This Saturday, four members of the uShip team will embark on an epic journey through the Texas wilderness. The race, the Texas Wildlife Safari, has been called the World’s Toughest Canoe Race–and, with 100 teams racing 262 miles day and night in under 100 hours, I don’t think you will get a lot of argument!
This year promises to be the most challenging year to date. Because of record low rainfall across Texas, water levels on the San Marcos and Guadalupe rivers are 50% lower than at any other time in the 32 year history of the race. This means that in addition to battling 100 degree temperatures, water moccasins and alligators, the team will have to deal with a dried up and slow river.
The uShip team, aptly named Succession Plan (yes, our valiant CEO is part of the team), will leave dock at 9am tomorrow morning. As this is their first year competing, their goal is to finish under the 100 hour cut-off – no small feat given that fewer than 50% of the teams will finish. Teams must carry all of their own gear in the boat, and can only get water and ice from their trusted team managers/captains.
All of us at uShip wish our uShip sponsored team the best. For those that want to track the progress of the brave (and yes, somewhat crazy) team, please follow them on their GPS tracking page which will go live tomorrow. You can also follow uShip on Twitter for in-race updates from the team managers at @uship.
And now, please meet the mighty six person ‘Team Succession Plan’:
Team Managers/Captains
Caitlin Marr – Product Associate
Gillian Smith – Office Manager
Boat Crew
Matt Chasen – CEO
Andy Michaelis – Sr. Web Developer
Michael Foroobar – Sr. SRA Associate
Michael Holt -- Controller
