What a wonderful world

Due to the craziness of the past few weeks, I’m finally getting around to telling you about my time as the Texas Water Safari race photographer.

The photos have made their rounds on Facebook, Canoe & Kayak Magazine, the Austin American-Statesman and other publications, but I haven’t gotten a chance to talk about my favorite photographic moments on my own web site.

This year’s race probably won’t go down in history as one of the most exciting safaris.  The water was fairly low, but not record-low.  The heat wasn’t too bad and there were no major injuries.  Other than the large amount of documentary work being done (three separate crews) and a few rule changes, there wasn’t much out of the ordinary this year.

That being said, paddling 260-miles straight from San Marcos, TX to Seadrift, TX, well, that’s not really what most people call “normal.”  (Nor is a year without major injuries to be considered a bad thing.)

It was the 51st year for the Texas Water Safari.  I shot the start of the race through San Marcos and Martindale many times when I worked at the San Marcos Daily Record, but the 2012 race was the first time I traveled all the way to Seadrift.  This year I was the race photographer and I brought along my dad for the ride.

Instead of chronicling the whole trip, I’ll just give you a few of my highlights, including some of my favorite pictures along the way.

#1 Rio Vista Falls

Rio Vista Falls is about 2 miles from the start of the race.  It’s one of the most exciting places to watch because boats come careening over three sets of rapids, splashing and wiping out one after another.

There was one moment that stood out to everyone there that day.  Novice paddlers Les Sheffield and James Kancewick took their aluminum canoe through the first chute and wiped out.  Then, in what seemed like slow motion, their canoe turned sideways as it approached the second chute and jammed itself between two rocks.

The river continued to flow and the boat just got jammed tighter and tighter.  There was no way that boat was coming out without the help of emergency crews.  I was standing on a rock in the middle of the river, right next to the second chute as the whole thing unfolded.

It was heartbreaking to watch as they realized their race was over so quickly after they began.

#2 Zedler Mill Dam

Zedler Mill Dam is an impressive place to witness.  It’s a large dam and it takes practice and skill to portage.  Here are a couple of my favorite shots, one showing how large this dam is, and another showing a slip up.  Don’t worry, he was fine.

#3 Palmetto State Park

Palmetto State Park is one of my favorite places to shoot.  This check-point has so much going on.  A low bridge, supply hand-offs, plus boats come through as the sun is setting, so the light is constantly changing, until it’s time for slow-shutter photos.

#4 Gonzales

I hadn’t been to the Gonzales check-point before, but I think I’ll make a habit of it.  This was a great place to shoot racers as they rested on the morning of day 2.

#5 Victoria City Park Distractions

By Sunday most of the boats are spaced out along the route, so I spend quite a bit of time here, trying to catch them as they come through.  There’s a lot of down time, so I think all of us were happy to let the local young daredevils practice this…

#6 The Wooden Bridge

This is a gorgeous landscape, only slightly tainted by the herds (too many to be called swarms) of mosquitoes.  But for shots like these, I’m happy to brave the bugs.  One of these years a boat will come through just as the sun is setting, making the shot perfect.

#7 First Place Finishers

This will always be a highlight of my trip.  Watching the first Safari team come across the finish line safely is as close to star-struck as I get.  It’s amazing to me that they can do this race at all, and then to make it in under 40 hours?!  Incredible!  (They’re not bad to look at either.)

#8 Victoria City Park Round 2

My dad and I went back up to Victoria to catch some of the boats in the middle of the pack.  We were there for about an hour and probably saw a dozen boats.  That’s a lot in one place for Day 3.  There was a lot of activity, including a quick boat repair, some refueling (food, not gasoline) and a bit of resting.

#9 The Finish Line

There are always great moments at the finish line.  Lots of joy and love.  It’s just a nice place to be.

#10 Awards Banquet

This is a fun event where the top 35 finishers are honored with plaques, trophies and patches.  One by one, teams would come up and claim their awards, but paddler Gaston Jones had his hands full.  He and his team captain, Tim Anglin (not pictured), finished first in the men’s solo unlimited division and placed fourth overall.

My dad and I spent four days following and photographing these amazing athletes.  I’ll never get tired of being a part of this race!

Click here to view race photos on Facebook.

Click here to view race photos in Canoe & Kayak Magazine.

Click here to view race photos in the Austin American-Statesman.

Click on each year to view my Texas Water Safari blog posts from 2012, 2011 (pre-race), 2011, 2010