Chris Kostman's 508/RAAM Quilt, made by Shelby Kostman

1998: I've made many wonderful friends over the years through my involvement with RAAM and the 508. This includes the members of Team PacifiCare, especially Michael Olstad and Will Klein, of San Antonio, TX. They raced in Team RAAMs 1993 though 1998 and Team 508s 1993, 1994, 1995, and 2000. In 1998, I had no intention of being involved with RAAM at all. I had retired as Team Race Director in 1996, received my Lifetime Achievement Award in 1997, and was planning on spending the entire Summer of 1998 in Egypt, working on an underwater archaeological project in the Red Sea. Well, the project was a bust and I came home from Egypt early. I had been sending out Field Reports from Egypt, so when Michael and Will saw that I was coming home early and thus before RAAM began, they asked me to crew for them. I was thrilled and honored to do so. They placed 2nd in the most dramatic and exciting team race ever! Note the crew names at the bottom of the shirt. Although this would be my 6th year going across with Team RAAM, it was my eleventh RAAM overall! My good friend Dana Prieto (formerly Tanaka) was also on the crew and it served as inspiration for her to race on a team at the 508 that Fall!