Partner with Sierra in the Catalina Classic

Hi my name is Sierra Perry and for those of you who don’t know me I’m a recent graduate from Pepperdine University in 2019 and am currently attending Pepperdine for my Masters in Ministry thanks to a blessing of a scholarship. This last year I had a serious injury and broke my femur, and seeking a new passion since running wasn’t aloud anymore I picked up prone paddling. With lots of training and work on August 29th myself and 100 others will paddle from Catalina to Manhattan Beach, the world iconic 32 mile paddle marathon. It is an honor to have qualified and partake, but it costs a lot and I can’t do it all on my own. I would love your partnership in paddling across the ocean whether in prayer or funding, and if you want to read more of my story I’ve laid it all out. 



A little over a year ago while the world was falling apart for everyone, it was also in shambles for me and my family. If you want to know more about my families story last year, I’m more than willing to share. But for now this is a place where I’ll write out my story. Last year I was running one day and felt severe pain in left leg and I couldn’t figure out what was wrong. I ended up going to the doctor searching for an answer to why I was in so much pain. It was then that a severe stress fracture was misdiagnosed in my femoral head. So four weeks later when I was supposed to be better with my IT band I managed to go on a prayer hike. Then a rattle snake came out on the trail in front of me and just jumping back out the way upon impact snapped my femur. A few hours later thanks to amazing friends, I was rescued and words of encouragement were spoken over me while crutching me down the mountain. Within a few hours I lay in a hospital bed April 15th 2020 awaiting major hip surgery where I gained some extra metal pieces forever. By the grace of God my body decided to take the metal that the doctors put in me and I’ve learned there was so much beauty in learning about the endurance of one’s faith in trials.

Unfortunately the doctor thinks my days of long distance running are over, and to be quite frank that broke my heart ( some days it still does, I love running). I’ve grown enough that I use to say I was a runner, but now just because I don’t run, I realized it doesn’t mean I’m not a runner at heart still. Fortunately I’ve grown enough to know it’s better to able to face your problems head on, which is where I use to turn to running. A few months in the doctor let me get back to surfing and one flat day I set to the sea not sure what to do, I started paddling. It started off short distances then gradually I was adding more and more. Till I started paddling all of Zuma and then I started paddling the Cove to Big Dume at least five days a week on a soft top. I didn’t know anything about what I was doing, except I was getting stronger for surfing, I was on the ocean, and I found something new I loved to do…

One thing led to another and people started asking me what I was doing paddling a soft top that kind of distance. Then with the help from many friends in Malibu I started trying different Bark prone paddle boards. I especially want to thank Lockwood Holmes and Summer Hoeman for lending me boards to borrow for a good portion of late fall and winter. Also a huge thanks to the Gathering community who has been so encouraging and helpful with teaching me techniques or simply giving me sound advise on all things paddling. Thank you Tony Hotchkiss for all your paddling tips! It wasn’t long before I found something I loved, something I could get up and look forward to doing everyday like I had with running. It became a place of worship and prayer where I could meet God in a healthy way. Then exactly a year from my last long distance run I ended up with my own prone paddle board, but before I bought it I prayed deeply and intentionally. I would commit to train, to race, to go after this, if it was what God wanted. I cried out to God and asked his permission. I can’t say I heard His audible voice, but the Spirit’s presence & Gods words of assurance followed. I pleaded, because I’m one who likes explanations and yes wasn’t enough. I cried, “ God are you sure? Do you really want me to commit to this, do you want me to go out there and race well?,” and again but this time it was endearing, it was something like this… “ Sierra stop questioning how much I love you, how much I saw you this whole time, yes means yes and God only whole heartedly does all things.”. There have only been four moments in my life I have felt God’s assurance and confidence in this way. All were huge markers and guiding lights as I moved towards God’s plan for my life. That was it, I was all in.

My first race was the Waterman’s a few weeks ago from Swamis to Wind and Sea. I had to qualify on my time and placement to be able to compete in the best race, the Catalina Classic. With God’s favor, lots of hard work & lots of time in prayer on the water, I qualified to compete in the Classic from Catalina to Manhattan beach, a 32 mile marathon paddle. People come from all over the world to do this race, and I still don’t know how, but I said yes to a word God spoke and I’m here till it is finished. Every week training takes up lots of my time, and I’m working toward finishing up my masters, financially supporting myself for housing and school. However, the costs to do this race are extensive, and I’m not in a position to do this on my own. The cost of fuel alone to get from the mainland to Catalina and back is going to be over $800 and then the boat rental cost too. Then there’s provisions I’ll need for my support crew and myself which are the housing we’ll need for a couple days on the island to acclimate before race day, the food and snacks i'll need to complete a race like this, and driving the boat back and forth between San Diego. It was something I have been trying to save for and do on my own, but with lots of prayer and encouragement from family and friends I’ve decided to invite you all to partner with me in this race. For months people have been asking me how they could join me on this race, and I just said they could cheer me on, but I decided it’s better to invite you to come on this paddle and celebrate this praise of healing in my leg with me! I never imagined my arms could take me so far, I never dreamed God would call me to do something like this, let alone a world class race that some of the greatest watermen and waterwoman have done before. My plan is to budget as low as possible on this race, and anything that is not used I will be distributing between three charities of my choice: Surfrider Foundation, Surfer’s Healing, and Color the Water. In addition to my registration for the Catalina Classic being a race that happens each year for a social cause. Any amount helps make a dream a reality, and of course partnering in prayer over training this month and on race day August 29th is another way to do the Classic with me. At the end of my race I will be 100% transparent with you all about what the money has gone towards, and all that has been donated. The hope is one day with my continued perseverance, I will be sponsored to do this kind of racing and pursue this as a profession & passion.