90% Mental-Ultra Distance Paddling Adventures

In this last episode of the year, I got a chance to catch up with Team Mississippi Speed Record 2023. Not only did these guys beat the record...they actually had fun doing it! The meaning of SET A RECORD is to achieve something that no other person or thing has achieved. Now while this record was established in 1937, and there have been many attempts and record breaking times over the last several decades, Team MSR holds the most impressive record thus far, landing them the a spot in th...

In this episode we get a chance to catch up with Trey Reaves, recent winner of the mens solo division, and overall winner of The 2023 Great Alabama 650. Originally from Arkansas, Trey now resides in Alabama where him and his family spend the majority of their time outdoors. This year, he will end the year completing with his son Colt in the 2nd Annual Last Paddler Standing. Trey Reaves on FacebookTrey Reaves on InstagramLast Paddler Standing Alabama 650Check out NRS for all your p...

Join Dan Arbuckle from Headwaters Kayak and I as we talk story about my journey to the 2023 MR340 in a surf ski. The race was untimely called to an end at mile 244 for me and at other various spots on the river for 500 + paddlers. But the journey it took for me to get there was still the same!Enjoy.Support the Show.

In this episode we talk story with Andrew Hansen about his recent experience running safety in the 70/48. A unique paddling race that traverses the puget sound starting in Tacoma, Washington, heading north into Port Townsend. But there is a catch...it starts at 7pm and goes through the night. It is completely self sufficient, other than safety boats, that you will probably not even see unless there is problem. With that being said, hypothermia becomes one of the main issues that a racer...

In this episode, I talk story with Florida native Bobby Johnson about what it takes to be one of the best, He has tackled the Everglades Challenge multiple time, Alabama 650 since the year it started, Last Paddler Standing for the 1st year in 2022, Suwannee 230 and many more. If there is one thing I took from this episode it is that you must have the belief that you can do it. Bobby has shown that he believes if they can do it, he can do it. Enjoy!Support the Show.

Join me as I talk story with Damien Rider.....Extreme Athlete, Motivational Speaker, Author and Creator of One Breath Meditation, a modern approach to 5000 year old techniques of traditional meditation and mantras combined with movement and psychology. I learned so much from just one conversation with Damien and I know everyone out there listening will too, even if your next adventure doesn’t include climbing up the side of a hot air balloon at 10,000 feet then skydiving off of it, your...

In this episode, I talk story with Greg Wingo, owner of Roam Projects about the 2022 Alabama 650 recap and the first inaugural Last Paddler Standing, a new SUP endurance race event in Sarasota Florida at Benderson Park. Sign up for Last Paddler Standinghttps://paddleguru.com/races/lastpaddlerstandingWant to start ultra distance paddling or racing? I will help you reach your goals. Click here and start your journey Support the Show.

On September 20, 2022, after 91 days and 9 hours, Cyril Derreumaux completed 2,544 nautical miles from California to Hawaii. in fact, he is only the second solo kayaker to accomplish this. This is a recap of his inspirational journey through grit and determination. Make sure you check out Season 1, Episode 7 to hear our pre-crossing chat. BLOG https://www.cyrilderreumaux.com/blogPODCAST https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/i-really-want-to-do-this/id1574971421Support the Show.

Adam Shoalts is a Modern Day Explorer who grew up in the Canadian forest. His father was a woodworker, and taught him how to build canoes and paddles from a young age. He still resides in Canada where he is the Explorer-in-Residence of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society. Adam is best known for his 2017, 4,000 km solo journey across Canada’s Arctic. In this episode, we talk all things canoeing. From exploring unknown waterways, portaging through black fly infested musk egg, ca...

Adam Shoalts is a modern day explorer who not only loves to seek out the unknown, but has made a living out of it. His expeditions are sponsored by the Royal Canadian Geographical Society,  which was founded in 1929. The RCGS  supports Canadian geographical expeditions and provides grants and scholarships for geographical research. Shoalts grew up in the wilderness where his father taught him  to craft from the forest. He is literally a walking encyclopedia of all things in the Canadian wilderness. Being an adventure enthusiast myself, when I contacted Adam a year ago and asked him if he would be interested being on my podcast and he responded, you can imagine how  excited I was. He is one of my biggest inspirations. Make sure you check out his website, follow him on instagram, and get yourself a copy of 1 (or all) off his 4 books. You won't be disappointed. Website:    https://adamshoalts.com/about/bio/Instagram:     https://www.instagram.com/adam_shoalts/?hl=en&__coig_restricted=1Books:     https://adamshoalts.com/literature/Support the show

In this episode we talk story with Jason Magness and Daniel Staudigel of Bend Racing. These two just set a new record for fastest time racing in the Yukon 1000, completing the course in just 5 days, 11 hours and 48 minutes. The prior record was 6 days 2 hours and 11 minutes in 2009. Jason and Dan are no strangers to adventure racing. In fact, they are part of Team Bend Racing, located in Bend Oregon. While we talked story about their experience at the Yukon 1000, the conversations free flowed...

In this episode, we talk story with the Arctic Cowboys, a team of experienced paddlers from Texas who are about to embark on a expedition of a lifetime. They will traverse through an area known as the Northwest Passage. Although this route has been attempted by other kayakers with various degrees of success and failure, this team will be the most experienced group of kayakers to attempt the passage via a strictly water route. To learn more and follow their journey, check out http:\\www.westh...

We all know that there is a lot of time and planning spent preparing for ultra endurance races, so having to grab a DNF before reaching the finish line is a hard pill to swallow. It happens to all of us at some point for several different reasons. I've been there when I have to pull out of the California River Quest due to a few poor decisions early on in the race that definitely could have been avoided. But we paddle, we learn, and we paddle again. Weather its an issue this gear, equip...

We all know that there is a lot of time and planning spent preparing for ultra endurance races, so having to grab a DNF before reaching the finish line is a hard pill to swallow. It happens to all of us at some point for several different reasons. I've been there when I have to pull out of the California River Quest due to a few poor decisions early on in the race that definitely could have been avoided. But we paddle, we learn, and we paddle again. Weather its an issue this gear, equip...

In this episode , we talk story with Danny Mongno, Product Manager at Northwest River Supply about the new GORE-TEX Pro Dry Wear and what it takes to create a product that is durable, breathable AND waterproof. I personally use NRS gear when packing for my ultra endurance races and stand behind the company. If there is anything that I look for when searching for paddling gear, its durability, dependability and comfort, to say the least. "GORE-TEX Pro is the world’s most advanced technic...

In this episode we talk story with Cyril Derreumaux, the guy who at the release of this episode is set to launch from California to Hawaii on a solo kayak in about 10 days. The entire journey should take around 70 days . This will be Cyril´s 2nd attempt conquering the 2,400 nautical mile distance, solo. In 2016, he and 3 other teammates completed the crossing and set a world record. Cyril and I wanted this podcast to be raw and honest. With all the hype surrounding the crossing, its hard to r...

In this episode I talk sorry with Greg Wingo, Race Director for the Great Alabama 650 and Jay Grantland, Executive Director for the Alabama Scenic River Trail.. The AL650 course in only a small part of the entire Alabama Scenic River Trail which covers over 5,300 miles of accessible waterways. Learn more and plan your next adventure at www.alabamascenicrivertrail.comGreg Wingo is the owner of ROAM Projects, an outdoor recreation consulting company for all types of adventures. Learn more ...

Racers would be nothing without their support crews during ultra distance races. Not only does it take someone with time, but it takes someone with patience, creativity, problem-solving skills, and much much more to be able to figure out how to make everything run smooth or play smooth when things get heavy. During the 2020 Great Alabama 650 in 2020 I was ultra lucky to have April Zilg be all that as my single support crew! In this episode we spill the beans on how it went from the support cr...

In this episode I got the pleasure of talking story with 2020 overall winners and new record setters of the second annual Great Alabama 650. A grueling ultra distance paddling race that spans across the entire state of Alabama into Fort Morgan in Mobile Bay. Racers have 10 days to complete the full 650 miles. With 9 portages and 3 mandatory checkpoints with cutoff times, this race is no easy feat. Since each portage has only 30-45 minute downtimes, racers have to manage their food...

In this episode we explore hallucinations in ultra-distance racing. They are not something that happens to everyone, but for a lot of us, they happen so often that some pretty outrageous stories are created. From giant whirlpools, bookshelves rising out of the river, lego waterfalls, to mutant pigs, these athletes has "seen" it all. Jennifer shares some insight on how to prepare, deal with and let go of these strange occurrences. Stories by:Bill SiersdorferTerry ShortGeoff WatersCandi HillRus...