The Texas Winter 100k
by Meral Amica Akyol

The Texas Winter 100k has been on my bucket list forever. Yesterday I was finally able to do it and it turned out to be the best 15mi River Race Lesson, that I ever had
With some background from winter paddling on Bodensee in Germany with waves, storms, cold and all the drama, I thought I knew what “wild water” meant. The 15mi SUP course seemed like “just a longer Paddle”, no big deal.

Well… the Colorado River between Utley Bridge and Bastrop politely laughed at me.
Rocks everywhere and Sandbanks and Logs playing hide and seek. Rocks in-between rapids that could easily be labeled Wildwater back home, took me off my board.

Some swirls that looked innocent where basically nature saying: “Something is under here. Good luck.” That was where some invisible underwater rocks took me off my board, while I was doing the “Superman” move time and time again.

I went from being 3rd overall to the end of the pack, fall by fall, getting stuck, carrying the board through shallow waters, getting back up and falling or getting stuck again in what felt like and endless repeat. Needless to say, that one of my biggest lessons was, that this course is not made for a 9” long fin. Now I have a reason to love my 4,5” inch rubber river fin that is safely packed away at home in Germany.
Thanks to Deborah Carrillo, I had a real good time paddling,   chatting and guesstimating the water. Her uplifting comments helped me feel less lost

Cudos to the other 3 Ladies in the SUP Sprint division, who won the podium.
1. Linda McCoy
2. Kiri Oksol Nevin
3. Deborah Carillo

Massive respect to every single paddler who took on the Challenge of this rocky low water Colorado River in Winter with high winds and gusts.
While we did the “sprint course”, the Main Race track of the Texas Winter 100k is a full 100 kilometer course that was done by all kinds of crafts and paddlers with different backgrounds, different boards, but who that shared the same madness and determination to finish. I have the highest respect for the 100k finishers who were exposed to temps between 29 and 45 F and winds up to 18kts.

Nature was powerful, cold was strong, but we all were stronger. We didn’t let the cold win

Already humbled. Already grateful. Already thinking about next time.
Thank you Kiri Oksol Nevin for the help , Linda McCoy from USA SUP for racing and showing up, Deborah Carrillo for the nice chat during the race. Veronica Sosa who did an amazing job for a 1st time race director.
Thank you to Christi Lancaster Bonura and Julia Smith and all the volunteers who kept us warm, hydrated and satiated.

Thank you to Oscar Propulsion for letting me use the 2 Piece adjustable Paddle. I used it for Last Paddler Standing and now also for this real rough endeavour. And as far as I can say it’s been beat up pretty “good” from crashing against the gravel. Seems to be a tough paddle.
Special thanks go out to my love John Knippers who inspires and supports me in unprecedented ways.

*Photos by Jason Sawyer