90% Mental-Ultra Distance Paddling Adventures – Details, episodes & analysis

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John Knippers is an accomplished SUP paddler who loves to test his limits. You may have ran into him at events such as the grueling Great Alabama 650, Last Paddler Standing, MR340 or exploring the Boundary Waters in the northernmost reaches of Minnesota. In his spare time, you can find him on the edge of a 100ft cliff in Oklahoma looking down at a beautiful river in front of his house or paddling on his SUP with his dogs. John even started his own race called the Grand River DAM Paddle. Check the links below and enjoy!

Grand River DAM Paddle

Great Alabama 650

John Knippers Facebook Page 

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In this last episode of the year, I got a chance to catch up with Team Mississippi Speed Record 2023. Not only did these guys beat the record...they actually had fun doing it! The meaning of SET A RECORD is to achieve something that no other person or thing has achieved. Now while this record was established in 1937, and there have been many attempts and record breaking times over the last several decades, Team MSR holds the most impressive record  thus far, landing them the a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records. Who will be the next to attempt this massive distance? Listen up to see what it takes!

Enjoy the show and don't forget support and subscribe below!

https://www.mississippispeedrecord.com/

Click here to check out the route!

Check out the best gear for your next adventure....

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In this episode we talk story with Jason Magness and Daniel Staudigel of Bend Racing. These two just set a new record for fastest time racing in the Yukon 1000, completing the course in just 5 days, 11 hours and 48 minutes. The prior record was 6 days 2 hours and 11 minutes in 2009.

Jason and Dan are no strangers to adventure racing. In fact, they are part of Team Bend Racing, located in Bend Oregon. While we talked story about their experience at the Yukon 1000, the conversations free flowed into everything adventure racing. We learned about what it takes to enter these kinds of races, how to train, what to eat and more. It really made me want to enter one! 

Here are just a few of the most recent adventure races they have competed in:

2nd  -Americas Toughest Race  | Bend, OR  | May 2021
1st  -WA 360 Race  |   June 2021
1st  - Wembo 24 hour Nationals  |   July 2021
4th & 5th  -USARA Nationals  |  Sept 2021                     
1st  -Expedition Canada  |   Oct 2021
24th -Top American Team  | World Championships  |  Oct 2021


Check the Team out at  http:\\www.bendracing.com

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In this episode, we talk story with the Arctic Cowboys, a team of experienced paddlers from Texas who are about to embark on a expedition of a lifetime. They will traverse through an area known as the Northwest Passage. Although this route has been attempted by other kayakers with various degrees of success and failure, this team will be the most experienced group of kayakers to attempt the passage via a strictly water route.

To learn more and follow their journey, check out http:\\www.westhansen.com

DIRECT LINK TO DONATE-------> Donate (paypal.com)

Team Sponsors: 

The North Face  https://www.thenorthface.com/

Templar Knives https://www.templar-knives.com/

Epic Kayaks https://www.epickayaks.com/

Resistol (cowboy hats)  https://resistol.com/

Books

The Amazon from Source to Sea (get it on Amazon)

The Amazon from Source to Sea: The Farthest Journey Down the World's Longest River: Hansen, West: 9780578509730: Amazon.com: Books

Mentions:

Robert Youens

Inuit People 

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We all know that there is a lot of time and planning spent preparing for ultra endurance races, so having to grab a DNF before reaching the finish line is a hard pill to swallow. It happens to all of us at some point for several different reasons. I've been there when I have to pull out of the California River Quest due to a few poor decisions early on in the race that definitely could have been avoided. But we paddle, we learn, and we paddle again.  Weather its an issue this gear, equipment, nutrition and hydration, so many moving parts can fall apart.

This is a story of Brian´s journey through the Everglades Challenge in which he had to pull out of the 2020 race, but went back and kicked some serious tail in 2022.

This journey comes in 2 parts, so make sure you listen to Part 1 first. If you have every felt defeated because you had to pull out of a race, Brian´s positive outlook and perseverance will motivate you to go back and make it to the finish line.

Join the tribe at https://watertribe.com/ and claim your tribe name. I wonder what mine would be?!

Stay safe out there with an emergency position-indicating radio beacon (EPIRB)
The Best EPIRB for 2022 (boatsafe.com)

Check out Jensen Canoes https://www.jensencanoes.com/

Get your sail on with Falcon Sails https://www.falconsails.com/

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Support the show

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We all know that there is a lot of time and planning spent preparing for ultra endurance races, so having to grab a DNF before reaching the finish line is a hard pill to swallow. It happens to all of us at some point for several different reasons. I've been there when I have to pull out of the California River Quest due to a few poor decisions early on in the race that definitely could have been avoided. But we paddle, we learn, and we paddle again.  Weather its an issue this gear, equipment, nutrition and hydration, so many moving parts can fall apart.

This is a story of Brian´s journey through the Everglades Challenge in which he had to pull out of the 2020 race, but went back and kicked some serious tail in 2022.

This journey will be in two parts, so make sure you listen to Part 2. If you have every felt defeated because you had to pull out of a race, Brian´s positive outlook and perseverance will motivate you to go back and make it to the finish line.

Join the tribe at https://watertribe.com/ and claim your tribe name. I wonder what mine would be?!

Stay safe out there with an emergency position-indicating radio beacon (EPIRB)
The Best EPIRB for 2022 (boatsafe.com)

Check out Jensen Canoes https://www.jensencanoes.com/

Get your sail on with Falcon Sails https://www.falconsails.com/

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In this episode , we talk story with Danny Mongno, Product Manager at Northwest River Supply about the new GORE-TEX Pro Dry Wear and what it takes to create a product that is durable, breathable AND waterproof. I personally use NRS gear when packing for my ultra endurance races and stand behind the company.  If there is anything that I look for when searching for paddling gear, its durability, dependability and comfort, to say the least.

"GORE-TEX Pro is the world’s most advanced technical material for performance outerwear and the most ideal for paddlesports use. No other material matches it for durability, breathability, and waterproof dependability". -nrs.com

Enjoy the episode and be sure to check out https:\\www.nrs.com for your dry wear needs.

Mentions:

Duct Tape Diaries NRS
https:\\https://community.nrs.com/duct-tape/page/7/

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In this episode we talk story with Cyril Derreumaux, the guy who at the release of this episode is set to launch from California to Hawaii on a solo kayak in about 10 days. The entire journey should take around 70 days .

This will be Cyril´s 2nd attempt conquering the 2,400 nautical mile distance, solo. In 2016, he and 3 other teammates completed the crossing and set a world record.

Cyril and I wanted this podcast to be raw and honest. With all the hype surrounding the crossing, its hard to realize that he is just a regular guy with a passion for adventure like the rest of us ultra endurance athletes. We hope you enjoy our talk story and are able to follow the LIVE TRACKER and BLOG which can be found at http:\\www.solokayaktohawaii.com or https://www.facebook.com/CyrilDerreumauxAdventure


Episode Artwork by Tom Gomes (Photographer)

Mentions:

Ed Gillet-The Pacific Alone
https://www.adventure-journal.com/2019/01/the-pacific-alone-recounts-ed-gillets-harrowing-kayak-crossing/

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Background Music: 
https://uppbeat.io/t/all-good-folks/cruisin
License code: LPY13X6JFZNDO120

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In this episode I talk sorry with Greg Wingo, Race Director for the Great Alabama 650 and Jay Grantland, Executive Director for the Alabama Scenic River Trail.. The AL650 course in only a small part of the entire Alabama Scenic River Trail which covers over 5,300 miles of accessible waterways.
 Learn more and plan your next adventure at www.alabamascenicrivertrail.com

Greg Wingo is the owner of ROAM Projects, an outdoor recreation consulting company for all types of adventures. Learn more at www.roamprojects.com

If you are interested in learning more about Ultra Distance Paddling, how to train, how to eat, how to pack and more, contact jenniferfratzke@gmail.com for information about an upcoming destination clinic and be sure to follow my instagram @Paddlefishsurf

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Racers would be nothing without their support crews during ultra distance races. Not only does it take someone with time, but it takes someone with patience, creativity, problem-solving skills, and much much more to be able to figure out how to make everything run smooth or play smooth when things get heavy. During the 2020 Great Alabama 650 in 2020 I was ultra lucky to have April Zilg be all that as my single support crew! In this episode we spill the beans on how it went from the support crews perspective.  For anyone who is thinking about or planning to be someone’s support crew this is a must listen!! Hope u all enjoy.

PS: Somewhere in this episode is a question and if you can answer it, send me an email at jenniferfratzke@gmail.com to receive a 20% off discount code for ANY Garmin product for your next adventure.

Sign up for your next distance race to include the AL650 at:

https://paddleguru.com

Check out the Kahele OC-1 I use and other models at:

www.puakeadesigns.com 

Start your customized training program at:

https://paddleninja.com

Hit the water with the Vanilla Gorilla (April Zilg) at:

www.aprilzilg.com

Check out all the gear you need to survive at:

http://www.nrs.com

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