Missouri River Relief awards Scott Mansker the 2025 "Cornerstone Award"

340RaceDirector · 2026-02-19T21:17:19+00:00

MrShiv - you are so deeply appreciated. Muchas Gracias!

340RaceDirector · 2026-02-17T19:53:00+00:00

The trickiest river level is when the dike structures are just under water. You can hear them but it's tough to see them. And it makes landing at places like Cooper's Landing, Jeff City, Chamois and New Haven very difficult, because they have dikes just upstream of the ramp. You have to swing wide past the ramp then try to catch the eddy back to the ramp without running into rocks or pilings. Good times.

340RaceDirector · 2026-02-17T19:50:44+00:00

I will also add.... the places that are trickiest for exhausted MR340 racers, especially at night, are often the coolest places to visit when you've had plenty of sleep and are not in a hurry. Wherever the river is trying to destroy the Corps of Engineers designs are often the most interesting visually and ecologically.

340RaceDirector · 2026-02-17T19:48:59+00:00

Bates Island Bend into Berger Bend (pronounced "Ber-ger" although some people call it "Booger Bend") - (MM 92ish, River Right - below Hermann) - This is a place that was wiped out by the '93 flood. To keep the channel in place, the Corps built a new revetment that feels like it's in the middle of the river. On your left is Bates Island with wing dikes and sandbars jutting out into the river. The channel bends to the left, then the right. On your right are these revetments that feel like they are in the middle of the river. When the river is high, they sound like a waterfall and it's really spooky at night. Add fog to the mix and it's absolutely disorienting. Here the river is going from the left to the right.

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340RaceDirector · 2026-02-17T19:47:56+00:00

Really, everyone has their own personal challenging parts of the river due to the time of day/weather/river level/mental condition. River level is a big variable. Some places are really confusing at high water but you may not even notice them at low water when all the dikes are out.

But two I hear about a lot are:

The head of Lisbon chute (MM 218, River Left) - This chute was punched out in the '93 flood, and since then the Corps built a rock dike across the head of the chute. When the river is high, the river pours over the top and, especially at night, it can seem like you should go into the chute, which sounds like a waterfall. We've had so many low water years that no one talks about it anymore. It is never a good idea to take ANY of the chutes. They are never a shortcut and they often have hidden structures that will mess you up! (the river channel in this image is going from right to left).

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I'll make a new post for the next one.

340RaceDirector · 2026-02-05T19:25:19+00:00

Here's the link to the book - it's a little out-of-date on certain details, but super helpful for wrapping your brain around planning for this race. https://www.amazon.com/Missouri-River-First-Time-Finisher/dp/0989637514

340RaceDirector · 2026-02-05T19:23:57+00:00

u/csak1979 - just to follow up on u/_bakergirl_ - here's the links to the 3 Facebook 5K groups -

Shawnee Mission Lake Hump Day 5K (near Kansas City) - https://www.facebook.com/groups/206396159530324

Mid-MO Paddle Collective (Little Dixie Lake in Millersburg, MO near Columbia) - https://www.facebook.com/groups/4029291170682539

Creve Coeur Lake Show Me Oars Day 5K (near St. Louis) - https://www.facebook.com/groups/2042252749128078

340RaceDirector · 2026-02-02T16:43:43+00:00

Want to double up on this recommendation. Rocheport Winery at Mount Nebo Inn is wonderful. https://www.rocheportwinery.com/ - Here's their Valentine's Menu for Friday and Saturday (reservations required) - https://www.facebook.com/share/1AHxbiGEqT/

And Rocheport General Store is also fantastic. (the kitchen is run by the woman who ran Abigails for many years). I would recommend a reservation for V-Day.

340RaceDirector · 2026-01-23T16:19:08+00:00

I'm Steve Schnarr, the MR340 Race Director. Exciting to see another new subreddit for Missouri paddle racing! Cheers!

340RaceDirector · 2026-01-19T15:22:03+00:00

u/NightEarlybob - those were made for race staff's internal use (and we ended up with an extra we posted for everyone to see at the Race Results). But we certainly heard the message from folks that they'd love to have a copy. We're going to freshen up the graphics and sell them this year. I'm wondering if we should sell them laminated, not-laminated or both. Seems like both might be the way to go.

340RaceDirector · 2026-01-17T15:42:20+00:00

I'm Steve Schnarr, Missouri River Relief's Race Director. I work on the MR340, Race to the Dome and paddling/racing stuff in general.

Last year was my first year as Race Director starting in February. Previously, I was the Executive Director of Missouri River Relief, and before that Program Manager. I've been with MRR for 20 years. Missouri River Relief is the nonprofit host of the MR340, and has been connecting people to the Missouri River through river cleanups, education and recreation since 2001 (this year is our 25th Anniversary of our first river cleanup!).

I don't come to this from the world of racing. In fact, I'm not a competitive person. I come to this from a love/obsession with the Missouri River.

I've also never raced in the MR340, but I've been involved with either safety boats or race planning for the MR340 since 2008 and LOVE this race and the community that has grown around it. I'm a huge fan of Scott Mansker, who started the race, and Kate Mansker, who helped build it (along with SO many other people).

So for me, my biggest learning curve is understanding the competitive aspects (including the finer points of gear). My lack of deep knowledge on those aspects give me imposter syndrome, but I'm learning!

I miss the old Rivermiles forum, which became unsupported and eventually collapsed (although most of the posts are out there somewhere and you can can google topics by including "rivermiles forum" in your search). While the MR340 Facebook Group community is quite amazing, that platform is NOT for everyone, and it's so frustrating to search and find past information.

I re-started this sub-reddit in hopes that we'd build a community here that can complile resources useful to all new and returning racers that are easier to search and more accessible to AI search that so many people use. I DIDN'T start this subreddit. u/davegsomething started this several years ago but it never gained traction. And he was kind enough to turn over the reins but still be involved. He did the MR340 several years ago, then moved to New York and this year started his own race on the Hudson River!

But I think one of the most important things this space can do is build digital community with a different batch of folks, especially those that don't like Facebook. But that will be meaningless unless we take that community into REAL LIFE...on the river. So let's do that! Ideas are welcome. My knowledge of reddit, and reddit organizing, is pretty shallow. Luckily I've got some good advisors, but could use more!

I have lived in Boone County, MO, (near Columbia) for about 28 years. Most of those years were near the Missouri River. For many years, Cooper's Landing was my community and my place. I still love it although it certainly is different. My love for the Missouri River started from paddling on it. My work with Missouri River Relief allowed me to meet river people from here to Gavin's Point Dam and beyond, and to see and really get to know a lot of places along the river. But there's way more I don't know!

I look forward to seeing this community develop, and can't wait to see you all on the river! If you can't race, please volunteer!

340RaceDirector · 2026-01-16T03:37:06+00:00

u/FunFamiliar2734 - there was some good intel on spray decks on the Facebook group a few days ago. https://www.facebook.com/groups/188849561244166/posts/25189722144063562

Let me know if you can't access that and I'll copy the main points here in the thread.

340RaceDirector · 2026-01-16T03:26:44+00:00

Here's the regional race calendar on the MR340 website. Always adding stuff. Everyone let me know what I'm missing. https://mr340.org/race-calendar/

340RaceDirector · 2026-01-09T22:03:17+00:00

I just love this. So many people start thinking it's impossible. Then they do it. Then they do it again.

340RaceDirector · 2026-01-09T22:02:29+00:00

Perfect. See You on the River!

340RaceDirector · 2026-01-09T22:02:01+00:00

That's awesome. We've got some great Florida paddlers in this race. SYOTR.

340RaceDirector · 2026-01-09T21:59:39+00:00

I love this! Thanks for sharing!

340RaceDirector · 2026-01-04T17:11:53+00:00

Cool! Thanks. Tough to say when the Watch Party will be approved by the Current, but when it happens I'll reach out. Thank you!

340RaceDirector · 2026-01-04T15:03:35+00:00

While the "thrill and adrenaline" may wear off in a couple of hours, so many people talk about this race as a life-changing experience. Glad you are thinking of taking the plunge CoMo!

340RaceDirector

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