Race
Boats
Teams
Listed Alphabetically
Team
Alaska
Team
Alaska purchased their original and replacement boat.
Special thanks to Team Alaska for going the distance!
Team Alaska members each donated $500 to Rett Syndrome
research, and raised an additional $500. Alaska also
conducted a scientific survey on plant and animal life
as they travelled! Several members of the Alaskan team
completed a trip down the Mississippi river in 1999
as well.
Their
first kayak (pictured) was lost about 6 days later
in a harrowing rapids in Minnesota (paddlers swam
for their lives to the shore). |
At
considerable personal expense, the team bought
a new (green) kayak and and stayed in the race
until May 31!
|
The
lost kayak was later found and returned to the
team, fully equipped with all gear still "tied
in".
|
Team
Team
Amazons of the Mississippi
Both
Cynthia and Megan have competed professionally in water/river
races. Many thanks to Nelo
Kayaks for
their donation of this race craft and the courageous
effort of the Amazons! Team Amazon raised a $2500 donation
to Rett Syndrome research!
Team
Amazon of the Mississippi. L to R: Megan Duffy
and Cynthia Belbin represent the only women's
team, and an international one at that! |
Right
after the Start.
|
Paddlin'
Hard!
|
Team
Kruger
Verlen
Kruger built this canoe w/rudder and lights for this
race. Verlen Kruger is sitting in the back of the superb
Kruger canoe
that he built for this charity event. Bob Bradford (known
as "an animal" for his paddling abilities)
sits in front. Verlen was part of a team that set a
1984 record down the Mississippi river and has travelled
both up and down the river several times. Both Bob and
Verlen hold many canoe records & 1st place wins
in long distance races. Special thanks to all team members
who donated and helped raise money for Rett Syndrome
Research!
|
Team
Kruger arriving at the St. Louis arch - clearly
flooded. In boat, L to R: Verlen Kruger, Bob Bradford.
Assisted by (standing) L to R: Clark Eid, Jeff
Romine, and Stan Hanson.
|
Passing a slightly flooded home in Minnesota.
The flooded waters of the Mississippi during the
spring of 1999 proved to dangerous and unrelenting
at times for paddlers as well as for those who
lived nearby.... |
Team Kruger approaching the arch, St. Louis, Missouri. |
Team
Double Helix
Clark
Eid hand built the Double
Helix for this race in honor of his daughter,
Amanda Eid, who has Rett Syndrome. The Double Helix
includes wood from the Alcyone, Calypso, Amistad
and the signatures of Dr. Watson and Dr. Crick. It is
constructed from 1000's of pieces of wood, carbon fiber,
sports a titanium rudder and is encircled with wood
rose vine representing a DNA strand that can be genetically
decoded to spell "Amanda's Dreamkeeper". The
Double Helix will be placed in
the New Orleans convention center for public display.
It is our hope to continue to increase awareness of
Rett Syndrome and to help find a cure for those afflicted
by this life long disease. Special thanks to all Team
Double Helix members for donating to and raising
money for Rett Syndrome research!
|
Team
Double Helix at the Start. L to R: Kurt Zimmerman
and Clark Eid.
|
Kurt
Zimmerman paddles hard while Clark Eid sleeps
under the happy hut. The forward compartment of
the Double Helix was designed so that one person
could sleep/rest as the other continued to paddle.
|
Paddle
fast! L to R, Kurt Zimmemann and Clark Eid face
just another obstacle on a trip that just never
quite seems to end.....
|
Team
Rebels With A Cause
Many
thanks to Dagger
for
their kind donation of this race craft, to Team Rebels
for their gallant effort and thanks to Carl Johnson
for selling this Dagger kayak after the race to raise
additional funds for Rett research!
|
Team
Rebels in MN, at the start. L to R: Eric Kocher
is in the back position, Carl Johnson in the front!
Go Team Rebels!
|
Dagger
Kayak, graciously donated by Dagger for the race.
Carl Johson sold the kayak after the race to make
money for Rett Syndrome Research.
|
Paddle
hard!
|
More Race Pictures
Day
Before & Start:
Day
Before the Race - Getting Ready for the Race
Dinner
& Night before the Race - Rett Syndrome Families
host a Dinner for Teams
Morning Right Before
The Start - Last Minute Preparations
The Start - Teams
Draw Straws to Determine Order of Start,
Steve Landick Starts the Race,
During
the Race:
Team
Alaska
Team
Amazons of the Mississippi
Team
Double Helix
Team
Kruger
Team
Rebels with a Cause
Finish
Line/Last Day Photos:
Finish
line/day photo - Team Kruger is 1st, Team Double Helix
2nd, Team Alaska 3rd
More
Photos
River conditions,
bogs, floods, barges, and dangers
Race Boats - Photos
& Information
