SU hosts 37th annual Sea Gull Century
- Tessah Good
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
Two riders, Claudio Garcia from Ocean City and Bob Lawton from Pennsylvania, came to SU’s 37th annual Sea Gull Century and completed the 63-mile metric together.
Garcia said for outside riders, Sea Gull Century is a big deal because it marks the end of the outdoor biking season.
“It’s like our little Super Bowl at the end of the season,” he said.
Garcia said there are many reasons why he loves Sea Gull Century, but his favorite by far is the pie served at the Sea Gull Century Celebration.
Lawton said this is 12th time riding in the Sea Gull Century, but his biking experience started around 25 years ago. He said there’s no better feeling than finishing such a long ride.
“It was good to get out there and do it,” Lawton said. “I mean the course is awesome.”
Garcia and Lawton were among more than 2,200 bike riders that pedaled to the finish line on Saturday.
Bikers could choose to ride any of Sea Gull Century’s three routes: the Assateague Century (100 miles), Princess Anne/Pocomoke Metric (63 miles) and a new route which was introduced this year, the 40-mile ride. Each route takes riders past scenic views along the Eastern Shore.
A map displayed at the GSU showed the number of cyclists from each state. Some bike riders came as far as California and Washington to participate in the ride.
Sea Gull Century started in 1988 with only 68 cyclists, according to the Sea Gull Century website. That number has now flourished and has allowed the event to expand each year with the help of more than 50 faculty and 200 student volunteers.
Deputy Director of the SU Foundation Amy Waters has been helping lead the event for 20 years. Growing up on the Eastern Shore, Waters said she often feels its unique scenery is taken for granted. She finds it exciting to get to share the place she loves with so many newcomers.
Waters said her favorite part of Sea Gull Century is meeting the various cyclists each year, many of which are returners.
“It’s fun because each year they’ll come find me because they want to have a conversation and check in with my family and see how we’re doing,” she said.
Waters said one of the most important aspects of the Sea Gull Century is fundraising. She said with the event being a fundraiser, the money must go to the Salisbury University Foundation — meaning no money can go to the state.
According to Salisbury University Foundation, any money collected by the foundation is used to enhance programs, education and create scholarships.
While Waters is the deputy director, she said Sea Gull Century is a team effort and wouldn’t be possible without the volunteers, student clubs, catering and many others that help bring this event to life.
One of those volunteers is Jose Marcos Salaverria, who joined his wife Whitney Torrence, the event and marketing coordinator of the SU Foundation, for his first Sea Gull Century experience.
Salaverria said he finds the entire event exciting, from seeing bikers of all ages to meeting people from all over the United States.
This year’s Sea Gull Century took place during SU’s 100th anniversary, which Salaverria said he found very interesting.
“The idea of a century bike ride to celebrate a century of Salisbury University is pretty darn cool,” Salaverria said.
After his first time at Sea Gull Century, he said he plans to return next year to volunteer once again.
“I’m surprised at the kindness, the intelligence and the world awareness of SU students and the volunteerism, which is a hard thing to find,” Salaverria said. “I’ll definitely be back next year.”
For photos of the 37th Sea Gull Century, see the gallery captured by Kate Donaldson on The SU Flyer