Up & Back Boat Race

UP & Back will be held in August 2025

 Wanted: Paddlers! This event offers a unique paddling experience up the South Llano River 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 in 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 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. 

 Pre-registration is strongly encouraged. Same day registration is $25 more and t-shirt sizes may be limited. 

 RIVER MAP

Prior years' race results are as follows: 

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.