Represents the world’s longest nonstop canoe and kayak race – from Kansas City to St. Charles

WHO:      A limit of 150 paddlers will participate in the Missouri River 340 endurance race across the state of Missouri.  Competitors will start in Kansas City and finish in St. Charles.  Participants are allowed exactly 100 hours to complete the course.  With numerous towns and hamlets, the course offers plenty of opportunity for resupply while enroute. The Missouri River is also incredibly scenic and isolated in some stretches, with wildlife and beautiful vistas to rival any river in North America.

WHAT:      There are nine checkpoints along the route where paddlers are required to sign in and sign out:  Kansas City, Lexington, Waverly, Miami, Glasgow, Cooper’s Landing, Jefferson City, Hermann, Washington…with a big splash finish in St. Charles.  Cutoff times will be associated with these checkpoints based on the 100 hour pace. Failure to miss two consecutive deadlines is grounds for disqualification.  To finish this race in 100 hours is a huge accomplishment; only 2/3 of the registered teams were able to do so in 2007.

WHERE:      Race Finish -- Lewis & Clark Boat House and Nature Center, 1050 S. Riverside Drive, Saint Charles, Missouri.

WHEN:    Competitors could potentially finish the race as early as Thursday, July 17; on Friday, July 18 – Noon to 5:30 p.m. – the Discovery Expedition of St. Charles will host a benefit serving beverages, snacks, barbeque plate dinners and sandwiches to the general public and race spectators.  Race award ceremonies will be held at 7 p.m. on the grounds of the Boat House.

ALSO:      The Missouri 340 course is all on Class I water. The current is about 3 mph and there are no rapids. The biggest hazard to paddlers would be motorboats, mostly fisherman, and the occasional towboat pushing barges. In river obstacles would include wing dikes, buoys, bridge pilings and flood debris.  Thanks to the United States Coast Guard, the river is marked over the entire course with mileage and channel markers.

For MR 340 Race Inf