The Grand Canyon is a centerpiece of the American river-running community. From rafts to kayaks to wooden dories, the hallowed walls of the great canyon in Arizona have long been a place where tradition is set.
And this weekend, tradition was broken when four kayakers established a new non-motorized speed record when they sprinted through the canyon at break-neck speed. According to Canoe &Kayak magazine, brothers Nate and Matt Klema both of Colorado and Idahoans Ryan Casey and Ben Luck, started at 4:30am on January 20th, and paddled their kayaks for 35 hours straight, breaking the old record of 36 hours and 38 minutes set in 1983 by Kenton Grua, Rudi Petschek, and Steve Reynolds in a wooden dory during a massive flood.
This is what it takes: Casey’s hands post-run.
The record has been challenged several times since: Harlan Tanney attempted the feat in 2012 but injured his elbow; and in 2015, Ben Orkin and Harrison Rea attempted to best the time but Orkin’s boat was damaged in Crystal Rapid, one of the canyon’s most significant drops.
And in a complete coincidence, Orkin put on Saturday to try and best the speed record just after the crew of four set the new mark.
“What are the odds two teams would try in one week?” Luck said of the obscure record. “This is shaping up like some kind of Shakespearean comedy.”
The kayakers had to average some 7.5 miles per hour during the course of 277 miles to best the record and Orkin is currently averaging 8. To reset the record, he must finish by 11:55 am PST, Sunday. You can follow his progress here.
