Grueling Texas Water Safari Is a Ride of a Lifetime
Competitors across the globe converge on San Marcos every year to compete in one of the most grueling water races in the world: The Texas Water Safari. They hope to be among the elite to claim victory in what is known as the “World’s Toughest Canoe Race.”
“Basically, it’s a race that will test not only your physical but mental limits,” says Allen Spelce, president of the Texas Water Safari Corp., and acting race chairman.
Spelce should know. He’s completed 11 races himself, even winning one of them.
Beginning on the second Saturday in June, competitors brave a 262-mile trek fraught with danger at every turn.
Poisonous water moccasins, alligators and mosquitoes are constant companions along the way. Low-hanging limbs that knock paddlers out of their boats lie in wait, in addition to logjams. Competitors face the broiling heat of the Texas sun by day and swarms of mating mayflies at night.
Nonetheless, the race goes on.
Since 1963, teams have taken to the water to race to the finish line.
Teams, which can range from one person to six people, have 100 hours to complete the grueling race, which begins in San Marcos and ends in Seadrift, Texas.
Contestants start at the San Marcos River, which flows into the Guadalupe, and end the race by crossing San Antonio Bay.
Many are forced to give up because of dehydration, sickness or injury. In fact, less than half of the 109 teams in the 2008 race made it to the finish line.
Sleep deprivation is another problem. About 200 miles into the course is what’s known as Hallucination Alley.
“Hallucinations are pretty common during the race,” Spelce says, referring to the sleep deprivation many contestants experience. “If you’re going to win this race, you have to go all out all day, all night nonstop,” he says.
Interestingly, Spelce says, older competitors seem to do better in the race. The 2008 teams, some of which came from as far away as Australia, were made up of paddlers from ages 17 to 70.
And, believe it or not, those who do win don’t get any money - just the satisfaction of a hard-fought victory in a tough test of endurance. Those who make it across the finish line get a patch emblazoned with a devil and an alligator sitting in a canoe, and a trophy.
“A lot of folks enjoy doing it for the personal challenge of it all,” Spelce says. “It’s often been said if you complete the Texas Water Safari, you’re a changed person forever."
