Tue - January 16, 2007

A Documentary Movie from 2006 Texas Water Safari - Defying the River



Texas Water Safari I have started my Texas Water Safari experience from ordering and watching safari videos produced by Pat Spencer-Gunn. I spent numerous hours watching the tapes. Then, convinced by Pat, I went with Connie to Texas in 2001 to watch the safari and do some paddling there. In 2002 I completed my first safari which was the first paddling race in my life and started to look for more racing. I have collected seven tapes: 1999-2003 TWS, and also tapes on safari seminars and checkpoints.

It looks like Pat is not producing or selling the TWS videos any more, but we have got another movie from the 2006 Safari: Defying the River by Red Den Productions.

Defying the River

This is not a chronicle of the race as Pat's videos used to be. Instead, the movie follows one team through the race - Sandy Yonley, Holly Nelson and Sarah Walliser, Texas Sweethearts.

You can see preparation and packing for the race, the start, the team from a checkpoint to checkpoint, and finally the finish at Seadrift. There are numerous interviews with Sandy, Holly and Sarah, other racers and race officials. So, you are getting a pretty good taste of the Safari.

I would like to point out that the team is not allowed to receive any outside help during the race, except water and ice from their team captain. Of course, cheering up and verbal help are OK. The narrator's comments about testing lights at the Palmetto Bridge may cause some confusion. I am sure that the team captain, Tom Goynes, was providing only verbal help there.

One more little complain. It looks too easy. You may get this impression from watching this particular team. The young ladies look great all time, just at the finish they are tired and exhausted. How they managed to stay so clean?

It is really difficult to show all aspects of the race on video when shooting at checkpoints only and with a limited coverage during nights. The movie does a pretty good job, but, perhaps, the authors should show a little bit more of the entire race to provide some background and reference for Texas Sweethearts. Due to very low water it was very tough race. Only 50% of starting boats has finished the race. In the three safaris (2002, 2003, 2005) I have paddled, the finishing rate was 70% or higher. According to Erin Magee the racers were dropping like flies at Hochheim.

So, it's not so easy as it may look. Do not make any mistakes! You are watching a very experienced safari team with the best imaginable team captain, training and coaching.

Sandy has completed 9 safaris, Holly - 5 and Sarah - 2. In 2005, the 3 lady team consisting of Holly Nelson, Sandy Yonley and Mary Tipton finished 8th overall in 48:31 hours. Holly holds a solo women record, 49:26 hours, from the 2004 TWS.

This last picture is from 2001 TWS Paddling Observer Report.

"Like father, like daughter", boat #123. Sandy and Tom Goynes enjoy a casual ride through the rapids where other teams seem to fight for their lives. They finished 16th in 51:24h.

In one of the old Pat's videos there is a great scene from the same spot in the middle of the Cottonseed Rapid. Sandy at the bow is pointing a camera towards all these spectators there and is shooting a picture.

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Posted at 05:37 PM    


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