Re: [Paddlewise] Hill Country Canoeist 6-10-98

> From: Rich Kulawiec <rsk_at_gsp.org>
> 
> >   The Texas Water Safari, set for this Saturday, is world renowned not 
> > just for being the world's toughest boat race [...]
> 
> Longest?  Sure.  Hard?  Darn right.
> 
> But toughest?  Not even close.  The toughest race in the world is
> the Great Falls Race, the shortest and most extreme whitewater race
> in the world, which would probably kill 90% of the boaters who finish
> the T.W.S. if they tried to participate in it.


"Toughest" is in the eye (or definition) of the beholder.

I think West means toughest as in most grueling and difficult long distance
cross-country race requiring a great deal of stamina and grit as well as
long-distance racing skills, not most difficult whitewater race.  With 
temps that have been running in the 100 F's, and drought-like conditions, 
I suspect there will be a lot of paddler interaction with fire ants, 
mosquitos and water moccasins with a real threat of heat stroke on this 
260-mile race to the Gulf of Mexico.  I'm not sure if the smoke filling 
the Texas atmosphere from Mexico's burning forests will have much impact, 
but a lot of Texans have been finding themselves in emergency rooms due 
to both the extreme heat and the ash in the air.  Cross your fingers that 
recent, long-awaited rain will provide some relief.  Many participants will 
not finish this race, regardless.

GFR may be the toughest race skill-wise for ww, TWS the toughest race
skill-wise for long-distance (difficult cross country).  Both have their 
own meaning in "toughest" with an altogether different purpose and, 
depending on who's participating, a matter of "pick your own poison." :-)

For update info on the Texas Water Safari, check out the web site:

http://nacpc2.tamu.edu/~x075bb/safari/

Thanks, John, for passing along West's article.

Jackie

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