Team If You Know You Know jumped out of their canoe to navigate the rapids at Rio Vista Park. Bottom, Shock Factor goes down the chute at Rio Vista Park.
Daily Record photos by Gerald Castillo
Top left, Racers pass underneath the bridge at Plaza Park during the Texas Water Safari. Top right, Conjunction Junction successfully navigate the rapids at Rio Vista Park in front of a large crowd. Bottom right, Lobos del Rio duck down underneath the concrete bridge at Rio Vista Park.
Daily Record photos by Gerald Castillo and Colton McWilliams
WATER SAFARI
First teams reach the bay in TWS
An annual tradition since 1963, the Texas Water Safari brought many racers and spectators to the start of what is considered to be the 'World’s Toughest Canoe Race.'
There were 172 teams entered to compete at the TWS looking to complete a 260-mile journey that starts at Springlake in San Marcos and ends in the Gulf Mexico near the town of Seadrift.
From five-man canoe teams, two man canoes, solo kayaks and even a paddleboard, all try to either win the race or complete the tough race.
This year’s overall winner was Logjammin’ consisting of team members Chris Issendorf, Kyle Mynar, Normand Mainguy and Steve Lajoie. Team Captains are Logan Mynar and Gaston Jones.
Team Logjammin’ finished the race with a time of 42 hours, five minutes and crossed the finish line at 3:05 a.m. Monday.
Coming in second place was the Locals consisting of team members Andrew Condie and Bradon Stafford. Team Captains are Jay Condie and Joseph Bitterly.
The Locals finished the race with a time of 47 hours, 13 minutes, crossing the finish line 8:13 a.m. Monday.
Finishing in third place is the Regulators. Team members include Brenda Jones, Brian Jones, Chris Bailey and Nate Tart. Team Captains include Ed Jones and James Schuler.
The Regulators finished the race with a time of 47 hours, 39 minutes, crossing the finish line at 8:39 a.m. Monday.
Many of the racers are expected to finish over the next two days and can be tracked at the Texas Water Safari website.
The team Current Obsession, whose team member Joe Hunt was featured in Sunday's edition of the paper, was nearing the Victoria check-in on the river as of 5 p.m. Monday.
The race will conclude Wednesday at 1 p.m.
