Things get heated as dozens turn out for inaugural event
OCEAN CITY — A cold blanket of snow fell silently over the island Saturday morning in perhaps an appropriate welcome to the city’s inaugural Winter Warrior Festival.
Adult competitors took to the boardwalk for a run and then tackled the obstacle course at Carey Stadium in three heats starting at 8, 8:30 and 9 a.m.
“I loved it,” said Joe Brown of Morristown. “It was challenging enough but easy enough for everybody to do.”
Sister Emily Brown said the boardwalk was quite slippery but that snow had been cleared from the obstacle course in time for the competition.
“They did a good job of cleaning it off,” she said.
The siblings said they visit the island often as their parents own a house on Asbury Avenue and added that they would be back for more next year.
Larry Nolan, 67, came from Bayville with his son-in-law Mike Woodman and grandchildren Addison Nolan and Larry Nolan III to take part in the competition.
“It was awesome, the team did well,” Nolan said. “I love working out with my son in law and grandchildren. Now we’re here doing the strength events.”
They were first up in the firetruck pull and had no problem once they got the machine moving.
“I was concerned that we may not be able to do it,” Nolan said, noting he competes in triathlons. “I do it and I’m getting them involved.
He said he grew up in Woodbine and remembers walking the boardwalk as a child.
“This is a little bit nostalgic, coming back to Ocean City,” he said.
Other teams participating included Goldcoast Sotheby’s International Realty with City Council President Peter Madden, the Marmora Volunteer Fire Company with moral support from Chief Jay Newman and the Ocean City Free Public Library.
“I think it’s a great event to bring the community together on a nice, cold, snowy morning,” Newman said.
The chief, who is also mayor of Upper Township, said the first responders know one another well and a friends.
“It’s pretty cool to come over here and do battle with one of their firetrucks,” he said.
Despite the cold, the children’s obstacle course was popular with kids of all ages.
Sisters Lyndsey Toney and Carley Giuliano brought their children — Leila Toney, 5, Camden Toney, 3, and Hayden Giuliano, 3 — to
Giuliano, a teacher, said they came down to spend the long Presidents Day weekend at her parents’ home on Central Avenue.
“We like to come down as a family. We were really excited about this event going on here today, something new just to get the kids outdoors, active and moving in the winter,” she said while cradling a newborn.
Toney said it’s great weekend for the families with events both inside and outside.
Likewise, Lisa Trexler of Swedesboro brought Sienna, 7, and Joey, 4, to get some fresh air and exercise.
Inside the Sports and Civic Center, vendors were set up selling treats and trinkets. Mick Julia of Mullica Hill was selling cinnamon-glazed almonds, pecans and cashews, and also takes part in the city’s block parties each spring and fall.
Looking around at the near-empty hall, he said vendors have low expectations for first-time events and that the snow didn’t help the situation.
Upper Township resident Jessica Baird was shopping with daughter Remy, 10, at Jerky James beef jerky stand.
Baird said he husband, Andrew Baird, and a group of friends competed in the 9 a.m. heat and that she and her daughter, an Upper Township Elementary School student who plays basketball and soccer, were doing some shopping.
“It was something to get us out of the house in the winter,” she said.
Community Services Director Dan Kelchner said the turnout was a little less than desired.
“Overall, it was a solid first year for the event but the weather in the early morning undoubtedly affected our attendance number,” he said. “We had a number of preregistered racers who did not attend due to the weather conditions.”
Kelchner said as the day progressed, things picked up a bit with overflow from the 5th annual Ocean City Nature & The Environment Family Fun Day at Ocean City High School, with “people exploring the race course, the team competitions and the retail aspect. It got steady in the early afternoon but never really busy like we would expect in future years (with better weather).”
He said 78 people took part in the adult timed race, 88 on the children’s course and 13 teams of four in the team competitions.
By CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff