FITG Athletes - Team Paddlefish

On June 12, 2010 Team Paddlefish will participate in the 47th annual Texas Water Safari, a punishing 262-mile paddle sprint from Central Texas to the Gulf Coast. The event is billed as "The World's Toughest Canoe Race" and listed by Forbes as one of the "Top Ten Toughest Endurance Races". In a typical year only about two-thirds of the competing boats will reach the finish line in the allotted 100 hours. Team Paddlefish (Christine Johnson and Banning Collins) will train for nine months to prepare for this grueling test of physical and mental endurance. In addition to their personal goals, they are paddling to raise awareness and generate much-needed funding for two charitable causes: Rett Syndrome and Project Healing Waters.

Christine Johnson is a single mom in Austin, Texas who writes about fly fishing on her blog FlyFishChick.com. As much as she loves the outdoors, a three to four day hellish canoe race is WAY outside her comfort zone. Most people who know Christine and the Texas Water Safari are considering her somewhat of a longshot.

Banning Collins is an outfitter and manufacturer's rep within the fly-fishing industry. He has lived, fished and guided in Texas, Colorado and Montana. His training as a white-water raft guide will help him as the anchor paddler on the team.

The Texas Water Safari covers 262 miles of the San Marcos and Guadalupe Rivers. Paddlers have only 100 hours to complete this race using nothing more than their own muscle power and mental stamina. The record finishing time is 29 hours. That's an incredible pace of 9 paddling miles per hour! 

Team Paddlefish will be entered in the novice class. Their goal is to finish the race well before the 100 hour cut-off, but there are also contingency plans in place. Given their passion for fly fishing, if they should miss one of the the 9 checkpoint deadlines along the route, Banning and Christine are planning to convert their quest into the World's Toughest Fishing Trip. One way or another they are determined to reach Seadrift.