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Benjamin

Reality TVClubHouse Discussions: Survivor ARCHIVES: Survivor XVIII - Tocantins (Brasil): The Cast: Benjamin users admin

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Heyltslori
Moderator

09-15-2001

Wednesday, January 21, 2009 - 12:12 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Heyltslori a private message Print Post    
Benjamin

Biography
Benjamin "Coach" Wade (37)
Hometown: Bolivar, Mo.
Occupation: Soccer Coach

Benjamin Wade is known by many names. As the head women's soccer coach at the Southwest Baptist University in Missouri, he is called "Coach Wade," but he also goes by “Maestro” due to role as an artistic director and conductor of a California symphony orchestra. A skilled musician, Benjamin was traveling the world playing the trumpet before most kids could even spell "trumpet."

Wade sees coaching as another form of manipulation. "You have to find out what everybody wants, what everybody needs, what they think they want, what think they need and then you have to be the person that solves everything." He knows these skills will be valuable in the game of SURVIVOR.

If Benjamin was asked to wear just one hat, it would be that of "Renaissance Man." Aside from setting the world record for the longest solo kayak expedition on the ocean (an amazing 6,132 miles), Wade has also been attacked by a tiger shark, stalked by a jaguar in the Amazon and has been bitten by a piranha on his right hand. To say that he is a Type A, Alpha male, who likes to control the environment around him may just be an understatement. Coach's dominant personality will be a force to be reckoned with in the game.

Benjamin is single and currently splits his time in Bolivar, Mo, and Susanville, Calif. His birth date is September 18.

Tntitanfan
Member

08-03-2001

Wednesday, January 21, 2009 - 4:01 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Tntitanfan a private message Print Post    
I hope this guy can dial his "dominent" personality waaaaaay back because I want him to be around for a while!

Chy
Member

07-19-2003

Wednesday, January 21, 2009 - 4:25 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Chy a private message Print Post    
Have you read the spoilers about him?
(Some one who knows him claimed that he looked as if he'd lost 60 lbs. since they last saw him. He said he lost 45 lbs. in an interview.)

Still others thought maybe he was the one whom was victim to the scorpions since he's been seen walking with a stick that was never one of his "props/accessories". From the way Probst talks about him -- he's the kind you won't want your sister to date with, but good to watch on this show. (PP) -- I'm thinking he could last for a while.

Chy
Member

07-19-2003

Wednesday, January 21, 2009 - 4:42 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Chy a private message Print Post    
Ben Wade challenges to be CBS's next 'survivor'
Posted on Tuesday, January 20 @ 13:27:06 PST
Jan. 20, 2009 — The possibility of knowing a contestant on a top rated TV show is rare but in the city of Susanville many can say they know Ben Wade, a contestant on the 18th season of the hit “Survivor.”

Wade can well be on his way of becoming the face of Susanville — a face that is recognizable and friendly.

“This show was made for me,” said Wade. “I wanted to change the game from what it is to what the producers had in mind. Rather than a game of deceit and lies, I want the game to be about actual survival.”

“Survivor: Tocatins, the Brazilian Highlands” premieres on CBS, Thursday, Feb. 12 and Wade, known around town as Maestro or Coach, tells the world his hometown is Susanville, Calif. and that his main job is as artistic director and conductor of the Susanville Symphony Orchestra.

That’s how locals know Wade. He was also the Lassen College Women’s soccer coach for years before heading to Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar, Mo., to be the head coach of its women’s soccer team.

“I should have done this years ago. One of my assistant coaches said that I should be the next bachelor and the idea (of being on a reality show) kinda clicked,” said Wade who began investigating how to apply for “Survivor.”

“I am one of a kind, and I used that in my interview video. In my three minute tape I showed scenes from a symphony concert, video from my coaching and some of my kayaking,” Wade said.

Wade said he had a surreal confidence that he would become one of the 16 chosen to be on the 18th season of the show.

However, even though he had an inner assurance he would be cast and people who know him could see him on the show, Wade said when he got the call, he turned CBS down because filming would begin before soccer season ended.

“The (SBU) soccer team was doing really well this year and I would have had to leave before the season was over and I was not going to that.

“I wasn’t settled with my decision so I talked to my supervisor and he told me to pray about it so I called CBS back and said yes. They gave me a hard time, but I told them I was a man of my word. It was like a millstone taken off my neck,” Wade said.

Wade is not afraid to tell people that his confidence comes from the Lord and his Christian faith. He has said he does nothing without seeking “God’s guidance in everything” he does.

“The Bible talks about a peace that passes all understanding and that is how I felt when I boarded the plane to Brazil. God was behind my decision,” said Wade, who quickly pointed out that being on the show was not about winning, though he likes to win.

He said he went into the game with the same strategy of his American Indian ancestors. Wade’s uncle was the last Delaware Indian. He also said that he thought of the Nordic Vikings and their seven layers of heaven.

“The bottom level is for those who lived a long life and the top level is for those who met a worthy competitor on the battlefield. I never lie; I have integrity; I am a strong Christian,” emphasized Wade.

The man TV viewers see on the show is the man they know in Susanville.

“I love Susanville. (People) know that. I am committed to the symphony for the rest of my life,” said Wade with a catch of emotion in his voice.

Wade is not allowed to talk about what happened once the plane landed in Brazil and while he was there. Brett Gold of CBS said that all participants stay on location until there is a winner. Therefore Wade returned to the states with the rest of the cast.

Wade returned the same day as the first symphony concert of the season in its new location, the Susanville Assembly of God.

“I never saw the music. I can get super focused, and when I got to Susanville I was still focused on Brazil. It was a miracle the concert was so good considering my severely different state,” said Wade, who can’t say enough about the orchestra and its willingness to let him conduct with no previous practices.

The December Christmas concert was the talk of the town for several weeks because it was obvious to everyone that Wade went through a significant ordeal.

“One of the older ladies in the front row said, ‘That’s not Ben … Where’s Ben?’ and that explains everything said Wade, who admitted he lost 45 pounds from an already physically fit body.

Wade appeared haggard, tired and unwell. He said he has gained the weight back and is back to his old self.

Wade reiterated several times he went on the show to change it and it will be interesting to see how he did. And since he can’t say much about his time in Brazil he said he can say that his life experiences have forged his character and it will not be shaken.

Reaction
Wade has a large following in Susanville and many friends who were quick to let everyone know by phone call and e-mail that someone they know would be on a popular TV show.

The newspaper received at least 100 e-mails and a dozen phone calls to let the staff know about Wade. Many wanted to know if the paper would be following Wade’s progress and said they could not wait to get the paper in the weeks to come.

The paper is planning to add a new column called Wade Watchers. It will tell how Wade did in the week’s prior episode and opinions on how he may do on Survivor.

Those who have ideas or insider information are encouraged to contact Barbara France, managing editor, at 257-5321 or bfrance@lassennews.com.

The Susanville Symphony Society is also planning a fundraiser event for Feb. 12 to watch the first episode. Details are in the works, said several symphony members who first were only going to have a party somewhere but then decided to invite the entire city.

To see more on Wade before the show begins log onto cbs.com/primetime/survivor. There you can read Wade’s biography and watch a three-minute tape on why he is there and why he plans to win.

Other Web sites about Wade include susanvillesymphony.com and coachbenwade.com.
######

From MayanSun at SurvivorFever

Chy
Member

07-19-2003

Wednesday, January 21, 2009 - 4:58 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Chy a private message Print Post    
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBpm-fp8Kl4

One of the few youtubes you could find about susanville symphony orchestra.

Don't bother to look at the other things with Susanville. The town is known for the prison. I wonder if the prisoners are counted in as part of the town's populations? (around 13,000.) :-)

Aussiedeb
Member

07-05-2004

Thursday, January 22, 2009 - 6:34 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Aussiedeb a private message Print Post    
IF he lost 45lbs that must mean he goes far, or is it just a smoke screen to throw us off?

Should be an interesting one to watch...

Chy
Member

07-19-2003

Thursday, January 22, 2009 - 10:46 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Chy a private message Print Post    
Did you listen to what Probst(on CBS site) and Erinn(RealityBlurred) had to say about him?

Maybe he's not arrogant, just one to march to his own drum??? Artists are like that. He especially has been doing things different than most Americans since childhood! It's not easy to be "The best trumpet player under 18" at one point, gotten Bach. in Business and gone back for a Master in Music after he had the calling to compose. It's not easy to kayak down the West Coast solo at the age of 25; It certainly couldn't be easy to have a wonderful winning record as a soccer coach! I hope he's not the way Probst suggested, ...

The fact that he is a born again Christian might cost him the game some how, but I just hope his tribe mates give him a chance, recognize his abilities before they cross him out as an expendable.

Erinn did mention in her interview that she already has her eye on Tyson & the Coach. May them plus Jerry would be a good alliance???

Chy
Member

07-19-2003

Monday, January 26, 2009 - 9:51 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Chy a private message Print Post    
From Reality Blurred . com

Read it at your own risk!! :-)
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Benjamin “Coach” Wade: “I want to get the four strongest people to the final four because that’s who deserves it”

Benjamin “Coach” Wade is as impossibly arrogant as he is intelligent and accomplished, and after our conversation, I was convinced that he is someone Survivor desperately needs. That’s because he has a plan to alter the now-predictable way people play the game, and his strategy may just work, if his personality doesn’t get in the way.
Erinn hysterically branded him “Samauri Steve,” but CBS has offically nicknamed him “Coach” (he coaches women’s soccer at Southwest Baptist University), though he’s also known as “Maestro” (he’s a conductor at a California symphony orchestra). Benjamin applied for the show for the first time last summer, although when it first debuted in 2000, “I objected to the fact that it really wasn’t survival,” he said. He eventually started watching again—and has seen about half of the seasons in full—and “I started to get hooked on it, and I’m not saying this sycophantically, but the producers of this show are obviously awesome.”
But to him, the cast members aren’t always awesome. “It’s become, in my opinion, survival of the weakest, survival of the manipulative, survival of the dishonest, with some good, honest people sprinkled throughout the game,” Benjamin/Coach (I’m really not sure what to call him) told me. “You haven’t seen a final four that’s all of the strongest. I want to change the game. I want to make it back to being a survivor. I’ve survived on the wild on my own,” he said, referring to his “many pursuits of adrenaline,” including kayaking solo 6,132 miles, for which he holds the world record.
Benjamin attributes the decrease in media attention that the show gets to the way the weak tend to prevail, and said that “seeing the decline of the articles that are written about the show and—I shouldn’t be saying that, but I think that’s partially because it’s become predictable in its unpredictability. I want to get the four strongest people to the final four because that’s who deserves it.”
His basic strategy is to “tell a select few people that we need to change the game” and go with them to the end, where the strong will then battle it out. Along the way, he’ll play above-board. Like Survivor Gabon’s Marcus, he seems to have clearly drawn moral lines. “I love winning—almost more than anything—but not at the brooking of my integrity and my honesty,” he told me, and later said, “I don’t care about the money—I mean, I do, I want a million dollars, but not on my reputation.”
His biggest challenge, then, is “to have the intuition to know who to elect as those corporals or generals, those leaders, that’s going to be the important thing. Because if I reveal that strategy to somebody who wants to turn and use it against me, then I’m going to be out and I’m going to be out early,” he said.
Who are those people that he was “trying to give them mental telepathy as I’m sitting next to them” at Ponderosa? He said Candace and JT were “like pleading at me with their eyes to take them into the fold,” but thinks JT isn’t physically strong enough and Candace is smart but too “freaked out about bugs and stuff.” He also cited the “tall guy, blonde hair, real Abercrombie and Fitch type” (Tyson, I assumed) who has “condescending attitude” and has “a lot of damage control to do” because he acts “very superior.”
Pre-game, he saw his final four alliance as including Debra and Brendan, and maybe the guy with the “square jaw, dark hair, mid-20s.” He was pissed at Brendan, the “famous businessman,” for revealing that he was being cast (more on that with Brendan’s interview), but Benjamin said that because Brendan’s business and sales depend upon his behavior on the show, Benjamin has “kind of got him by the balls on that.”
That’s another strategy: convincing people to play the game his way by appealing to them individually, like arguing to Brendan that his business depends upon ethical behavior in the game, or telling to a teacher that he or she needs to set a good example for their students. “I am phenomenal at manipulating people,” Coach told me. “I’m awesome at manipulating. If I wanted to, I could win this game.” He said he will “plant the seeds in a select few individuals, have them carry the torch” and once they’ve “carried my ideology into that merge, and then, it won’t be such an issue.” That “it” refers to the obvious problem of the weaker players voting against the stronger ones.
So will this all work? Maybe. Benjamin is incredibly charismatic and intelligent, but he’s also controlling and arrogant. “I refuse to not take charge,” he said, and later suggested his leadership in the game will be modeled after Jesus: “Of course, Christianity, to be a servant/leader, that’s what Jesus Christ was. I see that in myself, and I see wanting to be that servant/leader,” he said.
As you can see, his arrogance is so outrageous that it almost seems subtle, especailly because those absurdly arrogant statements come in a calm, even voice (listen below) and are articulately presented. Here’s an example: “I’m in the middle of the soccer season right now. I left a team that was ranked and had a great shot at getting to nationals—best start in that school’s history, and I left that team to come here. My team is in shambles right now; they probably won’t make the tournament,” he said, because as we all know, coaches, not athletes, do the real work during games. If that’s not enough, he added later, “Those girls come there to my university so that I can make their dreams come true, and I teach them examples while I’m there; how foolish of me it’d be to come on this show and do the opposite of what I preach.”
That’s a nice sentiment, but “my university”? “I can make their dreams come true”? Taking too much credit for something sounds like the kind of thing that’ll give his tribemates a great reason to get rid of him, although because he is physically strong he will undoubtedly make the merge—unless he just freaks everyone out.
Of course, he’s aware of that challenge. Ben said he “had to come off as such an ass at casting” so with the other contestants, and has “to fight that arrogance thing.” Still, Benjamin said his arrogance might actually work in his favor (listen to him discuss that below). But he’s unconcerned about how he’s viewed in the media. “Would I like to be painted in a good light? Yeah, because I think I’m doing it for the right reasons,” he said. “The only thing I’m worried about is being portrayed as dishonest or having no integrity.”
Here’s where I think his biggest problem may come from: He offers such compelling rationale that it’s only occasionally apparent that he’s sometimes full of shit. For example, he doesn’t want to be portrayed as dishonest, but he admitted lying to the women on his team about where he going during production, telling them that he was getting medical tests for two months following an actual cancer scare. (He previously “had some tests done on what they thought was a brain tumor, but it wasn’t.”)
At another point, when I asked about part of his strategy, he tried to make an argument about why his strategy was reflected throughout various civilizations, which were “not survival of the weakest. You look historically at civilization and you do not have—yeah, you have manipulators that succeed, but they’re also strong, and they certainly don’t necessarily cannibalize themselves and their tribes. They do to a certain extent, to get to power, but, anyway.”
Despite those occasionally lapses or tumbles into canyons formed of his own rhetoric, Benjamin/Coach is extremely likable and genuine. “I want to make a difference in people’s lives,” he told me. “That’s why I’ve made every decision to sacrifice my own life: not being married, no kids—to coach a group of girls.” And he was also honest about what Survivor might do for him. “Obviously, for me, I think that God has … opened this door for a reason. I’m interested to see how much longer I’m going to be a soccer coach, or if this is going to evolve me into something else,” he said.
“Every morning I wake up and I tell myself, ‘I’ve done nothing in this life. I’ve accomplished nothing.’ It kind of gives me that drive to move forward. But most people that meet me realize that, this guy has done so much, but he’s not arrogant, but I come off as arrogant,” Benjamin said. “I’m very sincere.”
Hear Benjamin/Coach talk about being “disgusted” by what he’s seen on previous seasons of Survivor, “eat[ing] your own shit for two months,” and how his arrogance might work to his advantage:

Panda
Member

07-15-2005

Tuesday, January 27, 2009 - 8:33 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Panda a private message Print Post    
wow.

Tntitanfan
Member

08-03-2001

Tuesday, January 27, 2009 - 12:56 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Tntitanfan a private message Print Post    
Hmmmmmm, the jury is still out of this one for me. Past "take charge" guys have not fared well. Wonder what will happen if we have Coach and Sarge on the same team?!?

Chy
Member

07-19-2003

Wednesday, January 28, 2009 - 7:03 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Chy a private message Print Post    
LOL!
If he did have a tumor it might explain some of these "magnifying thyself"! /joking, never wish ill on people. Plus, I'm trying to like him!

Tabbyking
Member

03-11-2002

Friday, January 30, 2009 - 4:29 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Tabbyking a private message Print Post    
well, Susanville's about 70 miles from me...I may have to slow down next trip to Reno or camping

Happymom
Member

01-20-2003

Friday, February 13, 2009 - 10:43 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Happymom a private message Print Post    
but he also goes by “Maestro”

After reading that Jeff says he is full of himself and reading Jeff's blog about ep 1 and seeing ep 1, this makes me laugh because it reminds me of Seinfeld's Maestro!

Chy
Member

07-19-2003

Wednesday, February 18, 2009 - 7:11 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Chy a private message Print Post    
Again, read it on your own risk, :-) I'm not responsible if you gag on his words!
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"Survivor" coach out at SBU
By Matt Baker • mbaker2@news-leader.com • February 17, 2009


"Survivor" coach Ben Wade has been fired as head women's soccer coach at Southwest Baptist University. SBU athletic director Brent Good said the school bought out the remaining three months of Wade's contract because Wade did not tell Good why he left the team at mid-season to shoot the CBS reality TV show.
"He said he was going to be gone for a week," Good said this evening. "And the week went beyond that, which went beyond that, which went beyond that."
Good said Wade left the team on Oct. 22 and returned to campus eight weeks later on Dec. 17.
"Coach Wade's a good coach," Good said. "I think the choice he made to do what he did was not done in the right way. With that, there's a consequence with it. Unfortunately, the consequence is that his contract is not being renewed, and he's no longer here."
Good said the school investigated the matter and met with Wade on Monday to inform the 37-year-old of the decision.
Wade, who is on the latest season of the hit reality TV show, "Survivor," said the decision came as a surprise.
"I loved my time at SBU," Wade said in a phone interview. "Obviously, I'm off to pursue adventures in Hollywood."
Wade, a world-class trumpeter, said he plans to leave for California on Wednesday to conduct the Susanville Symphony and pursue an acting career.
The announcement comes five days after Wade's premiere on "Survivor" and less than a week after the school announced that eight high school seniors signed letters of intent to play at SBU.
Wade is still listed as a soccer coach in Bolivar on his CBS bio.
SBU hired Wade in April 2005. In four seasons, he has a record of 32-27-15.

Gemma120in2002
Member

07-05-2003

Saturday, April 18, 2009 - 7:59 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Gemma120in2002 a private message Print Post    
Look what I just found! I can't believe it. He's a legend in the mind of someone else. A Kindle book was published about him in March. Based on his journals from his attempting to cross the ocean in a Kayak journey of 6,000 miles and 6 months.

http://www.amazon.com/Voyage-Beyond-Reason-Survival-Journals/dp/B001W6RPBS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1240066431&sr=8-1

Merrysea
Moderator

08-13-2004

Saturday, April 18, 2009 - 8:01 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Merrysea a private message Print Post    
It's interesting that the cover of the book calls it a novel, rather than a true story.

Aurora
Member

11-24-2006

Saturday, April 18, 2009 - 8:59 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Aurora a private message Print Post    
And I found this. Seems to be true. Still looking for info on his capture and torture on the Amazon though.

http://www.marrder.com/htw/mar97/national.htm

Mamabatsy
Member

08-05-2005

Saturday, April 18, 2009 - 11:47 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Mamabatsy a private message Print Post    
Perhaps the Amazon he was talking about was really Amazon.com? When he ordered the NOVEL about his supposed trip, a group of school children tried to attack him for making the whole story up.

I think the man is delusional and has only traveled in his own mind. He might have written things as if they happened, but this book is fiction most likely because there is no one who can corroborate that he really did it.

Tntitanfan
Member

08-03-2001

Saturday, April 18, 2009 - 2:46 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Tntitanfan a private message Print Post    
I thought I read something about him kayaking down the coast of CA - a far cry from crossing an ocean!

I am anxious to get to the library tomorrow to read the links above. My whimpy little system here won't open that kind of stuff!

Beekindpleez
Member

07-18-2006

Saturday, April 18, 2009 - 3:00 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Beekindpleez a private message Print Post    
For Tnt:

From Gemma's link:

A Voyage Beyond Reason: The Epic Saga of Survival Based on the Journals of Benjamin Wade (Kindle Edition)

Product Description
Before Ben Wade was a cast member (coach) on Survivor-Tocantins, he had a true-life survivor saga of his own. This book is the story - taken from Wade's water-stained journals- of his attempt to break the world record for a solo kayak ocean voyage. 6 months and 6,000 miles from beginniing to end, it is a wonder that he susvived at all. The story is gripping, action filled, and a voyeurisitc look into his young mind. Challenging young muscles against an old sea, and a young mind against ancient sources of madness, Wade sets off on a voyage beyond the reach of any reaonable human being. Follow him every step of the way, from desolate desert islands to the teeming streets of Mazatlan, on a day by day struggle to keep body and soul together. There has never been a true tale of a more laser focused young man - willing to endure beyond reaonable limits - pain and madness edged every sunrise and every sunset. Turn back? Quit? Avoid pain and suffering? Never - if it means not reaching his goal.

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From Aurora's link:

Monday, March 31, 1997 Online Edition 47
25-year-old breaks world kayaking record in Gulf of Fonseca

By SUYAPA CARIAS

TEGUCIGALPA -- What makes a man get into a kayak and paddle it down the Pacific Coast from California to Central America? There may be only one person with the authority and experience to answer that question. His name is Ben Wade.

After 4,700 miles and five months on the water, this 25-year-old native of Tennessee beat the world record for one-man kayaking last week, as he entered the Gulf of Fonseca on the Honduran South Coast. He broke the previous record of 3,600 miles set by fellow American Ed Gillette.

But the story isn't over yet. Wade is only collecting experiences on his way to his final destination: Punta Charambira, Colombia. He plans to arrive there by March 1st, to make a 5,500 miles total trip.

After touching land in the port town of Amapala on the island of El Tigre, Wade continued paddling until he reached Puerto Quepos, Costa Rica. There, he left his kayak and hopped a flight to Tegucigalpa, where he shared his adventure with the Honduran media.

"I've done crazy things before, but nothing like this," he told reporters.

MORE FROM LIFE

Before he decided to embark on his kayak adventure, Wade worked as an operations chief at his grandfather's company in Los Angeles, California. His main goal was earning money. "I wanted to be a hot shot guy," he says. But he soon realized that he wasn't doing what made him happy. On afternoon he sat down to think about his situation and he came up with his unusual project.

He quit his job, said goodbye to his girlfriend and set out on six months of kayak training and physical conditioning. On September 13 of last year, he took off from the mouth of the Colorado river, paddling south along the eastern coast of Baja California and touching land every week or so at different points in Mexico, such as San Felipe, Guaymas, Portolobampo, Mazatlán and Acapulco. He also stopped in Guatemala before entering the Gulf of Fonseca.

"My primary goal was to be closer to God," says Wade. "I wanted to feel his presence around me out in the ocean." He was also seduced by the huge challenge of the trip. "I thought that breaking the world record was going to be the coolest thing in the world."

But now that Wade actually holds the record, he's even more touched by his relationship with God. "I used to enjoy living dangerously, cheating death and being at the very edge of life. But now I know that everything I've done is thanks to God's power." After the many dangers he has faced during his trip, Wade says God is the only way he can explain the fact that he is still alive to talk about it.

DANGERS OF THE SEA

On a normal day on the ocean, Ben takes a bath, eats a breakfast of dry food and paddles his kayak for 12 consecutive hours, with only a 10 minute break for lunch. He usually paddles between five and ten miles from the coast and comes inland every seven or eight days to rest, "eat real food" and stocking up on supplies.

One of the most dangerous moments he's faced so far happened as he was approaching the Mexican port of Portolabombo. He was unexpectedly hit by a hurricane.

"I couldn't see land and I didn't have time to put my life vest on," he said. Facing 30-foot waves, he suddenly found himself on the top of one in the wrong position. "Right before the wave crashed, everything seemed to stop and I thought 'This is it. These are the last four seconds of my life.'"

Wade says he began to pray for help and suddenly heard a voice. "It was God. He asked me, 'What have you done for me lately?'" His first reaction was that it was hardly an appropriate time to discuss the matter, but then he heard the same question again. "God told me that from that moment on I should take the name of his son on my lips to every single person I meet." After struggling against the storm for nearly four hours, the hurricane left Wade behind in a quiet bay. "Every time I tell the story I can feel his power," he says."

As if the hurricane weren't dangerous enough, Wade was also attacked by sharks on two occasions. One of them left a scar and a tooth on his left arm. Now the animal's dental fragment is an earring Wade never removes. Another frightening moment came when he drank bad water and got sick while he was at sea. But Wade says none of these experiences compares to the devastating solitude he felt at times.

"That's the hardest thing. After you don't see anybody for eight days you start to forget who you are and what you're doing. That's why I wouldn't recommend the trip to anyone. And I wouldn't do it again."

FISHY FRIENDS

But not all of his experiences have been horrifying. Wade carries with him several good memories, as well. He saw beautiful landscapes, witnessed enormous whales just meters away and enjoyed what he called God's whispering at him through the wind. He says he developed an intimate relationship with the sea.

"There was a love affair between me and the ocean, and I think the animals though I was a part of their system." Wade remembers the day a school of dolphins joined him for about 30 minutes, playing and jumping around his kayak. "I could see their eyes watching me." Before they left, the largest dolphin jumped out of the water and over his kayak. "He was saying goodbye to me."

WHAT'S NEXT

Because he was ahead of schedule, Wade was able to spend a couple of days in Tegucigalpa and a weekend on the Bay Island of Guanaja. Now he's back on the water and on his way to South America.

Once he makes it to Punta Charambira, he plans to make his way back north (by more traditional means of travel), stopping in Panama and giving press conferences in Mexico and the United States. He is also writing a book about his adventures and will promote it internationally.

Wade says he's anxious to see his family again. Because he didn't want to worry them, he only told them about his trip one day before he left. He says they were worried they'd never see him again. "Reporters would refer to me as the man they were interviewing for the first and the last time," says Wade. "Now I'm here to use the trip to bring glory to God and be part of his ministry."

The young adventurer is convinced that he inherited his passion for the water from his Delaware Indian ancestors. Does this mean his kayaking days aren't over once he returns home?

"No!" says Wade emphatically. "I plan to cross the Amazon in the future."

Tntitanfan
Member

08-03-2001

Saturday, April 18, 2009 - 3:17 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Tntitanfan a private message Print Post    
Bee! What a sweetie you are to go to so much trouble to share these with me! Thank you sooo much!

<Could you have left out the part about being originally from TN? - just sayin'>

Beekindpleez
Member

07-18-2006

Saturday, April 18, 2009 - 4:07 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Beekindpleez a private message Print Post    
You're welcome, Tnt. Sometimes I only have dial-up and I just hate waiting, so I can relate!

Sorry about the TN part. I'll never bring it up again, I promise. lol

Denecee
Member

09-05-2002

Friday, May 15, 2009 - 2:24 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Denecee a private message Print Post    
There is no way that he lost 45 lbs on survivor!

Tntitanfan
Member

08-03-2001

Friday, May 15, 2009 - 3:13 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Tntitanfan a private message Print Post    
Denecee - sometimes the things that Coach says are not quite accurate - just so you know!

Denecee
Member

09-05-2002

Friday, May 15, 2009 - 3:16 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Denecee a private message Print Post    
LOL! Ya think?

Hypermom
Member

08-13-2001

Friday, May 15, 2009 - 3:29 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Hypermom a private message Print Post    
When he was weighed at Ponderosa, didn't the medic say he had lost 30 pounds? By Sunday, he'll be saying he lost 60!

Happymom
Member

01-20-2003

Saturday, May 16, 2009 - 10:04 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Happymom a private message Print Post    
From Chy's 1/21 post: "One of my assistant coaches said that I should be the next bachelor"

Ugh! Can you imagine?!!!

Gemma120in2002
Member

07-05-2003

Saturday, May 16, 2009 - 10:37 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Gemma120in2002 a private message Print Post    
Watching the interview with Jeff Probst, it appears that Wade has told Probst that he has 6 girlfriends.

Now, based on Wade's ability to manipulate truth so that it fits his own particular reality, does that mean that he saw a woman and something in his mind told him that she was as strong and honorable as six women, and that she loved him, so that means that he, in fact, has six women who love him? And they all went with him in an astral voyage to the monastery, and then they all learned the ancient art of "makingcrapuppity" together so that they could have an honorable warrior alliance! It's all so obvious! I'm having a singular moment of clarity!

No, I forgot to take my medication. Never mind.
(makingcrapuppity is a word coined by Dalton Ross)

Countrydaze
Member

11-07-2003

Saturday, May 16, 2009 - 11:11 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Countrydaze a private message Print Post    
That's funny about Coach being on the bachelor......no one would accept the rose

Dogdoc
Member

09-29-2001

Saturday, May 16, 2009 - 1:47 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Dogdoc a private message Print Post    
Coach is the oldest looking 37 year old I have ever seen. He even calls himself an old man.

Hypermom
Member

08-13-2001

Saturday, May 16, 2009 - 2:01 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Hypermom a private message Print Post    
Happymom, that would ruin The Bachelor once and for all. lol

Dogdoc, I agree. I was surprised that he was only 37. I don't think the Steven Segal look helps. lol

Gemma120in2002
Member

07-05-2003

Saturday, May 16, 2009 - 3:02 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Gemma120in2002 a private message Print Post    
I just found this! Too funny. Someone doing a parody of Coach Wade on Twitter!

http://twitter.com/SurvivorCoach

It's really dead on.

Holly
Member

07-22-2001

Saturday, May 16, 2009 - 3:09 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Holly a private message Print Post    
That's a riot, Gemma.

Coach the next bachelor? God save us!

Vegaschris
Member

10-13-2008

Saturday, May 16, 2009 - 7:38 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Vegaschris a private message Print Post    
Gemma! Thank you for finding that twitter-parody of Coach. It is absolutely hilarious (and dead-on!)!!