For the past few years I wanted to do this race and after reading Joe Glickman’s account of last year’s race, I could relate only too well to his story. Why? I am from Mississippi. To be specific Starkville, MS, home of Mississippi State University.

While I have lived in Rhode Island for twenty five years, I visit Mississippi about two times a year to see my many relatives including my Mother and sisters. When I think about Mississippi I don’t think about paddling, at least not until this visit.

Click to view Don Chesler's Photos

More often my thoughts would include that Southern home “cookin” I grew up on: Barbeque(pulled pork), fried okra, pimento cheese sandwiches, black eye peas, chocolate pies, and my Mother’s and sister’s many Southern casseroles. My fondest memories since I was old enough to ride a bike was having the sprawling MSU campus at my disposal. We lived on Campus for many years where both of my parents were employed by MSU their entire careers.

As a kid, high school student, and even college a MSU student, I took full advantage all the university had to offer except the academics. I remember over the progressive years riding my three, five, and ten speed bikes virtually everywhere on that campus. There was not an inch of that huge university I did not know. I knew where every short cut, every pot hole, every water fountain was by the time I was 12. I hung out most summer days as a teen at the Tin Gym playing ball in the 100 degree heat for hours on end challenging anyone who walked through the door if they wanted to play one on one. After a few hours of ball, I would cool off in the expansive college pool enjoying all the lovely sights only a pool can offer. Later I would hop on my bike and swing by the Union to brush up on my air hockey skills and get the richest, thickest, creamiest, chocolate milk shake at the DP (dairy products deli).

So now coming back to Mississippi thirty years later to do a race in a surfski no less, only adds to my many fond memories of Mississippi.

Betsy and I met Phi Capel, another Stellar Rep, who lives in Arkansas and his wife Robbie at the Natchez Grand around three on the Friday before the race. Phil and Robbie not only brought a couple of skis but also brought that Good Ole Southern Hospitality with them. Phil having done the race a few times was extremely helpful in all aspects of getting ready for the race which relieves most of the stress not having done the race before. Robbie was equally as helpful providing company for Betsy throughout Friday and Saturday.

While I was very excited about doing the race, Phil was not quite as enthusiastic as I was, having done a race in Chicago the previous weekend and a bike race the weekend before that. Plus, Phil knew something I did not; it is a very long race!!! Phil knew what was in store for us while I could only imagine; 4 hour plus race in the 90 degree heat!!

Friday afternoon I registered and met Keith Benoit and Melissa Morrison, race directors. Both were busy with all the race logistics but I was able to discuss the race course with Keith. What I gathered from Keith was there is fast water and then there is even faster water. Your job is to find that “fastest” water in order to have a FAST race. Keith and Melissa having paddled the course more than anyone would know where this fastest water is.

While outfitting my ski that Friday, I met a few more people like Brad Pennington from Texas. Brad was busy setting up his ski having only been in a ski once before. I gave him a few quick tips on outfitting. Brad typically paddles K1’s. Brad won and broke the record for the solo kayak division in the 2008 Yukon River Quest, a 460 mile race which is the longest continuous kayak race in the world. I also met a ski paddler, Greg Jacob from Jackson, Mississippi, who emailed me about skis several months ago. Another person I met was Don Chesler, a psychiatrist from Oklahoma who recently took up photography. See all the photos Don shot at the race on Smug Mug. It was also nice to meet DeAnne Hemmens who I have emailed and talked to over the past five years but never had met her. DeAnne and Patrick donated a Mako XT that was given away at the awards ceremony.

Phil drove us to the start at Port Gibson up Highway 61 pass the Nuclear Power Plant. I never knew Mississippi had a nuclear facility. The start of the race is an hour from the finish by car. With the sun just coming up, we pulled into a clearing deep in Mississippi pine forest. This clearing was the public boat launch. There was already a crowd of boats with paddlers from all over the U.S getting ready for long race. Fortunately the weather was cool with the heat in the 90’s not expected until the early afternoon.

Shortly after 8am, a mass start was underway. With the River so wide it is difficult to know for sure which line is the best. Typically you would think just stay in the middle of the river where the current is the fastest; seems logical. Also cutting the tangents like you would do if running a road marathon would seem logical also. This is not the case!! So for the first mile I was with a fast double sea kayak and a fast sea kayaker Joe Zellner, staying in the middle of the river. The lead pack of Joe Glickman, Erik Borgnes, Sean Lupton-Smith, and Patrick and DeAnne Hemmens took different lines and where quickly minutes ahead. Brad Pennington and Eric Mimms followed the kayak double of Keith and Melissa who made there way to the right bank where there was a barge parked. All barge traffic was shut down for the race which made it a peaceful race.

I was trying to decide which line to follow when Joe in the fast sea kayak advised to not follow Brad, Eric, Keith and Melissa, so I continued on, loosely following the line of the lead pack while I was continuously looking over my right to see where the other guys were. I was amazed to see how fast I was moving. I use pace vice mph so my pace was around 5.30. Normally in the ocean my pace would be between 8:30 and 9:00 depending on all the variables. With the current running that fast I still had to concentrate because the boat needed rudder input to ensure I was I kept my heading.

While I did not know where I was going, I was very fortunate to be able to see the lead pack most of the race and the other pack that was now behind me. So I tried to follow the lead pack’s line while constantly looking over my shoulder every five minutes to see if Brad, Eric, and Keith/Melissa were gaining on me and to see what route they chose. However, they had chosen a bad line early in the race that cost them dearly, 6 minutes to be exact! So it was not until one hour and forty-five minutes that Brad caught me. About 10 minutes later Eric caught us. So I rode their wash for about 10 minutes before I decided not to expend too much energy knowing I had another two hours to go. So once again I was all alone paddling on the mighty Mississippi noting how unspoiled the river is as far as commercial or home development. I do remember saying “Hi and where you headed” to a sea kayaker loaded down with gear who looked like he had paddled the entire Mississippi River. For all I know he had.

Every ten minutes or so I would see if Keith and Melissa were gaining. They finally reeled me in at about the 3:30 mark finding faster water closer to the right bank. I was bonking at this point but struggled to keep the gap to something reasonable of about five-ten boat lengths. Every now and then Keith would stop paddling to stretch has hands while Melissa never missed a stroke. I pressed to close the gap every time this happened but it did little good. Finally with my heart rate at pedestrian rate, out of water, and power gels, they dropped me for good.

I had thirty minutes to go and had that sinking, bonking feeling of just hanging on. My pace dropped from 6:30 to 7 minutes then to 7:15 as followed their line to the finish. Brad and Eric paddling together for most of the race could not close the gap on the lead pack. Joe Glickman was edge out with few yards to go by Sean Lupton-Smith. Patrick and DeAnne were well ahead of the lead singles in a time of 3:54 which was the best overall time.

Phil was still looking fresh as he paddled in toward the finish line. I offered to help Phil with his ski but Phil flipped his boat on his shoulder like it was the start of the race. He probably noticed I had this glazed look in my eyes and realize he would be better off carrying his ski himself. Just prior to Phil coming in, I was indeed hanging out with some “good ole boys” at the Emergency Tent. I needed some shade and some water and they were very helpful in taking care of me for the 20 minutes I need to regain my equilibrium.

Shortly afterwards we all made our way up to the Saloon for some food and refreshments. I did not hang around for the awards since I had another 5 hours of drive time to Starkville. In reflecting back on the race it was a lot of fun. Phil and Robbie made everything so easy for Betsy and me which I greatly appreciated. I got to meet some fellow Mississippians and other paddlers from all over the country. The following day I noticed on the results page there was another couple from Starkville that completed the race. It turns out Tracy Stebbins and Brian Arnett won their division. I called Brian to introduce myself and see if he would write a quick note on his race. Turns out Brian is a fireman in Starkville, and a pretty good endurance athlete in his own right.

Keith and Melissa did a wonderful job of organizing the race along with all the volunteers. I have been talking the race up among my New England buddies. I will be back next year for another Home Coming!
~Wesley

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