What could go wrong? One crew, one canoe and 230 miles of determination
SAN MARCOS (KXAN) -- When Michael Lombard, Billy Roosa, and their two other friends signed up for the 2025 Texas Water Safari, they knew it would be grueling. Billed as the 'World’s Toughest Canoe Race,' the 230-mile paddle from San Marcos to Seadrift tests strength, endurance, and a whole lot of grit. Typically, the race is 260 miles long, but due to recent rain in June, the river was too high for participants to navigate this year.
So naturally, they named their team: What Could Go Wrong. Turns out… quite a bit.
A Rocky Start
Just half a mile into the race, their canoe struck an obstacle, suffering a puncture hole before they even made it out of San Marcos. Patching the hole delayed the team.
"We had taken out the boat for a couple of training runs before the race, and we dinged and dented it. I think we removed some of the armor," Lombard said.
When It Rains…
The repair held, but the river didn’t get any kinder. A storm rolled in on day two, drenching the pair and turning already sketchy currents into swirling chaos. The downpour soaked their gear, slowed their pace, and made already slippery portages even more treacherous.
“Out there, it doesn't matter how physically fit you are, you have to be able to roll with the punches, and I was glad to have the team around me because those dudes can take a lot of punches," Roosa said.
Sleep? What’s That?
Paddling almost nonstop, the two survived on catnaps along muddy banks and under tarps at checkpoints. And for restroom breaks, well, the four men got creative.
Still, mile by mile, they pushed through fatigue, mud, and muscle cramps.
The Final Blow
By the time they reached mile 230, race officials delivered the gut punch: the final 30 miles were closed. Heavy rains had flooded the river, making the last stretch too dangerous for even experienced teams.
Finish Line Redefined
While they didn’t touch Seadrift’s shore, their 230-mile journey still earned them official recognition as finishers, and more importantly, lifelong bragging rights. The crew accomplished what they said they were going to do, and they did it in about 60 hours. The first-place team reached the finish line about half that time.
"Think about drilling a well," Roosa said. "We have all drilled our wells at different depths. If your well is not as deep as others, don't be discouraged by that. We are all much more capable than we believe."
Their story, like so many in the Texas Water Safari, is a reminder that finishing doesn’t always mean reaching the physical end; it means refusing to give up when everything’s trying to stop you.
"Before the start of the race, I told myself I'm looking forward to meeting the man I haven't met yet at the finish line," Lombard said. "There is a version of me that doesn't exist yet, and I have an opportunity to meet that person, but I have to go through this to meet him."