Meet the crew

A few grown-ups, a lot of kids and one very big crab. Here's who is building SOOK so far, and the jobs still waiting for someone.

The crew so far

  • Josh: Captain, Lead engineer, Puppeteer pilot

    Josh has been a software engineer for 20+ years and uses AI in his work every day. He's SOOK's captain, and the build happens in a Baltimore-area garage. He designs the crab with Claude: the drawings, the cut lists, the moving parts and the software that runs the show. On race day he rides in the back seat as the puppeteer, pedalling and making the claws wave. Fun fact: he's obsessed with perfecting cocktails, and these days his friends mostly invite him over to bartend.

    Brings to the team The plans, the parts list and the crab's brain.

  • Maria: Art lead, Show director

    Maria is an artist, a performer and a nurse practitioner (yes, all three), and she leads all of SOOK's art: the shell, the claws, the paint and the costumes. She designed the three-act show, where SOOK flips from blue to steamed orange to rainbow. On race day she walks ahead with the cast and calls each act. Fun fact: she's Italian and makes her own homemade limoncello.

    Brings to the team The look, the costumes and the whole show.

  • Jimmy: Chief builder

    Jimmy is our chief builder. He runs the shop on build days, does most of the building with Josh, and checks every safety part before anyone rides. By day he manages software testing, so he's very good at finding what breaks before it breaks. Got a question about how to build something? Ask Jimmy. Fun fact: he's German, so expect SOOK to be built to German standards.

    Brings to the team Builder's hands, and the last check on every safety part.

  • Suchi: Team medic (proposed), Safety lead (proposed)

    Suchi is a primary care doctor, which makes her our doctor on the crew. The plan, which we'll confirm at the kickoff, is for her to be team medic and safety lead: shop rules, keeping the kids safe, and the pilots' measurements and training plan. Fun fact: Halloween is her favourite holiday (fitting, since SOOK was born at a Halloween parade), and she'd wear animal onesies every day if she could.

    Brings to the team A doctor's eye on keeping everyone safe.

The sooklings

The crew's kids, and the loudest part of the team. They're the paint crew, the sock-creature makers, the official bubble testers and, on race day, the cheer squad in baby-crab costumes at the splashdown and the finish.

Brings to the team The noise, the handprints and the Sookling Shuffle.

No names here, ever. Kids never ride SOOK.

Jobs still open

Everything below is still up for grabs. Pick something you'd enjoy, or two. No experience needed, and nothing is required: drop in when you can.

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    Pilots

    Three pedalling seats and a standby. Train on a few winter rides, then pedal 15 miles on race day.

    Adults, 6'0" or shorter, 215 lb or lighter

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    Pit & ramp crew

    Meet SOOK at every stop with water and spares, and hold the tow line at the harbour splashdown.

    Adults; ramp crew 16+

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    Crew chief

    Keeps the team phone and the timeline, talks to the officials and moves the crew from stop to stop.

    Adults

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    Show cast

    Costumes, chants and characters for the three-act show, plus a deputy to help call the acts.

    All ages, with a grown-up

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    Build helpers

    Drop in at the shop, November to April. A bike mechanic or an electrician would be gold.

    Adults; teens on hand tools

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    Kid wranglers

    Watch the kids on build days and the cheer squad on race day. One grown-up per shift, no tools.

    Adults, taking turns

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    Social media

    Posts, reels and captions for @sookthecrab. Teens can film and edit.

    All season, from home is fine

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    Stream director

    Runs SOOK's race-day livestream from an iPad: pick the camera, add titles and replays.

    Race day plus two practice days

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    Sponsors & money

    Ask businesses for parts or cash and track every dollar, so families never pay.

    All season, from home is fine

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    Food crew

    Build-day snacks and race-day food. Families take turns.

    Anyone

Pick your job at the kickoff

We hand out the jobs at the kickoff party on Saturday, November 14. Can't make it? Email the crew and say what sounds fun.

Email the crew Got an invite? Party details