Nearly 700 people signed up for this year’s MR340 Race down the Missouri River

Nearly 700 people signed up for this year’s MR340 Race down the Missouri River

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Nearly 700 people signed up for this year’s MR340 Race down the Missouri River

Chronicle: Race For The River is an in-depth and action-packed special following this year's MR340 racers from start to finish in Missouri's ultimate test of endurance and strength.

Nearly 700 people signed up for this year’s MR340 race down the Missouri River.

It’s the longest continuous paddling race in the world and starts in Kansas City and finishes 340 miles later in St. Charles.

That number represents an outstanding rise in the number of people paddling the Big Muddy since the race began in 2006.

“It's so gratifying to see, now, on any given weekend to see people out paddling canoes, kayaks, stand-up paddleboards [on the Missouri River]. Which you never saw that in the ‘80s and ‘90s,” Race founder Scott Mansker said. “Now they're everywhere, so it's cool to see to see the sport just take off around here.”

The race is also credited with helping introduce more people to paddling across Kansas City.

“So that's been the best part,” Mansker said. People learning it [the Missouri River] is a recreational option right here. You don't have to drive to Lake of the Ozarks. You don't have to drive to Florida. You've got this opportunity to get out on the water right here.”

That interest in paddling can also be seen every Wednesday night at Shawnee Mission Lake. That’s where dozens of kayakers, canoers and stand-up paddleboarders gather for a 5k race.

72-year-old Frank Dreiling, who is here so often he’s been dubbed the Mayor of Shawnee Mission Park, says the 5k founder Rob Raucci helps keep that awareness going.

“They're awesome,” he said about the 5k race. “Rob does a great job of getting us our times. I can go back – I started actually racing paddleboard in 2015 - and I can go back at any time and see on a Wednesday night what my time was, what board I was paddling, how hot it was, and what my speed was. So, he's just responsible for all this group, really."

Many MR340 racers spend their Wednesday nights here to tune up in the weeks leading up to the big race. More and more people keep showing up to both the Wednesday races and to the MR340.

“Yeah, the growth,” said Mansker. “It shocks me every January 1st when we open up registration and just a flood of people I've never met before signing up to jump in the Missouri River and race."

The growth of paddle sports here in Kansas City likely won’t slow down anytime soon.

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