Eric Pino

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Pino

  • Castaways nickname: Vino

  • Years Paddled: 2010-Ocean's 11 Tour; 2011-The Dirty Dozen Tour; 2012-Come Hell or High Water Tour; 2013-Trip Around the Sun Tour; 2014-Don't Stop the Carnival Tour; 2015-East of Midnight Tour; 2016-Proof of Life Tour; 2017-Just Breathe Tour; 2018-Under the Bridge Tour; 2019-No Surrender Tour; 2020-20/20 Perfect Vision Tour; 2021-BlackJack Tour; 2023-Ridiculous Stunt Tour; 2024-Here Comes the Sun Tour

  • Team Role/Function: Captain. Social Media Assistant.  Mixologist.

  • How did you become a Castaway? I supported the CAC for many years and made a ritual of visiting them on night 3 and helping out with transportation.  One year that Bob wasn't going to make it, OB and Hemingway approached me to add another CCHS paddler.

  • Why are you a Castaway? I originally joined the Castaways because of what OB meant to me after being my teacher and Cross Country coach for 4 years.  As the years have passed I see the sadness that Cancer has brought to so many and I want to do my part to honor them and help raise money to fund research.

  • Outside a kayak/bicycle, what is your "essential" gear? Hemorrhoid pad: my boat famously has the worst seat in the fleet so it helps relieve my coccyx (who knew it was spelled like that). Hot sauce: package tuna and chef Boyardee get old after day 2 so hot sauce helps to take it up a notch.Sunflower Seeds: pass the time on the boat. Paddle Leash: I'm not the most responsible so it keeps the "keys" safe. Earphones: I use these every night.  Elliot Key to pass the time because everyone gets in their tents so early because of mosquitos and other nights to drown on the snores"

  • Conch Republic Navy Rank: Able Seaman

  • Favorite Castaways moment: The Little Palm failure.  When Lou, Patrick, and myself tried to beat the lowering tide as we approached Little Palm, and failed.  Lou was stuck knee-deep in muck, Patrick was hiding in the trees in embarrassment, and I was doing my best to be proactive while laughing uncontrollably.  We eventually swam to Little Palm Island.

  • Favorite Castaways quote: "Das Horn"

  • My Family: I am the son of Cuban exiles.  I am married to a Castaway legend and supporter, Mary Beth and have 2 beautiful kids Gabriel and Sophia.

  • Where are you from? Miami, FL

  • Where'd you go to school? Christopher Columbus and FIU. Just earned my Masters in American History at Southern New Hampshire University (Go Penmen!)

  • Where do you work? Christopher Columbus High School (World History Teacher)

  • Favorite music/artists: Pearl Jam

  • Favorite movies/genre: Amelie, Shawshank Redemption, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Into the Wild

  • Favorite books: Whatever book my kids are into: “The Book With No Pictures” and “Dogman” at the moment.

  • Personal Fun Fact: I’ve traveled to over 50 countries.

  • How have I helped carry out the CAC mission of funding cancer research and honoring those who have fought the fight? Every year I dedicate my trip to different cancer fighters.  I let them know I'm paddling for them and facetime them from the water to let them know that they motivate me to do my part in raising funds to help fight cancer.