Eric Baldwin Ended His Skate Across the U.S. at Ocean Beach; His 61 Days Set a Guinness World Record, Raised Money to Help Children in Africa

By Jeff Zevely / CBS8 / August 28, 2025

A San Diego man has completed a coast-to-coast journey on in-line roller skates, breaking a Guinness World Record in the process. Eric Balwin, a 32-year-old semi-professional roller hockey player, finished his 3,200-mile trip from the Atlantic Ocean to Ocean Beach, San Diego, on July 24th.

“It was a crazy idea, something that had never been accomplished in this fashion before, which is exactly why Eric Baldwin laced them up,” said CBS 8’s Jeff Zevely, a reporter covering the story.

Baldwin set off on his nationwide journey on May 24, accompanied by his girlfriend Clementine, who followed him on an e-bike. The pair encountered various challenges along the way, including a close encounter with black bears in the Appalachian Mountains.

“Four of them, mom and three cubs ran across the road, and I went, we both stopped in our tracks, and we were just frozen,” said Baldwin, recounting the experience.
The skater’s journey took him through diverse landscapes, from the Appalachian Mountains to the Great Plains. “Awesome people, but scenery-wise didn’t change much for a long time, so it’s very flat, so you can get a lot of good mileage,” Baldwin commented on his trek through the Plains.

Baldwin’s coast-to-coast skate was not only a personal challenge but also served a charitable purpose. He launched a GoFundMe page that raised $22,000 to send roller hockey equipment to children in Africa.

“It feels great that I was able to raise this money and make these kids’ dreams come true out there,” Baldwin said.
The journey concluded with a triumphant arrival in Ocean Beach, where a crowd of supporters, including 50 to 60 fellow skaters, welcomed him. Baldwin celebrated by swimming in the Pacific Ocean.

“I went down to the sand, I went straight to the ocean, I dove all of the way in, great experience, unbelievable moment,” he said.
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Balwin completed the trip in 61 days, beating the previous Guinness World Record by several days for a cross-country skate assisted by an electronic bike. For those interested in learning more about sending roller hockey gear to Africa, information is available on Baldwin’s Instagram page by clicking here.