UP & Back will be held on August 19-20, 2023
Wanted: Paddlers! This event offers a unique paddling experience up the South LlanoRiver then back down again. Inspired by kayaking enthusiasts and participants of Texas Water Safari boat racing events, the inaugural Up and Back Boat Race was held September 2, 2017 and marked the first kayak/canoe open boat race hosted on the South Llano River. Racers have 12 hours to finish the 35-ish mile course that both starts and ends at Lake Junction in the city's municipal park. Competitors boat up the South Llano River to the "First Crossing", turn around and boat back to the South Llano Bridge. Divisions include tandem, men's solo, women's solo, SUP and relay. Any man-powered craft is permitted. All racers who complete the race within the 12-hour time frame will be entered into the finisher's drawing for cash and other prizes. for a total race route of approximately 35-ish miles. The most challenging portion of the route is said to be paddling upstream through rapids and rocks.
Those who complete the event within the required 12-hour time frame are entered into a winner's raffle drawing for cash, a 6-man 39' racing canoe, and other great prizes. You do not have to finish first, just finish the race in within twelve hours in order to be eligible for this raffle. This year, anyone who can beat the current race record of 6 hrs 22 min gets put in an additional raffle for an additional cash prize!
For more information contact Hoyt Moss at 325-446-5087 or email Hilary Jackson at [email protected]
Entry fees are $40 solo, $70 tandem and $120 relay. Registration page is available on www.raceentry.com:
Pre-registration is strongly encouraged. Same day registration is $25 more and t-shirt sizes may be limited.
Mandatory check-in is Friday, August 18 from 5:30 - 7:30 pm at the Bloody Bucket Canoe and Kayak Rentals at 201 Main St, Junction. If you absolutely cannot attend check-in, please let us know so we can plan accordingly. Boats can put in at 8:30 am Saturday morning. Race begins at 9:00 am Saturday and must be completed by 9:00 pm Saturday in order to qualify for the finisher's drawing. Complimentary meal will be served Saturday evening.
Sunday, August 20 boasts the 2nd Annual Up and Back Kid’s Race, which also starts and ends at Lake Junction, but the turnaround point is Flatrock Crossing. See registration page for details.
$5 of every registration benefits the Junction Lions Club charities fund. Come enjoy our beautiful river and support a great cause!
Make checks payable to UP & BACK Boat Race.
UP & BACK
730 Main Street
Junction, Texas 76849
325-446-5087 (Hoyt Moss)
Prior years' race results are as follows:
|
Overall Place |
Recognition |
2017 |
Start |
Finish |
|
1 |
1st Men's Solo |
Ian Rolls |
9:00 AM |
4:59 PM |
|
2 |
1st Tandem |
Kipp Nickelson/Cody Hale |
9:00 AM |
6:48 PM |
|
3 |
2nd Tandem |
Hoyt Moss/Mark Hellinger |
9:00 AM |
7:04 PM |
|
4 |
2nd Men's Solo |
Jay Murr |
9:00 AM |
7:56 PM |
|
5 |
3rd Men's Solo |
Paul Black |
9:00 AM |
7:58 PM |
|
Overall Place |
Recognition |
2018 |
Start |
Finish |
|
1 |
1st Men's Solo |
Gaston Jones |
9:00 AM |
5:21 PM |
|
2 |
1st Tandem |
Hoyt Moss/Jay Jackson |
9:00 AM |
7:09 PM |
|
3 |
2nd Men's Solo |
Roy Strange |
9:00 AM |
8:37 PM |
|
Overall Place |
Recognition |
2019 |
Start |
Finish |
|
1 |
1st Men's Solo |
Will Leeds |
9:00 AM |
5:44 PM |
|
2 |
1st Tandem |
Hoyt Moss/Jay Jackson |
9:00 AM |
6:19 PM |
|
3 |
2nd Tandem |
Gaston Jones/Heather Epshtein |
9:00 AM |
6:39 PM |
|
4 |
3rd Tandem |
Michael Vandever/Tim Curry |
9:00 AM |
6:45 PM |
|
5 |
2nd Men's Solo |
Dyllon Sanford |
9:00 AM |
6:48 PM |
|
6 |
4th Tandem |
Mandy Bunting/Alex Taylor |
9:00 AM |
8:13 PM |
|
7 |
3rd Men's Solo |
Layne Townsend |
9:00 AM |
8:21 PM |
|
8 |
1st Women's Solo |
Candace Morrison |
9:00 AM |
8:22 PM |
|
9 |
4th Men's Solo |
Tarek Aly |
9:00 AM |
8:26 PM |
|
10 |
5th Men's Solo |
Duke Young |
9:00 AM |
8:48 PM |
|
Overall Place |
Recognition |
2021 |
Start |
Finish |
|
1 |
1st Men's Solo |
David Earnest |
9:00 AM |
4:32 PM |
|
2 |
2nd Men's Solo |
Will Leeds |
9:00 AM |
4:55 PM |
|
3 |
Ist Tandem |
Gaston Jones/Ian Rolls |
9:00 AM |
4:59 PM |
|
4 |
2nd Tandem |
Joshua Hulin/Susannah Hulin |
9:00 AM |
5:19 PM |
|
5 |
3rd Tandem |
Rocco Moses/Cody Taylor |
9:00 AM |
5:55 PM |
|
6 |
4th Tandem |
Hoyt Moss/Jay Jackson |
9:00 AM |
6:04 PM |
|
7 |
5th Tandem |
Austin Bodin/Aaron Zwahr |
9:00 AM |
6:14 PM |
|
8 |
6th Tandem |
Andrew Davis/David Kaiser |
9:00 AM |
6:31 PM |
|
9 |
3rd Men's Solo |
Daniel Currey |
9:00 AM |
6:42 PM |
|
10 |
7th Tandem |
Kipp Nickelson/Camron Parker |
9:00AM |
6:57 PM |
|
11 |
8th Tandem |
Kyle Manning/Jeremy Velazquez |
9:00 AM |
6:59 PM |
|
12 |
4th Men's Solo |
Nathan Glaiser |
9:00 AM |
7:01 PM |
|
13 |
9th Tandem |
Alex Taylor/Dana Gerber |
9:00 AM |
7:48 PM |
|
14 |
10th Tandem |
Bob Chapman/Jacob Chapman |
9:00 AM |
8:59 PM |
|
Overall Place |
Recognition |
2022 |
Start |
Finish |
|
1 |
Ist Tandem |
Gaston Jones/Ian Rolls |
9:00 AM |
3:22 PM |
|
2 |
1st Men's Solo |
Will Leeds |
9:00 AM |
4:56 PM |
|
3 |
2nd Tandem |
Jason Cade/Liia Dotzenko-Lewey |
9:00 AM |
5:19 PM |
|
4 |
3rd Tandem |
Kipp Nickelson/Camron Parker |
9:00AM |
6:48 PM |
|
5 |
1st Women's Solo |
Candace Morrison |
9:00 AM |
6:57 PM |
|
6 |
2nd Men's Solo |
Sterling Schmidt |
9:00 AM |
7:09 PM |
|
7 |
4th Tandem |
Duke Young/Jay Jackson |
9:00 AM |
7:12 PM |
|
8 |
5th Tandem |
Chad Keeth/Colton Moore |
9:00 AM |
8:03 PM |
|
9 |
6th Tandem |
Hoyt Moss/Guthrie Moss |
9:00 AM |
8:11 PM |
|
10 |
3rd Men's Solo |
Clay Scott |
9:00 AM |
8:29 PM |
September 2, 2017 was the first kayak/canoe open boat race hosted on the South Llano River. Inspired by kayaking enthusiasts and participants of the Texas Water Safari events, approximately 17 athletes participated in the event.
Race 2019:
1st - Will Leeds 8:44
2nd - Hoyt Moss & Jay Jackson 9:19
3rd - Gaston Jones & Heather Epstein 9:39
4th - Michael Vandever & Tim Curry
5th - Dyllon Sanford
6th - Mandy Bunting & Alex Taylor
7th - Layne Townsend
8th - CandaceMorrison
9th - Tarek Aly
10th Duke Young
D. J. Cagle & Bob Chapman
Race 2017:
16 competitors, 12 watercraft: 8 solo and 4 tandem. EVERY participant made it all the way UP to the first crossing to ring the bell! Several athletes chose to stop their race at that point considering the time needed to paddle back down river.A few other participants got out after going BACK down to the South Llano River State Park and one other finished at Flat Rock.The racers who did complete the adventure in its entirety withtin the 12 hour time-frame were:
1st Place - Ian Rolls of Dripping Springs with a time of 6 hours 59 minutes
2nd Place - Kipp Nickelson and Cody Hale of Junction with a time of 9 hours and 48 minutes
3rd Place - Hoyt Moss of Junction and Mark Hellinger of Wimberley with a time of 10 hours and 4 minutes
4th Place - Jay Murr of Cleo
5th Place - Paul Black of Martindale
Cash prize was $1000 with other prizes given in a drawing.