The Ultras. There’s something about these immense challenges that piques the interest of so many paddlers in equal parts excitement and nerves. A bootcamp for both the body and mind, an ultra-marathon paddle “race” (adventure would be a more fitting term) is an exercise in physical strength and mental stamina that will beat you down, build you back up and probably leave you changed as a person… → READ MORE
For me, the “X” in this race represents the unknown; you never know what you’re going to get at Muskoka. And that was truer than ever this year, when rough weather forced organisers to cut this “ultra” short after 70% of competitors had already been forced to retire.
Muskoka is not only a paddling event, it’s a genuine adventure race. You have to navigate a labyrinth of lakes, rivers and portages using nothing but a paper map and a compass. There are three options: the 58km “Sprint”, 130km Classic and the 223km, ultra-endurance ‘Coureur des Bois’. I chose the 223. → READ MORE
The undisputed king of ultra long distance paddling, Bart de Zwart, has done it again. Not long after his victories in the Yukon (715km) and Missouri (547km), and literally straight off the back of his 200+ km effort in the Netherlands last week, Bart has just taken out the Muskoka River X race in Ontario, Canada. Again. → READ MORE
In brief: Fresh off his tour of the 11 cities in Holland, Mr. Endurance Bart de Zwart is already on to his next challenge: the Muskoka River X race in Canada this weekend.
This will be the fourth event in a six-race series of the world’s longest stand up paddle races that Bart is completing this year. His tour started in June with the beyond-comprehension 715km epic voyage along the Yukon River in Canada, before hitting an even greater challenge, the absolute non-stop MR340 race along the Missouri River (547kms). → READ MORE
Discover the unique world of ultra long distance stand up paddle racing with four-time 11 City Tour champion and all-round SUP explorer Bart de Zwart… → READ MORE
Fresh from reclaiming his 11 Cities title in the Netherlands last week, Bart de Zwart has chalked up yet another crazy endurance record: Winning the solo SUP division at the Muskoka River X race in Canada on the weekend. His winning time: 18 hours, 23 minutes. Yep…
Billed as the Longest Single Day Paddling Expedition In The World, the Muskoka River X sees competitors journey 130kms (80 miles) within a maximum time frame of 24 hours. It’s held in the middle of nowhere and the weather was so brutal this year that 46% of competitors failed to finish… → READ MORE
