The 2013 GAS Race (Gasconade River Race)

The GAS Race is a twenty-seven mile canoe and kayak race that is held on the Gasconade River in Pulaski County, Missouri. The race starts near Waynesville, at Gasconade Landing, with a beautiful view of Pikes Peak Bluff, and ends downriver at Boiling Spring. Along the way, paddlers pass the towering 250 feet high bluffs at Portuguese Point, one of the most scenic sections of the 280 mile Gasconade River.

Pike’s Peak Bluff in Pulaski County, Missouri, overlooks the confluence of the Roubidoux and Gasconade Rivers. The Roubidoux River is a popular trout stream and the Gasconade River is a popular fishing and float stream. The Gasconade River, approximately 280 miles long, snakes its way through Wright, Laclede, Pulaski, Phelps, Maries, Osage and Gasconade counties in the Ozark Mountains before emptying into the Missouri River. It is the longest river completely in the boundary of Missouri and has been coined “The World’s Crookedest River”. A twenty-seven mile stretch in Pulaski County is home to the annual GAS canoe and kayak race, modeled after the Missouri River 340 (MR340) Race.

But, these competitors will not have time to see a bit of that. With their eyes on the prize, and their blades (paddles) slicing through the water, these racers knock out what would normally take a recreational floater 27 hours to do, in just over four hours.

Competitors in the GAS River Race socialize and discuss strategy at Gasconade Landing, near Waynesville, Missouri, before putting paddles in the water.

Paddlers gather for a safety meeting shortly before race time. Safety is a priority in the twenty-seven mile race on the Gasconade River.

The GAS race course takes competitors through some of the most scenic sections of the Gasconade River, including Portuguese Point (not pictured), approximately seventeen miles from the race start.

After competing in the MR340 (Missouri River 340) race Team Aquaholics members Kevin Schwartz and Matt Green were inspired to host a race “on the most beautiful river in Missouri”. The GAS Race has called Pulaski County home for the last two years and we look forward to hosting them again in 2014!

The pack races under WWII Okinawa Veterans Memorial Bridge at the race start.

For more information about The GAS Canoe & Kayak Race please visit: http://theaquaholics.net/Home_Page.php
For more information about outdoor activities in Pulaski County please visit: http://www.PulaskiCountyUSA.com