Fearless on the Water: Meet Second Wave Crew Member Andrea Vigil
Andrea Vigil has a relationship with fear that most people don’t. Rather than avoiding it, she walks directly toward it—and quite literally takes on mountains.
Now, she’s bringing that same fearless spirit to Human Powered Potential’s Second Wave row. As part of an all-women crew, Andrea is preparing to row more than 5,200 miles along the Great American Loop, aiming to become the first ever to complete the route while raising funds for The Michael J. Fox Foundation to end Parkinson’s disease.
Lessons From the Mountains
One of Andrea’s defining experiences was climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, a summit that sits over 19,000 feet high—taller than Everest Base Camp. Partway up the mountain, she developed pulmonary edema, making every breath a battle. The terrifying reality of not making it down or seeing her family again set in. It was the single hardest physical and mental trial she had ever faced, forcing her to make the painful decision to descend. Yet, looking back, Andrea wouldn’t trade the experience.
“Experiences like Kilimanjaro remind me that life is full of opportunities, and setbacks don’t define the future,” Andrea reflects. “They teach us how to try again differently next time.”
That philosophy has shaped every adventure since. Andrea went on to trek the Annapurna Trail in the Himalayas and tries to make time for at least one backcountry backpacking trip every year. Time in nature is her great reset: a reminder of what’s possible when you step beyond your comfort zone.
Finding Rhythm on the Water
A few years ago, Andrea felt the pull to return to team sports after growing up playing soccer, softball, and gymnastics. She signed up for an introductory class at the Orlando Rowing Club and progressed to the women’s competitive team.
“Rowing is one of the greatest things I ever decided to do!” Andrea says. “It gives me a reason to be out on the water with the sunrise, get the blood and sweat flowing, and spend quality time with my friends.”
Leaning Into the Scary Things, Together
Her path to the Second Wave crew began with her friend and now team captain, Ashley, whom she met through the Orlando Rowing Club. They were sitting together tossing around big, wild ideas when Ashley asked if she’d join the crew. Andrea said yes immediately. “I truly believe growth happens when we lean into the things that scare us,” Andrea says.
For Andrea, the HPP mission speaks to a simple truth: life is easier and richer when you face big challenges together. “When people stand beside you, support you, and lift you up, extraordinary things become possible,” Andrea says.
As the crew prepares for the journey, Andrea is excited for sunrises and sunsets from the water, the perspective of seeing the country from an entirely new angle, and the deep bond that is already forming between six women rowing toward something far bigger than themselves.
