For Matthew Wade, starting a kayak business was a dream come true. Now Wade, owner of Ten Mile Creek Kayak in Frisco, Colo., says that winning a Transit Connect is just the icing on the cake.
Wade is one of five grand prize winners in Ford’s “Connect with Connect” contest. Winners will receive a customized Transit Connect, the versatile new van that debuts in February at the Chicago Auto Show. With a cargo capacity of 143 cu. ft., compact maneuverability and efficient 22 mpg city and 25 mpg highway, it’s the perfect vehicle for small businesses on the go.
Only Wade almost missed his chance. “I didn’t find out about the contest until the last day,” said Wade, also a professional skier. “I really had to scramble to get everything in. But everything had been going so well; I had some really good karma going – I thought, ‘Why not?’ It was so worth it. I’m really excited – you have no idea.”
The business that he started in May is thriving, he said, and having a customized vehicle will help him expand – allowing him to travel further while promoting his business at the same time.
“The kayaks are so colorful, and I want to get a really cool wrap, so that when I arrive somewhere, it’s like a traveling show. A lot of people around here know me, just from skiing, and I get a lot of positive PR. This will really put the limelight on my business, and I know that will carry over to the Transit Connect.”
Increasing business would be wonderful, he said, but he’s more concerned about the safety of his customers.
“My van isn’t designed to carry passengers and cargo,” he said. “And I’m not about to take chances and play ‘what if.’ This way I can transport all the gear and the customers safely.”
The Transit Connect, incidentally, with driver, front and side airbags and anti-lock brakes, is built for safety.
And most important of all, said Wade, he’ll be able to spread the word about kayaking, his newest passion.
“Kayaking is such a spiritual sport,” he said. “You’re out there on the water, in nature, and it’s just you, or you and your friends – it’s a great feeling. It’s a break from your day-to-day life, whatever that may be, and it’s different every time you’re out there. I really want to promote the lifestyle and passion of kayaking in my community.”
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About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 224,000 employees and about 90 plants worldwide, the company's core and affiliated automotive brands include Ford, Lincoln, Mercury, Volvo and Mazda. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford's products, please visit www.ford.com.
