MOUNT VERNON — They are used to the solitary nature of their sports.

But a group of area athletes has recently gotten together under the name Team Northwest Chiropractic.

Concluding their first season as a team, these team members with impressive résumés brought home quite a bit of hardware after competing in such events as the USA Triathlon National Championships, International Triathlon Union World Championships, Virginia Mason Seafair Marathon, Royal Victoria Marathon, Ironman Arizona, Lake Padden Sprint Triathlon, Leavenworth Half Marathon, Titanium Man Triathlon and the Yukon River Quest.

Mount Vernon chiropractors Kevin Rindal and Jeff Rindal couldn’t be more pleased with their decision to sponsor such a high-powered, mulit-sport team.
Kevin Rindal recently returned from the Washington, D.C., area to practice with his father.

“We wanted to do something that would help promote our business,” said Kevin Rindal, “and at the same time, provide some camaraderie among these exceptional athletes.

“What’s also nice is the vast majority of our team members are from Skagit County. Plus, it’s given my dad and I a chance to work together. It’s been nothing but fun.”

Rindal is no stranger to the types of competitions his team enters. He has run triathlons and marathons — and is a team member.

“I’ve done some competing myself, ” he said. “So I know what sort of dedication it takes. These people are so dedicated, it’s incredible. There is just such a small percentage that can compete at such a high level.”

The team is made up of 10 multi-sport athletes. The lone woman — Dana Rindal — is Kevin’s wife.

“She’s it,” he said with a wide smile, “but she’s a real trooper. One of our goals is to get some more females on the team.”

The team includes Kendall Townsend, Clay Wing, Peter Donovan, Steve Wade, Larry Clark, Eric Knapp, Dan Cantrell and Bob McBeath.

“They are all not only exceptional athletes,” said Kevin Rindal, “but excellent individuals. Everyone knows who they are and that’s an added bonus.”

Northwest Chiropractic helps with entry fees, supplies uniforms and offers chiropractic care.

Donovan said he was flattered to be asked to be a member of the team.

“It’s quite a group to be a part of,” he said. “They are a lot of fun to be around.”

This was the first time Wade accepted a sponsorship that included a service rather than athletic gear or nutrition bars.

“I’m always looking for help, whether it be monetary or with equipment,” said Wade, who just competed at Ironman Arizona. “I’ve been sponsored by shoe companies and energy bars. In this case, you get the first two (from the shoe and energy bar companies) plus chiropractic treatment. I have definitely taken advantage of the opportunity.”

Wade said sponsorship is not something to be taken for granted.

“It’s a two-way street (between athlete and sponsor),” he said. “There are a lot of guys who get sponsorships and just take what is given to them but don’t really give the sponsor any bang for his buck. As the athlete, you have to give something back.”

For Wade, what he is receiving for wearing a shirt with “Northwest Chiropractic Clinic” across the front is more than worth it.

Wade didn’t know Kevin Rindal when he was approached to become a member of the team. He did, however, have several friends who were patients.

“I did some research on him,” said Wade. “Then I saw the story in the paper where he was helping with the women’s Olympic hockey team and then I knew he had to be on the up and up. I went in and met him, he took a couple x-rays to make sure I didn’t have any pre-existing problems that receiving chiropractic treatments could make worse and went from there. It’s been great.”

Unlike Wade, Donovan had never had a sponsor.

“I went on a couple of training runs with Kevin,” recalled Donovan, “and he asked me if I’d be interested. Kevin is a triathlete and he’s ran the Boston Marathon, so he stands out. He’d doing the same things. So when he did ask me, I said yes.”

Though Team Northwest Chiropractic is in its infancy, Kevin Rindal expects its stable of athletes and the services the athletes receive to expand.

“Right now, we pay for entry fees and supply uniforms,” he said. “It’s about $100 per athlete this year. Next year, we want to be able to pay for entrance into all local races.”

The free chiropractic care is a definite bonus.

“The service I receive from Kevin makes me faster at what I am doing,” said Wade. “I think there is only one person who doesn’t take advantage of the opportunity and that’s because he isn’t all banged up like the rest of us. It’s up to us get the sponsor some notoriety. You want to leave the uniform on after the race.”

Kevin Rindal said the chiropractic care is all part of his job.

“Soft tissue rehab is very important to these athletes,” he explained. “It’s what me and my father do. It’s all about helping people feel better.”

Soft tissue rehab involves a technique called active release that helps break up scar tissue.

“These types of athletes are different,” said Kevin Rindal. “With them, there is no such thing as a minor injury. At this level of competition, any missed training is a major crisis. During the season, we want to be able to help as much as we can.”

Donovan has enjoyed the perks of sponsorship.

“The chiropractic care is excellent,” he said. “I went to Kevin for an ankle sprain once he came back to the area. He did a fantastic job treating that injury. Plus, I learned a lot about injury prevention. It’s kind of funny, us triathletes will obsess about every gear on our bikes, but forget about our bodies.
“Kevin does a great job and he’s cutting edge. I was really impressed.”

From the outset, Kevin Rindal was optimistic not only about putting a team of this caliber together, but also watching it grow.

“Everyone was very excited,” he said. “They were all very enthusiastic. I believe it really fired a spark deep inside each one to be a part of a team. There really wasn’t anything like it around here. They all have a common bond and they tend to seek that out. Plus, I enjoy working with athletes.”

The bottom line, however, was to get people active.

“Physical activity is the best medicine out there,” said Kevin Rindal. “The more active people are, the quicker they recover. These types of athletes provide the type of image that we want to convey.

“Plus, our patients enjoying seeing the exposure. It’s definitely the direction we want to be heading in and the response has been excellent.”

It’s been a win-win situation for sponsor and athletes.

“First, it’s all about the support you get by being a member of a team,” said Kevin Rindal. “Second, I get to train with a group of outstanding athletes and get to market our practice and help out where we can. The third factor may be the biggest of all: The benefit of staying injury free.”

As with most athletic endeavors, Rindal wants to his team to be successful.

“I would love to see this team become the premier team in the Northwest,” he said. “I want to see the first, second and third spots on podiums filled with our jersey. And this group certainly has the potential to do that.

“Thus far, it’s been a lot of fun and that is what it’s all about. Everyone enjoys each other and everyone is really looking to see just how much of an impact we can have in the multi-sport world.”

Vince Richardson can be reached at 360-416-2181 or by e-mail at