The Mission Reach Rally

Info from 2022 (subject to change)

https://www.sariverauthority.org/whats-new/san-antonio-river-basin-paddling-race-series?fbclid=IwAR0Du3_MjQLtBDSElPBM3UOkbRP8M4XfHOc7fjoUSzKywrvS7uhK3Tcn2NQ

• Sunday, September 25, 2022
• 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
• Total distance: Approximately 8 miles
• If you think an 8-mile paddle down one the nation’s largest urban ecosystem restoration projects will be an easy Sunday cruise, think again! The Mission Reach Rally will require participants to paddle under five hike & bike trail bridges (a few with low clearance) and navigate through close to 30 riffle habitat structures in the river – each riffle structure contains a paddling chute that can accommodate one craft at a time, so some competitors may choose to portage around the riffles rather than wait their turn to gain access to the chute. The race will also include a mandatory portage at the dam– the hike & bike trail next to the river must be used for this portage, which will require competitors to carry and/or drag their equipment, without help from a support crew, approximately 1,100 feet. If that’s not challenging enough, this section of the river often has very low flows, meaning the human muscle power of each participant will certainly be put to the test during the entire Mission Reach Rally!
• The race is on the Mission Reach Paddling Trail, which is part of the San Antonio River Walk, with a starting location near Roosevelt Park and ending location at the low water crossing bridge at Camino Coahuilteca.
• Please note: Roosevelt Park has a small parking lot and limited space along the street to drop off paddling equipment. Participants are encouraged to be dropped off with their equipment at Roosevelt Park to stage for the race and have their support crew immediate go to either Espada Park to meet the racers at the checkpoint location or to the parking area near Mission Espada to wait for and meet the participants at the finish line take out point. For those participants who do not have a support crew, they can drop off their equipment at Roosevelt Park (it will be watched by race staff) and then go to the parking area near Mission Espada where a shuttle bus will provide service back to Roosevelt Park. During the online registration process, participants will be required to inform the River Authority race organizers if you plan to utilize the shuttle bus service.
• This race is part of the River Authority’s Annual River Symposium, which is a multi-day celebration of the San Antonio River Basin. Award ceremony with prizes will be provided to the top three finishers in each category immediately following the race near Mission Espada which is a World Heritage Site.
• The Mission Reach Rally is hosted by the San Antonio River Authority and San Antonio River Foundation.

Race Categories

An awards ceremony with prizes for the top three finishers in each of the seven categories listed below will be held following each race. All participants will receive a participation recognition. Participants who compete in all four races in the San Antonio River Basin Race Series will receive a t-shirt and a commemorative plaque. Beyond the flow of the river, human muscle power (e.g., row, paddle, walk, swim, carry, or drag) is the only thing that can propel the craft. Each of the 4 races in the 2022 San Antonio River Basin Race Series will consist of seven race categories. For each of the 4 races, if less than 3 entrants register for a given category, that category will be dropped from the competition.

Women’s Unlimited:     No craft specification for this category except that the craft can only be powered by human muscle, is limited to one female participant, and no inflatable crafts will be allowed.

Women’s USCA C-1:      Maximum length 18'6", minimum width 14 3/8% of length at the 4" waterline. Minimum bow height 15.5", minimum stern height 11.5", depth at center 11.5". Limited to one female participant with single blade paddles (no rudders).

Men’s Unlimited:          No craft specification for this category except that the craft can only be powered by human muscle, is limited to one male participant, and no inflatable crafts will be allowed.

Men’s USCA C-1:           Maximum length 18'6", minimum width 14 3/8% of length at the 4" waterline. Minimum bow height 15.5", minimum stern height 11.5", depth at center 11.5". Limited to one male participant with single blade paddles (no rudders).

Mixed Tandem Unlimited:         No craft specification for this category except that the craft can only be powered by human muscle, is limited to two participants (one male and one female), and no inflatable crafts will be allowed. Both participants must travel together in the same craft for the entirety of the race.

Tandem Unlimited:       No craft specification for this category except that the craft can only be powered by human muscle, is limited to two participants, and no inflatable crafts will be allowed. Both participants must travel together in the same craft for the entirety of the race.

USCA C-2:                     Participants in this category may use either a Competition Cruiser with a (4/32) maximum length 18'6", minimum width 14 3/8% of length at the 4” waterline, minimum bow height 15.5", minimum stern height 11.5", depth at center 11.5" or a Pro Boat with a (3/27) maximum length 18'6", minimum width 27" at the 3" waterline, minimum bow height 15", minimum stern height 10", minimum depth at center 10", minimum gunwale width 33". Either craft option is limited to two participants with single blade paddles (no rudders). Both participants must travel together in the same craft for the entirety of the race.