A Local Surfer With a Purpose: The King Tide Challenge
- Willie Daniels
- Dec 22, 2025
- 4 min read
Why the King Tide Challenge Is About Showing Up
By Willie Daniels
There’s no start line.
No bibs.
No medals waiting at the end.
Instead, there’s a group of people walking together along one of the most beautiful stretches of coastline in California—sharing conversations, taking it all in, and doing something that simply feels right.
That’s the King Tide Challenge.
What began as a quiet, personal ritual for Cardiff local Chris Swanner has grown into a powerful community event that raises critical funds for skin cancer research at UC San Diego’s Moores Cancer Center—without losing the soul of how it all started.
Walking Through Grief, One Step at a Time
Before the King Tide Challenge ever had a name, Chris was walking to survive.
As a caregiver for his wife after she was diagnosed with cancer, Chris found solace in early morning walks along the coast. Those quiet miles gave him space to clear his head, process the weight of the situation, and return home ready to care for her. He walked with purpose, and with love, until she passed away.
Two years later, Chris received his own devastating diagnosis: metastatic melanoma. Doctors gave him six to eight months to live.
Once again, he walked.
The beach, the rhythm of footsteps, and the presence of nature became a place to think, accept, and keep moving forward—mentally and physically. During one of those walks, Chris made the full journey from Swami’s in Encinitas to La Jolla during a king tide. When he told a friend how meaningful the experience was, the response was simple: “Next time, I want to go with you.”
And just like that, it began.
From a Few Friends to a Community Movement
The next walk included a few more friends, including Julie Thunder, who helped shape and grow the event from its earliest days. They learned quickly—sunburned and walking straight into the sun—that the route might work better in the opposite direction the following year.
Word spread.
Local surfers, neighbors, and friends of friends started asking about the walk and how they could be part of it. That’s when Chris realized this simple act—walking, talking, being together—could also give back to the same UCSD program that saved his life.
With a few friends, some t-shirts, and a donation jar, they set out again. That year, they raised $700.
“It felt like a million,” Chris says.
They spent four hours walking, having real conversations, strengthening their minds and bodies, and contributing directly to lifesaving cancer research. It wasn’t flashy. It wasn’t fancy. But it felt special—something that sat well on everyone’s soul.
Keeping It Real, Keeping It Local
As the event grew into the hundreds, co-founder Julie Thunder helped guide it forward without losing its heart. Together, Chris and Julie formed The King Tide Challenge Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that donates 100% of walker donations to UCSD's immunotherapy department.
Their shared mission was clear: keep the event grounded in healing, connection, and hope—minus social media distractions and big-gala energy—while raising meaningful funds for skin cancer research at Moores Cancer Center.
The King Tide Challenge remains free to participate in, with donations strongly encouraged. Sponsors donate swag, local businesses help with shirts, and funds raised go directly to cancer research—not spectacle.
What the Walk Is Really Like
Despite what many people assume, you’re not slogging through soft sand for 11 miles. During a low king tide, the water recedes far enough to create a firm, walkable path along hard, wet sand—perfect for sturdy sneakers.
The full walk takes about four hours for the average person, but finishing isn’t the goal.
Participation matters more than completion
If you can’t walk the entire route, that’s okay. There are multiple places to turn out and call a friend for a ride and miles of sand to sit down and take a rest. Participation matters more than completion.
The route begins near La Jolla Shores, heading north through Black’s Beach, Torrey Pines State Beach, Del Mar, Solana Beach, and finishing in Cardiff-by-the-Sea.
Along the way, walkers experience coastal access that even many locals never see—hidden stretches revealed only during the lowest tides of the year.
A Celebration With Purpose
The day wraps up at Tower 13 Beach Bar in Cardiff, where participants who have donated to The King Tide Challenge Foundation are invited to an after-walk celebration.
There’s live music from a band made up of UCSD oncology doctors, food and cold drinks available for purchase, a silent auction, and conversations that matter. Doctors also share insights on cancer prevention and sun protection—practical knowledge rooted in real experience.
It’s a celebration, but it’s still grounded in why everyone walked in the first place.
What Is a King Tide?
King tides are the highest and lowest tides of the year. During a low king tide, the ocean pulls back far enough to expose stretches of beach that are usually underwater. When these tides occur during the middle of the week or at night, the King Tide Challenge schedules its walk during a midday super-low tide—making the experience accessible and unforgettable.
You’ll see the coastline differently. Quietly. Slowly. Together.
How to Participate
Register: https://www.kingtidechallenge.com
Prepare by walking often, aiming for 4–6 hours on firm, wet sand.
What to Bring:
Day pack
Food & water
Cell phone (download maps for restroom locations)
Hat & sunscreen (the sun will be on your back—protect your neck and legs)
Sturdy walking shoes or sneakers
Flashlight or headlamp (if finishing after dark)
Large Ziploc bag for trash pickup
Cash for celebratory refreshments at Tower 13 and event swag
Why You Should Join
You don’t have to be a surfer.
You don’t have to finish the walk.
You just have to show up.
The King Tide Challenge is about movement, connection, and using time spent together to support lifesaving research. It’s about walking through grief, hope, and healing—side by side—along a stretch of coast that reminds us how lucky we are to be here at all.
Sometimes, doing something simple is the most powerful thing you can do.
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