Race the River: Mission Reach

The San Antonio River Authority, together with the San Antonio River Foundation, welcomes you to the 2026 Race the River Paddle Series!  Canoe and kayakers of all skill levels are invited to participate at each adventure race throughout the San Antonio River Basin.

The Mission Reach Race is the first race of the series.  This 7-mile pro race, or 5-mile amateur race, will take you through Texas’ largest ecological restoration project along the extension of the San Antonio Riverwalk.

An award ceremony and racer celebrations will follow each race.  Commemorative patches will be given to all finishers, and trophies will be given to top finishers of each category.

Required Equipment

• PFD: At the start of the race, each participant MUST wear, as recommended by the manufacturer, a properly sized, Coast Guard approved, Personal Floatation Device (PFD) of Type, I, II, III, or V and in good serviceable condition. Participants without a PFD will not be permitted to compete.
• Watercraft: Each participant is required to source their own watercraft for competition. Canoes or kayaks will not be provided by race organizers on the day of the event unless selected as an add-on during registration (Amateur Solo Only).
• Cell Phone: For safety and emergency purposed, we ask all competitors to keep their cell phone with them and powered on throughout the race. These will be used for contact in case of emergency but also will allow race organizers to track your progress along the race route via GPS. 

Watercraft Specifications

• This event is designated as a canoe/kayak race, however, each class is "unlimited" in regard to the craft a paddler brings to race
• There are no specified measurements competitors must abide by regarding watercraft shape, size, weight, etc.
• Each craft should be human powered and not interfere with other racers in an unfair way
• Gas or battery powered motors will not be permitted and if used will result in disqualification
• Race organizers retain the right to disqualify a craft that is deemed unsafe to participants, or outside the spirit of competition, at any time
• Inflatable boats of any kind are not permitted

Please contact race organizers if you have questions or to verify that a craft qualifies for this race

Race Categories

The event will be split into two categories

• Pro Category
  • This category is for you if you participated in a previous River Authority race or if you have competed with TCKRA in a paddle race. Expect stiff competition from your fellow experienced racers as you push for a podium finish. 
• Amateur Category
  • This category is for you if you are newer to paddle sports or an intermediate paddler looking to test your skills along a fun and quick course. Get a taste of competitive paddle sports and slight competition as you paddle for a top spot on the podium.

Racer Classes

Each Race Category will be split into 3 classes

• Men’s Unlimited
  • Single male racer. No restrictions on watercraft other than those specified under equipment regulations.
• Women’s Unlimited
  • Single female racer. No restrictions on watercraft other than those specified under equipment regulations.
• Tandem
  • Two racers (male or female). Both participants must travel together in the same craft for the entirety of the race. No restrictions on watercraft other than those specified in Watercraft Specifications.

Get Ready for Race Day!

Be prepared!  Read all the details below before race day.

Important Locations

• Racer Check-in: Roosevelt Park - 331 Roosevelt Avenue San Antonio, TX 78210
• Amateur Parking: Espada Park - 1715 SE Military Dr, San Antonio, TX 78214
• Pro Parking: Camino Coahuilteca Parking Lot
• Awards Ceremony: Espada Park

Parking and Shuttle

Please plan to arrive at Roosevelt Park early for check-in and boat drop-off. After dropping off your boat and paddling gear, you are asked to proceed to your designated parking location and return to the start line via shuttle. Amateur and Pro Racers can park near their respective finish lines of Espada Park and the Camino Caohuilteca River Crossing. The shuttles will be running approximately every 20 minutes from 8AM to 9:15AM. If you arrive late, you will be asked to remain parked near the start line and will need to arrange a ride for yourself following the race.

Race Route & Cutoff

Starting at Roosevelt Park, racers will paddle down-stream toward the finish lines.  At Confluence Park and Padre Park you will pass by Safety Checkpoints. These checkpoints are meant to ensure you are capable of continuing on with the race. If you are in need of assistance, need to replenish water supplies, or need to exit the race, these are safe locations to do so. All racers are required to reach their respective checkpoint no later than 12PM to avoid disqualification. 

Safety Considerations

This is an adventure race with limited access to assistance if required. Please keep this in mind as you prepare for race day. Be aware of your own fitness and paddling skill level. If you are a beginner or true novice, please consider this before setting off down the river. Be prepared for the weather and make sure you have enough drinking water to sustain you for the race. If you require assistance or need to exit the race, the checkpoints at Confluence, Padre, and Acequia Parks will be your best opportunity to do so mid-race. Please be aware of your surroundings and keep an eye out for your fellow racers. If you find yourself in an emergency and are unable to reach the safety checkpoint or finish line, stay put or make your way to a nearby walking trail and wait for assistance. Race staff will be sent down river if you have not met the cutoff time. 

Highly Recommended Equipment

• Minimum 2L of Drinking Water
• Sun Protection (Hat, Sunscreen, etc.)
• Gear for Removing Water from your Boat (Sponge, Bucket, Bilge Pump)
• Splash Skirt (If Using a Sit-in Kayak)
• Cell Phone 
• Hull Repair Gear (Duct Tape, Patches, etc.) 
• First Aid Kit

Post Race

Following your completion of the race, we invite you to join us at Espada Park for food, music, fun, and an awards ceremony to celebrate your finish! Check in at the awards table to receive your meal voucher and finisher patch. Make sure you stick around for the awards ceremony at 1PM. Even if you didn't place in the top three of your class, there is still a chance for you to be selected as Racer of the Day! You must be present to collect your trophy. If you leave early, your award may be passed down to the next racer. 

Racer Pack

By registering for this event, racers will receive:

• Chance to compete for a podium finisher trophy
• Commemorative Race the River: Mission Reach Patch
• Customized Race Bib with boat name and assigned bib number
  
• Entry into a Racer of the Day opportunity drawing
• One meal voucher

Awards

Podium finishers and Racer of the Day for each racer class will receive:

• 1st Place – Commemorative Trophy
• 2nd Place – Commemorative Trophy
• 3rd Place – Commemorative Trophy
• Racer of the Day – and Commemorative Trophy 

The awards ceremony will take place at approximately 1PM or when all racers have completed the race. All winners must be present to collect trophy. 

• All participants enter this race of the Race the River Paddling Race Series at their own risk. The San Antonio River Authority, its officers, directors, employees, agents, volunteers, licensees, successors, and assigns, as well as associated with the San Antonio River Foundation and any other race judges, officials, and sponsors, will be released and held harmless from and for any and all claims, demands, actions, and causes of action whatsoever and will not be liable for accidents to personnel or damage to any property or equipment.
• All participants must register online and must check-in and sign a participation waiver before the start of each race. A parent or legal guardian must sign the waiver for participants under 18.
• The minimum age for solo participants is 16 years of age. For tandem teams, the minimum is 12 years of age or older, and at least one of the two participants on a tandem team must be at least 18 years of age.
• You will receive an email from the River Authority confirming your online registration. River Authority will provide all necessary information to participants through email after online registration is completed.
• A registration fee per person per race is required. The registration fees will be a donation to the San Antonio River Foundation, which is the nonprofit organization associated with the River Authority.
• Entry fees are final and there are no refunds or deferments.
  In the event this race is postponed by the San Antonio River Authority:
  • Postponement dates will be published as soon as feasible.
  • Postponements will not result in refunds or deferments
• During online registration, participants can pick a custom boat number. Please provide three options, in order of preference. Boat numbers are up to four numerals long without leading zeros. If all preferred choices are selected or you registered after the custom bib deadline of May 14th, a number will be assigned at random.
• It is the responsibility of participants to affix the assigned boat number to each side of the bow of their boat. If a participant chooses to use their own numbers, the numbers must be at least 4" in height and be made of reflective material of a contrasting color from the boat. Boat numbers will be checked prior to the start of each race. If a boat finishes the race without numbers, the racer may be disqualified.
• All race day information, including location, check-in details, race start time, and other pertinent information will be emailed to participants prior to the race.
• It is not the responsibility of River Authority race officials to determine whether a race participant is able to safely continue, or pull out of the race, due to health or other related issues. It is the sole responsibility of each race participant to make the determination to inform race officials if and when a solo participant or tandem team has a serious medical condition, if their location on the river is in doubt, or if their craft is damaged and unable to safely continue. Once contacted, race officials will determine if it is necessary to initiate a rescue effort. If any participant, at any time, feels that an emergency requires a rescue effort, he/she should immediately contact 911.
• Relays in any form are prohibited.
• All supplies, equipment, and items of repair must be in the possession of each solo participant or tandem team at the start of the race.
• Solo participants and/or tandem teams may not receive help or assistance of any kind during any of the races associated with the San Antonio River Basin Race Series, except for the following:
  Support crews may provide the participants food, ice, drink, or medical materials only at the designated checkpoints. Only re-usable mesh bags may be used to provide the participants food, ice, drink, or medical materials. Food Items may be individually waterproofed in seal-a-meal type bag or zip-lock bag;
• Intentional interference with the progress of another participant during the race will be grounds for disqualification.
• The use of pace boats (i.e., crafts that are paddled or powered that follow or lead participants for the purpose of providing any type of support, including wake riding, drafting, or accompanying participants to “keep them up”) is not permitted and may result in disqualification.
• Deliberate littering of the river is grounds for disqualification. Participants should keep their trash in their craft and hand it over to persons at designated checkpoints and/or at the completion of the race.
• Participants may be subject to spot checks at any time by race officials and failure to follow the rules as outlined in the terms and conditions section may result in disqualification.
• Formal protests made by any participant must be submitted to the River Authority by no later than 12:00 p.m. on the Wednesday immediately following the race.
• In formulating the rules that govern the San Antonio River Basin Race Series, every effort has been made to foresee all situations and problems that might arise; however, officials of the San Antonio River Authority retain the right to change or amend these rules at any time without liability or recourse from any party regardless of the circumstances. Should such changes or amendments be made, all entrants will receive notification of same.

• Racer Check-in Location: San Antonio River Flood Control Tunnel Outlet - 331 Roosevelt Ave. San Antonio, TX 78210
• Racer Check-in Time: 8AM-9:15AM
• Race Start Time: 10AM
• Amateur Race Cutoff: 12PM at Padre Park Safety Checkpoint
• Amateur Race Finish: Espada Park 
• Pro Race Cutoff: 12PM at Espada Park Portage
• Pro Race Finish: Camino Caohuilteca River Crossing 
• After Party: Espada Park 
• Awards Ceremony: 1PM or When All Racers Have Arrived