The Pre Race

Well, surprisingly the internet access along the race route was close to non existent. Our jungle inns lacked many amenities so wi-fi was not on top of the priority list. This post will sum up the last four days.

Pre-Race Meeting

The first thing I notice when we register is that La Ruta Maya River Race is for Belizians by Belizians. It is certainly an international race with international paddlers but the majority of participants are Belizian - which is how it should be. It is our first introduction into the Belizian paddling culture. Like Hawaiians, Belizians love the water, love to paddle, and love to share their culture with those lucky enough to spend time with them. Oh - and they are VERY competitive. 

At the meeting we learn all the race rules, all about the hazards, and what to expect. We learn that it is better to drink the river water than to get dehydrated because we can always deal with the amoebas later. You can start with 3 paddlers but if someone gets sick they can jump out of the boat and start again the net day. We also learn that the support boats may cause people to flip over but they are not doing it on purpose... lots of things to remember but that's what our team captain/steerswoman/travel agent/navigator Laurel needs to know. Jacinta and I, we just PADDLE HARDER!

At dinner the Belizian powerhouse women who have won every year for the last 10 years introduce themselves. I have been visualizing these women for about a month...Huge jungle women with arms as big as my calves...Laurel had her doubts because unlike outrigger paddlers the smaller you are the faster your boat runs.  When we meet the women we are shocked. They are beautiful and deceptively petite... and they LOVE paddling. The oldest sister is 25 the youngest is 17. The steerswoman has been steering the race since she was 13 - she is now 20. This is their turf and they know these waters better than anybody else. I am scared out of my mind about the days ahead and these young ladies appear calm and collected and definitely in their element. When we talk about our collective paddling experience I realize I have never paddled on a river with current and have never paddled more than 3.5 hours straight...and there are rapids, and crocodiles, and manatees, and river things!!! And oh yeah... I am scared of freshwater!  - but like Laurel keeps reminding me.. all I have to do is paddle she will take care of the rest. 

mc