Meet the Team: The Arctic Challenge 2025
In 2025, four extraordinary athletes will embark on a mission to row the Arctic Ocean, facing one of the harshest environments on the planet. The Arctic Challenge Team is made up of Hannah and John Huppi, Jimmy Graham, and Andrew Tropp—an adventurous group with shared goals to become the first mixed-gender team of 4 to row the Arctic Ocean, the fastest 4-person team to row the Arctic Ocean, and the first All-American team to row a polar ocean. As proud partners of the Arctic Challenge, we’re excited to introduce each member of this team and share their unique stories and motivations. Be sure to stop by the JL Racing tent at the Head of the Charles Regatta on Saturday, October 19th, from 11:30am to 12:30pm, to meet the Arctic Challenge athletes in person and hear more about their upcoming plans!
ANDREW TROPP
Captain
“The Arctic Challenge is an incredible opportunity to test our physical endurance and mental resiliency in some of the most unforgiving elements. Our strength lies in our team’s unity, our discipline and our belief that together we can achieve our goals.
We are rowing to inspire the next generations to explore the possibilities of their limits by discovering new depths within themselves.”
Andrew Tropp was born and raised in Merchantville, New Jersey. He moved to Boston in 1999 to attend Boston University, where he studied Political Science and was a member of the BU Men’s rowing team. Andrew also rowed competitively with the Penn Athletic Club’s rowing program, winning a men’s 8+ national championship in 2000. Andrew is a 2014 graduate of The Pennsylvania State University, majoring in Political Science, and received a Master of Business Administration from the University of Cambridge Judge Business School.
In 2001, Andrew joined the U.S. Navy, completing Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL training with Class 240 in August 2002. Throughout his distinguished military career, he served in pivotal roles within SEAL Team 8, Naval Special Warfare Development Group, and the United States Special Operations Command, with combat tours in Afghanistan, Iraq, Yemen, and other geopolitically sensitive regions. Notably, his strategic and operational expertise was recognized with his appointment as the Senior Special Operations advisor to Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, and the Netherlands. October 2023 marked a transition for Andrew as he retired from the military, embracing a new role as a Director at Alvarez & Marsal, a globally renowned financial services and consultancy firm. Within this capacity, he spearheads enterprise-wide corporate transformation and performance improvement initiatives, leveraging his multifaceted skill set and strategic acumen.
Beyond his professional endeavors, Andrew remains deeply engaged in his local community, imparting his passion for sports by coaching his children's youth teams. Additionally, he actively mentors other retiring Special Operations members transitioning to the private sector and contributes to Hockey Players in Business, an international nonprofit network dedicated to fostering professional development and community engagement among hockey enthusiasts.
Andrew resides in Houston, TX, with his family—wife, Kari de Boer, daughter, Berett, and son, Holden—embarking on a new chapter with unwavering dedication and purpose.
JIMMY GRAHAM
Lead Navigator
“Using this challenge to inspire young people is very meaningful for me. As someone who has experienced homelessness, I recognize the importance of not letting your circumstances define your future. Through this challenge, we will showcase the power of determination, teamwork and resilience, and I am thrilled to use it as a platform for empowering kids to pursue their wildest dreams.”
Jimmy Graham was born and raised in Goldsboro, North Carolina. He played four years of college basketball for the Miami Hurricanes and graduated in 2009 with a double major in marketing and management. Taking graduate classes, he stayed at University of Miami to play a season of college football at the tight end position.
After only 1 season of college football, Graham was drafted by the New Orleans Saints in the third round of the 2010 NFL Draft. In 2011, his first year as a starter, Graham was selected to appear in his first Pro Bowl and broke Kellen Winslow’s NFL record of receiving yards in a season by a tight end. In 2014 Graham led the entire NFL with 16 receiving touchdowns. In March 2015, Jimmy was traded to the Seattle Seahawks where he set the franchise record for the most receptions, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns at the tight end position in only three seasons. Graham played the 2018 and 2019 seasons with the Green Bay Packers and the 2020 and 2021 seasons with the Chicago Bears. In 2023, Graham returned to the Saints for a final season.
Graham is the founder and principal of Mach 1 Properties, a private money lender and real estate development company that specializes in lending in South Florida and the Bahamas. In addition, Mach 1 owns and develops single family homes operating as short-term rentals off of 30a in Destin, Florida.
In addition to his real estate work, Graham is a Venture Capital Partner at the Flintlock Capital VC Fund. The fund invests in early stage new technologies addressing old industries, as well as frontier tech transforming life through AI, robotics, cyber and space.
In 2011 Graham earned his private pilots’ license and has since added complex airplane, instrument airplane, tailwheel, multi-engine airplane, seaplane, commercial single engine, commercial multiengine, helicopter, instrument helicopter and commercial helicopter certifications to his resume.
Graham’s passion for aviation led him to create The Jimmy Graham Foundation, which was established in 2018. The foundation provides life changing experiences through the freedom of flight, specifically working with veterans and underprivileged youth. Graham is also the Co-Chairman of the EAA Young Eagles Program, a charity that introduces youth to the world of aviation.
HANNAH HUPPI
Project Manager
"I'm excited to push myself to my mental and physical limits. It's a rare chance to truly understand who you are in your most unfiltered state—when you're at your lowest. I want to meet that version of myself."
Hannah Huppi was born in New Orleans, Louisiana and raised in Bellingham, Washington. She earned her undergraduate from Tulane University in 2011, where she studied business and served as the Captain of the Tulane Women's Rowing Team. In 2013, Hannah earned a graduate degree in International Marketing from the Berlin School of Economics in Berlin, Germany.
Hannah has a passion for entrepreneurship, and has taken two companies from start-up to acquisition within the real estate technology space. She currently works as the COO of a national real estate photography company. In addition to her work in the real estate space, Hannah recently expanded her focus to the fitness industry and launched ErgoFit, an indoor rowing studio.
Outside of her career, Hannah is an elite coastal rower. Her athletic highlights include competing for Team USA at the Beach Sprint World Championships where she won bronze, placing top-20 at two Coastal World Championships, and achieving two podium finishes at Copa America. In 2021, Hannah was named USRowing’s Female Coastal Athlete of the Year.
Hannah is passionate about community service and has dedicated the past decade to expanding rowing opportunities in New Orleans. She was an integral part of re-establishing the New Orleans Rowing Club in 2014, and served as a board member and youth rowing coach. Now, she uses her indoor rowing studio to increase access to rowing for New Orleans youth through events and programs.
Hannah lives with her husband and 4-year old daughter, Hazel, in New Orleans, LA.
JOHN HUPPI
Bosun
“The Arctic Challenge is a once in a lifetime opportunity. It is a chance to fully connect with nature and to test the limits of human endurance. I am also excited to deal with the many moments of adversity. I want to use the Arctic Challenge to show others that with good planning and teamwork, and strong determination, anything is possible.”
John Huppi was born and raised in Reston, Virginia. He moved to New Orleans in 2007 to attend Tulane University, where he studied Biology. In 2014, John earned his Masters in Sustainable Real Estate Development at the Tulane School of Architecture.
John now works as a Professor of Practice and Associate Director for Real Estate at Tulane University. He has taught at the graduate and undergraduate level for over 10 years. Highlights of his tenure include developing and launching the Bachelor of Science in Real Estate in the School of Architecture. The program is one of the largest and fastest-growing programs at the Tulane.
Outside of academia, John is passionate about coaching and sport administration. John has more than 15 years of coaching experience at every level, including junior and professional athletes. He currently serves as the Head Coach for Men’s and Women’s Rowing at Tulane. Under his guidance, the Green Wave has won several national titles at SIRAs and Dad Vails.
John also co-owns Ergofit, which he created with his wife, Hannah. Ergofit is a boutique indoor rowing studio located on historic Magazine Street in New Orleans. John led the renovation of the 120+ year old building which is now making rowing more accessible to New Orleanians.
John started rowing in 2007 as a walk-on athlete at Tulane. After college, he continued rowing with the US and Swiss national teams. His most notable athletic achievement is winning a bronze medal for Team USA at the 2021 World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals. Notably, this was the very first medal won by a US crew in the history of coastal rowing.
John lives with his wife, Hannah, and daughter, Hazel, in New Orleans, Louisiana.
The Arctic Challenge Team will be at the JL Racing tent at HOCR for a meet & greet on Saturday, October 19 from 11:30-12:30pm. Stop by to meet the athletes, learn more about the challenge, and show your support!
- To learn more, check out our Q&A with the team!
- To keep up to date on the Arctic Challenge Team, subscribe to their newsletter for updates: www.thearcticchallenge2025.com/subscribe
- Follow the team on Instagram at @thearcticchallenge2025 or follow the athletes at @thejimmygraham @Hannah_Huppi @Johnhuppi
- If you would like to rep The Arctic Challenge gear, head to the JL Racing pre-order store and place an order by October 24th. 10% of net sales from this pre-order store will be donated to The Arctic Challenge and our charity partners.
- If you’re interested in joining their Million Meters Club to help support their incredible charitable mission, visit: www.thearcticchallenge2025.com/donate
- If your business is interested in a corporate sponsorship, check out their sponsorship opportunities: www.thearcticchallenge2025.com/sponsors
- For media inquiries, please contact Team@thearcticchallenge2025.com