Rose Polyakov

By Phyl Newbeck

This January, Rose Polyakova visited her 50th state. That might not be so noteworthy except that Rose’s journey wasn’t just about sightseeing. She ran a half marathon in every state of the union.

It all started in 2011 when friends asked her to join them for a half marathon in Orlando. Rose didn’t consider herself a runner and had no interest in Disney World, but she wanted to spend time with her friends, so she went. “I had a fantastic experience,” she said, and promptly began looking for other half marathons to run, initially sticking to ones close to her Maryland home. The following year, Rose ran 13.1 miles in 12 different states. “I began to realize this might take over my life,” she said, “so I decided to get organized and do the states in the order in which they entered the union.” READ MORE

Surfing Lake Champlain

By Caroline Patten

It’s 5:05am, and the WhatsApp group dings with a message from Gary K of South Hero: “It's blowing solid. Dawn patrol or miss it.” A quick swipe to Sailflow confirms his report – the breeze is up, reading 19 gusting to 24 knots at the Colchester Reef meter, and wind enthusiasts all around Lake Champlain are starting to chatter about where they are going to link up for a session that morning. READ MORE

Be Wake Smart – New Rules for Wake Sports

By Abigail Caron

Spending time at “the lake” is a quintessential part of a New England summer and for many, that includes motorboats zipping by with a tube or waterskier in tow. In recent years, wake sports such as wakesurfing and wakeboarding have surged in popularity, bringing specialized motorboats called wake boats onto the scene. Some lake-goers say that these new boats enhance their lake activities by creating bigger wakes to ride. For many, however, wake boats are a cause for concern. In 2024, due to environmental and safety concerns, Vermont restricted wake sports to 30 lakes across the state- the tightest regulations in the country. Now, as of June 11, 2026, the state has implemented even stricter rules regarding wake boats and wake sports. READ MORE

Mason Overstreet

By Phyl Newbeck

Mason Overstreet was intrigued by the Vermont whitewater canoe scene long before he visited the state. He was in college in Alabama when friends he canoed with told him about a Vermonter named Tony Shaw who was an influential part of that community. Mason moved to Vermont in 2012 and immediately looked up Tony who has since become a mentor and a friend. READ MORE