More than 140 racers took part in the fifth-annual South Dakota Kayak Challenge over Memorial Day weekend, and they took to the Missouri National Recreational River with aggressive perfection.
A three-person open-class team from the Kansas City area set a new record for the 70-plus-mile course, finishing in 8 hours, 18 minutes. The past record was 8 hours, 50 minutes. Competitors from across North America took part in the annual event, representing two Canadian provinces and 14 states.
While competitive-class racers set records, personal bests in the adventure class also were set. The Challenge saw its highest-ever percentage of finishers (79 of 96 solo craft finished, as well as 17 of 19 open/tandem race teams) with mild wind to start the event in Yankton, South Dakota.
The event marked the first competition on one of the nation’s newest National Water Trails. The Missouri National Recreational River received that designation at the end of 2013. The next race on this amazingly wild waterway is July 19 as the inaugural Fort to Field 50 Paddle Battle takes on the 39-mile district of the national park. Learn more at forttofield50.com.
The South Dakota Kayak Challenge returns in 2015 on May 23. Registration opens on Jan. 1, 2015. Learn more at sdkayakchallenge.org.
Pictured Above: Krista Patterson, Harrisonville, Mo. and Larry and Yancy Scroggins of Kansas City set a course record in the May 24, 2014 South Dakota Kayak Challenge, a race on what remains of the wild and scenic Missouri River. They completed the 72-mile course in 8 hours, 18 minutes.
