The 2026 Kinetic Grand Champions who made it across the finish line on Ferndale’s Main Street arrived soaked, sandy, sweaty and swathed in Glory. The three-day pedal and paddle 50 miles in a human-powered contraption race from Arcata to Ferndale with side quests in the dunes and Humboldt Bay drew to a close on Monday.
The ‘Ccino Machino escorting a Hippypotamus off the plaza. Credit: Alexander Anderson
This year’s grand champion team was Team Pineapple, its orange flight suit-sporting members piloting the Star Wars-themed mixer Rebel Appliance. The name, says Robert van de Walle, came from co-captain Dawn Thomas, author of The Kinetic Kompendium: 50 Years of Kinetic Sculpture Racing, who noticed there was never “a strong Star Wars entry.” “The Rebellion is fun and scrappy and kind of relevant to what’s going on today,” says van de Walle. Pineapple teammates hail from the Bay Area, Idaho and points in between, and van de Walle says locals have asked him, “You guys aren’t even from here, how come you keep kicking our asses?” He laughs, offering a challenge: “You are welcome to try.”
Wheely Wonka coming in hot for a glorious finish. Credit: Alexander Anderson
Not that speed is the only way to win Glory. The first place Art Award went to Wheely Wonka, while the Engineering Award belongs to Chitty Chitty Bling Bling, which notably also took the Golden Dinosaur for breaking down first after departing the Arcata Plaza. Yeastie Boys similarly scored the Pageantry Award and the Mediocre Award for arriving in the very “middle of the pack.” Slug Life slithered into the crowd’s hearts for the Spectators’ Fave, and Glory as the Magic School Bus cannon-balled into the Biggest Splash Award. Glory went to the Four Norsemen of the Apocalypse and Megoosa, who won Golden Flipper awards for going ass over tea kettle in the water and sand, respectively.
Bounced Forty 9th Glory winning the hearts of the glorious spectators. Credit: Alexander AndersonJune Moxon showing off her Shoe Shrine. Credit: Alexander AndersonTrooth Decay brought to you by The Apple Pedalers, speaking their trooth on the plaza. Credit: Alexander AndersonSgt. Pepper Club Band’s Lucy showing off their bubbly power source during pageantry. Credit: Alexander AndersonThe Oregon Fail powered by team Pedal Snappers Youth Kinetics losing some peons along the pageantry trail. Credit: Alexander AndersonTypical afternoon traffic on the plaza when kinetics roll through town. Credit: Alexander AndersonThe Rebel Appliance securing the perimeter on the plaza during the opening parade lap. Credit: Alexander AndersonHot Dawg and the Glory Hunters, “will not allow the worst of the wurst to corrupt our community and commit another mis-de-weiner.” Credit: Alexander AndersonThe H.M.S. Sea Cow. Credit: Alexander AndersonCycle-Delic Rock Fish can swim through sand as well. Credit: Alexander AndersonDragStrip Divas throw a great beach party. Credit: Alexander AndersonHippypotamus going for a stroll in the dunes. Credit: Alexander AndersonThe Rebel Appliance turning on the after-burners to fly through the sand. Credit: Alexander AndersonFour Norsemen of the Apocalypse storming the beach at Manila. Credit: Alexander AndersonEstate Peddlers showing off some new waterfront property, fire insurance not included. Credit: Alexander AndersonCowbus taking the long way to school. Credit: Alexander AndersonLicense to Grill heard there’s some hot dogs at the other side of Humboldt Bay. Credit: Alexander AndersonRocket Ham’s Malia Matsumoto is stoked with the successful beach landing. Credit: Alexander AndersonAsgard Racing is the Wurst delivering hot dogs to glorious spectators at the beach. Credit: Alexander AndersonRunning on Glory is now pedaling on water. Credit: Alexander AndersonHobart’s DuAngels happy to be on dry land once again. Credit: Alexander AndersonGoosetoph Waddlesworth being crowned 2026 Rutabaga Queen. Credit: Alexander Anderson
