Race Across America Screeches To Halt As Jason Winn Gets Hit By Car
by Zach Weisberg Online Editor

Expect the unexpected.

There’s a maxim that rarely fails, especially on expeditions like Team Surfing USA’s trek across the United States. Strenuous climbs, fatigue, exhaustion, delicate nutrition, strategic battles. Each of those can be anticipated and accounted for in some capacity, but getting hit by a car after taking the lead of the prestigious Race Across America, that qualifies as unexpected.

“You couldn’t hit somebody on a bike better unless you were trying,” said Laird of his teammate Jason Winn’s unfortunate collision with the Team Strong Heart crew van. “It’s like he was just riding along and the car hooks a right. For not trying, those guys did a hell of a job…”

While the incident was certainly unfortunate, putting a premature end to Team Surfing USA’s official participation in Race Across America, Winn survived the collision and remains in high spirits.

“The good news is that he’ll probably recover fully and fast,” says Team Surfing USA photographer Don King. “Everyone has a great attitude about it; there is a lot of disappointment, because we were on such a great high, but we appreciate the high and what a great experience it was.”

“I’m alright, but banged up pretty good…just bummed about not finishing. We were WINNING!!!” Jason texted SURFER Headquarters after we inquired about his health.

“I think he’s got a hairline fracture in his ankle,” says Laird. “His foot and ankle and his elbows are all swollen, and he’s pretty sore with road rash on his entire back. He can barely stand up with his brace, but he’s going to stay with us as we drive to Annapolis and come out in a boat while we paddle around the Statue of Liberty.”

The incident came at a climactic turn for Team Surfing USA. After trading positions in first place with Team Strong Heart several times throughout the day, according to Hamilton, Team Surfing USA was just hitting its stride.

“We had been defending the lead most of the day and just started warming up,” says Hamilton. “[Don] Wildman was getting stronger, and Tim was waking up, and we all began to realize this is what we came for. Our Crew Manager, Ron Jones, said that the race only begins on the third day, and that’s how it felt. We were just getting started. We came for this moment and all the sudden it was war. What an intense thing. It was awesome. Jason got hit by the car, and that was the crescendo to the whole thing.”

“Once Jason got hit, we were forced to withdrawal our attack on the race,” says Laird. “We had a lot of people that just couldn’t believe you could just get people that no one had ever heard of and take the lead and defend it. It was pretty amazing.”

Race Director Jake Zmrhal was quieter about the accident.

“The way the incident is—it was no one’s fault,” says Zmrhal. “Two vehicles collided like any other time on the road, so there was an accident and there was nothing more to it than that. There was one racer who was injured and that racer is okay. There was no penalty given, because as far as we could tell no rule was broken, no law was broken, and no one was cited, therefore no one was at fault. This is the United States. There are vehicle and bike accidents everyday, and this was one that unfortunately happened during the race.”

“Maybe we’re not pro bike racers or peddlers or whatever,” says Hamilton, “but the mentality of dealing with this type of situation and getting ready for war —we were just getting a taste of it when we were run over by a car.”

Although Team Surfing USA will not conclude the four-man cycle competition, they will continue on to Annapolis by car and paddle around the Statue of Liberty with good friend and crew member Jeff Sweet who will be filling in for the injured Jason Winn.

Stay tuned to SurferMag.com for more updates on Team Surfing USA’s dramatic finish on their trek across America.