Lifestyle
Video of “The World’s Toughest Canoe Race” is Actually Very Soothing
Since 1963, “The World’s Toughest Canoe Race” has taken place on the second Saturday in June between San Marcos and Seadrift along the San Marcos and Guadalupe Rivers. The route is 260 miles long and can only be completed by boats fueled with only manpower.
Though there’s no prize money involved, winners get Texas-sized bragging right for preserving through the heat and rapids and carrying all supplies. Participants are only allowed help with supplying water and ice along the way by their team captain who will follow the boat along its path on land (by bike or car).
The Texas Water Safari website states that to take part in the canoe race, “Teams must be prepared to travel day and night, nonstop, to be competitive but teams who occasionally stop for sleep have been able to reach mandatory checkpoint cutoff times and cross the finish line by the 100 hour deadline.”
Though the journey of the racers is a long and hard one, watching this video shot by BirdsiviewVideos is incredibly relaxing. It shows racers in San Marcos in this year’s event from a sweeping aerial shot. It’s nice to be reminded of how gorgeous the Texas landscape is, and how ambitious and traditional events are still appreciated in this state.
