Missouri Breaks 150 Race planned for June 13-13, 2010 (150 miles from Fort Benton to Kipp Recreation Area, Wild & Scenic Upper Missouri River, in two stages) has been cancelled. Race organizers didn’t get a permit from BLM. See some related discussion at RiverMiles.com forum.

Bummer! I just started preparation for three long races on the Missouri River this year. I was even hoping to connect the Missouri Break 150 race with a short visit to Glacier National Park. My plan “B” for the 2nd weekend of June is to use some frequent flier miles and to fly south to photograph Texas Water Safari this year.

… a list of 2010 kayak and canoe races on the Missouri River and some of its immediate tributaries

Dan Grubbs just released the 6th Issue (January/February 2010) of Canoe and Kayak Racing Magazine. So, it has been already one year. Congratulations!

There is a lot on paddling and virtual racing using ergometers in this winter issue the including incoming US Indoor Kayak Championships in Oklahoma City.

I don’t really have a room of kayak ergometer in my house, so I would have to use it outside … I prefer to drive to the South Platte River for some cold water paddling. Fortunately, the river is still flowing while everything else in northern Colorado is frozen.

You will also find an interview with an outrigger canoe champion, Karel Tresnak, Jr, and more on the ICF women’s canoe program. Rob Bean, my local paddling partner, talks about Passion in the Paddle – how to turn your race into more meaningful experience by using it to raise funds for charity.

Previous issues:
March/April 2009, May/June 2009, July/August 2009, September/October 2009, November/December 2010

340 nonstop miles from Kansas City to St Charles, 88 hour or less, July 27th – 30th, 2009 at full moon – the 5th Missouri River 340 Race.

On-line registration was traditionally opened at midnight January 1. 100 slots available in the men solo class were filled in a day or so. 340 boats will be accepted this year. There is still plenty of room in other classes and a waiting list of male soloists. Dragon Boat/Voyageur Class can accommodate a lot of paddlers. See 2010 Roster.

I have been paddling MR340 and writing about this race for the last fours years. Below you can find a list of my posts, picture galleries and articles by guest authors.

Related posts from Missouri River 340 Races

3 Years of the Missouri River 340 Race series:
Bryan Hopkins, West Hansen, Christina Glauner, Chuck and Di McHenry, Katie Pfefferkorn
My Experience in Three Famous Ultra Marathon Paddling Races

2009 MR-340
My 2009 Missouri River Race as Recovered from a GPS Track
7 Tips for Solo Land Crew in MR340 Race by Connie
Missouri River 340 Race Records
2009 Missouri River 340 Race – Before Start
Do I Need GPS for the Missouri River 340 Race?

Yesterday, I finally started my winter paddling season on the South Platte River.

If I don’t have an opportunity to paddle I try to compensate by watching some racing videos. Open water racing is always exotic for me living in Colorado.

Rambo is an outrigger canoe racer and innovative video maker from Australia. It is worth to surf through his blog Rambo’s Locker – a lot of great video clips and technical stuff. He also runs a forum for users of Go Pro Hero cameras.

Below I selected three recent movies from his production – open water racing in Australia. You can watch them in a full screen mode, just move away a little bit from your computer monitor.

If you still need more ocean paddling on your screen visit Ocean Paddler TV.

Now, I am ready for a paddling workout. Perhaps, I should also put my Pentax Optio W30 into work and shoot some video.

Related posts:
Zsolt Szadovszki and Carter Johnson Side by Side on Surfski
Training with Huki SX-1 Surfski and a Hungarian Kajner Wing Paddle on Video
1000 m Sprint in Huki SX-1 Surfski – Video Clip from Training for Texas Water Safari

It was my 4th Missouri River 340 Race. I always paddled that race solo: 2006 – 78:32 in Spencer X-treme canoe, 2007 – 68:00 in WSBS Thunderbolt-X kayak, 2008 – 62:17 in Sea Wind canoe (self supported). This year I decided to paddle Surfrigger, my outrigger canoe.

Here are a few tips for Team Captains (land crew) and paddlers in long distance races like Missouri River 340, based on my experience. They are, perhaps, most appropriate for paddler/ground-crew-spouse combinations. Of course, every couple is different, so be your own best judge as to how to do things. Also, I’ve only been part of a “one-solo, one ground crew” team. It’s always been Marek in the boat and me alone on the shore. I’m sure that larger teams have their own dynamics.

1. Paddlers, please provide your ground crews with as good driving directions as possible. Don’t expect that your spouse will do this by him or herself. Not everyone lives, eats, sleeps and breathes MR 340 as you do. Weird, I know, but there it is.

2. Ground crews – you will get lost. It’s ok, don’t panic. Just persevere and you’ll eventually find your way there. If all else fails, as you near the river and can’t find the access point go downhill. I think it was Daniel Boone that said, “I’ve never been lost. Sometimes I’ve just been very confused for a few days.” Also, the more tired you get, the harder it gets to find the access points. Expect to take some wrong turns and try not to blame yourself or anyone else.

Related posts:
Adventures of a Team Captain – 4 Years of Texas Water Safari in Retrospect
12 tips for Team Captains and 10 Tips for Paddlers Starting in Texas Water Safari

MR340 started in 2006 with just 15 boats and four years later we had 271 boats at the Kaw Point. I counted 437 racers in the race roster in solo, tandem and team divisions. How many people participated in the race if we add all organizers, volunteers, safety boats, and land crew? 1000 or more?

Here is an approximate statistics of 2009 racers by state. Most of them were local paddlers from Missouri and Kansas, but 21 US states and Canada were represented in the race.

Texas racers followed West Hansen and had always a strong representation in the MR340. They brought Texas Water Safari racing style, unlimited boats, and then team boats. Some other influences are also visible. An outrigger canoe powered by a wing paddle is not a Safari boat. It is interesting to observe how many local paddlers become strong racers during these four years of the MR340.

Recently, Scott Mansker compiled a list of MR340 records. I am posting it below with some pictures added.

I am a slow though persistent soloist. I completed the MR340 4 times with my wife, Connie, as my land crew in three races:
2006 – 78:32 in Spencer X-treme canoe
2007 – 68:00 in WSBS Thunderbolt-X kayak
2008 – 62:17 in Sea Wind canoe (self supported)
2009 – 61:11 in Surfrigger (outrigger canoe)
Four races and four different boats. Well, I don’t really have another boat for the 2010 MR340 …

Yesterday night, me and Connie returned back to Colorado from the 4th Missouri River 340 Race. 272 boats entered the race. The start was little different this year due to morning thunderstorm with heavy showers. Otherwise, the weather was great with beautiful full moon nights.

I paddled Surfrigger, my outrigger canoe and completed the race in 61:11 hours, a few hours longer than planned. I believe I was 12th of 94 registered, 90 starters, 64 finishers in the men’s solo class. 340 miles by boat, 2200 miles by car.

This is my first post related to the 2009 MR340 – some pictures from the Kaw Point – a confluence of Kaw and Missouri River with a Kansas City skyline. I will be writing more about the race. I haven’t checked my GPS track yet, neither pictures shot by Connie.

Related posts from Missouri River 340 Races
3 Years of the Missouri River 340 Race series:
Bryan Hopkins, West Hansen, Christina Glauner, Chuck and Di McHenry, Katie Pfefferkorn
Do I Need GPS for the Missouri River 340 Race?
How to Choose a Boat for an Ultra Marathon Race? The Case of Missouri River 340

2008 MR-340
12 Pictures from 2008 Missouri River 340 Race
The Pitch: Missouri River 340 Stories by Carolyn Szczepanski
Speed: My 2008 Missouri River 340 Race as Recovered from a GPS Track
The End of My Photography during the 2008 Missouri River 340 Race
Sunrise Paddling on the Missouri River
2008 Missouri River 340 Race Start in Pictures from Kaw Point