I first met Wyatt on a running track in downtown Atlanta. My brother Justin invited me to a workout he, Wyatt and a bunch of other guys were doing to prepare for a big relay race in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Wyatt’s hair was tied up in a ponytail and he looked like a freakin comet knocking out intervals around the track. While putting their bodies to the test (Wyatt may or may not have barfed) the team ended up winning the race a few months later.
Pushing himself to a greater good is something that Wyatt is no stranger to. Over the past few years, Wyatt and a humble crew have been training to kayak from Havana Cuba to Key West. It took two tries and in 2018 they completed their 27 hour/125 mile mission. Not only did they want to test themselves physically but they wanted to empathize with a population of thousands of immigrants who have made that same journey. Most of them not athletes and not nearly as prepared…..but determined and driven to improve their quality of life. A documentary highlighting both Wyatt’s adventure and the amazing immigrants who’ve made that journey will be coming out this year. We can’t wait.
Over the last 10 years Wyatt has experienced Hong Kong, Tibet, Rio, India, Chile, and many more places by kayak, backpack, bike or whatever else he can get his hands on. Speaking of bikes, Wyatt has created an insane bike race of sorts in Atlanta called the BeltGrind. The 20–mile ride around the perimeter of the city is entering its Third year and has doubled in size each year since it was founded in 2017. The event will literally connect riders to the various communities of Atlanta and brings together ATLiens from diverse walks (or rides) of life. Wyatt aims to create a diverse bike community through the race and bring awareness of the “infrastructure, social issues, and potential that the project is bringing to the city.” All of the races profits go to Bearings Bike Shop, which is a youth development organization in Atlanta! Rad AF.
In addition to all this, Wyatt installs massive solar power systems and builds out vans for those wanting a badass van life.
Check out www.beltgrind.com to learn more about the race and follow Wyatt’s adventure on IG @crazyunclewyatt
Photo by: Johnie Gall @dirtbagdarling