Victory in the shortened Texas Water Safari

By Anthony Collins

LPR Editor                            

     The 62nd Annual Texas Water Safari, often dubbed the “World’s Toughest Canoe Race”, took place this past weekend, testing the limits of endurance, strategy, and resilience in one of the most grueling paddle races in the world.

      Spanning a typical distance of 260 miles from San Marcos in Central Texas to Seadrift on the Gulf Coast, the race challenges teams to navigate rapids, swamps, log jams, and wildlife including snakes and alligators. However, this year’s race concluded earlier than planned due to severe thunderstorms that moved through the region. Race organizers made the call to end the event at checkpoint #9 (Mile 228), known as the Swinging Bridge, rather than the traditional finish line in Seadrift which is an addition 32 miles downriver.

     Still, the spirit of the event endured.

     The overall winners of this year’s modified course were Boat #13, a seasoned crew made up of Shannon Issendorf, William Russell, Chris Issendorf, Kaitlyn Mynar, Kyle Mynar, and Dodd Yeager. Their team captains, Kate and Nate Tart, supported the mission from shore. The crew crossed the adjusted finish line just after 11:22 p.m. on Saturday night.

     Experience played a critical role in their success. Kyle Mynar marked his 15th year competing in the Safari, William Russell his 12th, and both Chris Issendorf and Kaitlyn Mynar logged their 7th appearances. That collective experience helped them manage not only the physical demands of the race but also the dynamic challenges posed by unpredictable river conditions and the sudden change in course.

     A hallmark of the Texas Water Safari is its lack of monetary prize. “There’s no grand cash prize, no key to the city,” said one spectator. “Just bragging rights.” And that’s precisely what draws adventurers year after year: the honor of finishing, let alone winning, one of the toughest races in endurance sports.

    For the uninitiated, the race begins in chaos as teams launch from Spring Lake in San Marcos. The narrow channels and crowded field result in boats colliding as crews jockey for early position, high stakes start to a journey defined by persistence, teamwork, and grit.

     Though this year’s race may have been shortened by 32 miles, the legacy of the 2025 Texas Water Safari is firmly etched in the stories of this legendary event.