages each other, and pushes the human body,” said Chev, who started the Hudson River Challenge in Manhattan on May 7, by running over to Alpine, New Jersey, and then hiking up the Palisades. Then a 65 mile bike ride to Poughkeepsie, and back into the Kyack up the Hudson River, eventually getting to Albany.
Chev is on his way back down the Hudson, with stops at Cold Spring and Irvington, before a welcome in Yonkers on Saturday May 14 before finishing the challenge back in Manhattan. One three day journey totalled 115 miles. -the total trip will be 300 miles.
Chev has an equipment manager helping him navigate from bike to hike to kayak. “You don’t have to follow traditional norms. People who want to live an active lifestyle have a better life overall, with their family and work. Being outdoors and getting your body healthy provides many benefits. I want to encourage everyone, but especially young people, that there are things to do only a few minutes away. Whether its kayaking or hiking, or take a family vacation in nature this summer.”
Chev said that he came up with the idea for the Hudson Vally Challenge because, “I wanted to explore more locally. We have the Hudson Valley which is a great natural resource. But I also wanted to show our youth that you don’t have to travel far to find an adventure. I continue to work to connect more with our youth here on the local level, but we are taking this trip and this challenge to everyone around the world.”
Filming from the Hudson Valley Challenge will be used to create a documentary about the experience. “We are hoping to share this with friends, running clubs, gym classes at school, and maybe the Yonkers Film Festival.”
Along his travels, people have been joining him along the way. “One day its a friend, another day a local running, and then someone on the bike.”
For anyone who thinks that an hour on a Kayak isn’t a full body workout, come down to the YPRC this summer. And that is the whole point of this journey, to try and motivate people to try new outdoor activities. And especially to inspire our youth, after two years of COVID, and too many video games, to give the outdoors a chance and to get you back to better physical and mental health.
Chev will be heading down to Yonkers this Saturday, May 14, estimated time of arrival between 430-530pm at the Yonkers Pier and the YRPC. A crowd of people are expected to welcome him home for a bit, before he finishes his journey in Mahnattan.
YPRC vice-commodore Phil Giller said, “I think Chev is the first person to have made this trip both ways down the Hudson. He wants to introduce young people to outdoor activities and we support him 100%. It’s wonderful to see and we look forward to getting more people out in nature to experience this.”
Anyone interested in donating to all of the positive ideas and initiatives that Chev has, visit www.negusoutdoors.com. Get your chance to meet Chev this summer on the Yonkers Pier at the YPRC before its too late. This man has a bright future, and he is a wonderful example of a true Yonkers ambassador, someone who cares about his community and the next generation.
Thank you Chev, for your hard work and for leading by example. What a refreshing story you have provided for our readers. Your story is what Yonkers Rising is all about.
