My friends at Pau Hana Surf Supply are in San Ignacio, Belize for the race of their lives, La 
Ruta Maya River Challenge! La Ruta Maya Belize River Challenge is a grueling multi-day canoe race traveling a perilous river route across Belize. The route runs West to East along the Macal and Belize Rivers, in the foothills of the Maya Mountains, and the bustling port of Belize City. With 170 miles of river racing, it is more than just a race!
The Pau Hana crew, Todd Caranto and Royce Hanamaikai, are already in Belize with trainer, Nick Troutman and racer, Shane Perrin for prerace preparations in San Ignacio. Shane is currently training on a stand-up paddleboard, PauHana Big EZ, in Class 2/3 rapids for the race. He was asked in late January to take on this race so it only gave him five weeks of training. The race is 170 miles spread out over four days. Day one is 50 miles; day two is 60 miles; day three is 35 miles, and day four is 25 miles. While racing, Shane will not have ground support, which means that he’ll be carrying everything he needs for the entire day on the board.
After each day’s mileage is complete, they are going to get the people of Belize out on paddleboards so they can experience it for the first time. Todd, co-owner of Pau Hana Surf Supply, is the mastermind behind the entire trip. He set everything up and contracted a film crew to capture the whole experience in a documentary.
Pau Hana Surf Supply are really breaking new ground with this expedition. In the race’s 15 year history, there have only been three man canoes allowed to enter. Shane is the first stand-up paddle boarder allowed to race.
Stay tuned for the results of Shane’s first race, La Ruta Maya!
Check out the prerace preparation photos in San Ignacio
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- A suspension bridge over the Belize river, right at a new standing wave they discovered and rode. They named it Angry Ant. — in San Ignacio, Belize.
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- The British team, “The Pink ladies”. They’ll be participating in the La Ruta Maya as recreational paddlers. It’s their first race, and for most, their first time to canoe. — in San Ignacio, Belize.
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- “The Pink Ladies” wrapped their canoe on their first run. — in San Ignacio, Belize.
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- The Belize river. This is what Shane will be Paddling down. — in San Ignacio, Belize.
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- Jessica setting up the long shot. The first team to reach this bridge after the start will win $500. The distance is about 900 feet. It’s got a strong current and a lot of canoes wreck at this point. — in San Ignacio, Belize.
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- Nick Troutman ordering at Hanna’s; he doesn’t look worried at all. — in San Ignacio, Belize.
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- A fruit stand in the town market. — in San Ignacio, Belize.
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- Nick Troutman, left, and Shane Perrin on the right getting mic’d up before the first shoot. — in San Ignacio, Belize.
Wow! How exotic and adventurous!
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Wow Great! thks.
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Very cool!!! Sounds like an amazing race. Paddle boarding with the locals sounds like fun too!
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Pau Hana is certainly making the most of the experience. What a great opportunity for the locals. 🙂
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Wow, that is a extreme venture. 170 miles is a lot to cover in just 4 days. I wish them well!
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What a truly blessed and amazing life you lead, and thanks for letting us all share in it with you, and to live vicariously through you!
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Wow what an adventure! Good luck!
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I have completed 3 day white-water canoing trips, but never a 170 mile RACE! Oh, my what an adventure through such beautiful country! Bless you for sharing all these photos! I feel afloat right now!
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I will keep the posts coming on this event. Pau Hana Surf Supply is a company with such strong passion and commitment that I can’t help but feel connected to them. Although I can’t be there with them since my next trip will be to the hospital to deliver my baby girl, I will be following them closely on this journey.
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Extreme sports? OMG
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I know, right? I can’t imagine it, but I look forward to hearing all about it from Shane. Pau Hana is making dreams come true! I admire their adventurous spirit and hope to join them on a future journey.
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What a GREAT adventure for all of us to follow! Thank you. Btw, I can tell you that motherhood will be your best journey yet! I’m excited to hear the exciting news of the birth of your baby girl!
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Thank you! I can’t wait to experience new cultures, countries, and adventures with her, and my husband, at my side.
🙂
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Awesome!
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I’ve always wanted to visit Belize.
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Me too! Hopefully, that desire will be met soon 🙂
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Another great trip.
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Super fun. I can’t wait to see how it goes!
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I’ll post again as soon as I get additional information.
Stay tuned,
Lesley
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Thanks for the reblog support 🙂
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I’m coming along for the adventure but will be staying dry and warm. Thanks. Sounds awesome.
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I’ve been to la Riviera Maya but did not make it as far south as Belize. I will be adding it to my travel bucket list as well. Best of luck with your little one – motherhood is the ultimate adventure!
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I was in Riviera Maya two years ago and I loved it! Then, we were in Costa Rica and Nicaragua last summer, but we missed Belize. My husband wants to scuba dive there so I’m assuming it will appear on our list within the next couple of years.
I hope you make it there as well.
Lesley
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How exciting to try this adventure! I admire people who give it their all!
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Shane is certainly giving his all. I can’t wait to see how he does.
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Man, that place is beautiful. I don’t know that I’d ever get any more done that staring at the scenery with my mouth open (maybe with an anti bug screen in front of it) Good luck!
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What an adventure! This is so much more exciting than my homework…..Thanks for stopping by my blog.
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Great posting. I think I enjoy your blog postings because they afford me a break from my paper shuffling and urban reality: Great stuff!… 🙂
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I’ll have an update shortly. It’s always time for a little shuffling break 😉
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I agree with the above comments! Your blog provides me with a perfect excuse to take a 10 minute break, have a cup of coffee and enjoy the wonderful adventures other people have from the comfort of my chair…just picturing the insects on that Belize river adventure gives me an anxiety attack!
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Although I love traveling and adventure, insects have always been my weak point. I struggle while camping and trekking through the woods.
It’s always worth it though!
🙂
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Great post. I look forward to reading more about this adventure. I do enjoy the outdoors but at the end of the day I need all the comforts of home – indoor plumbing, hot and cold running water and my bed.
You and your blog are very inspiring which is why I nominate you for the Very Inspiring Blogger Award. You can check it out on my site. Here is the short link – http://wp.me/p1hKSW-UL
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Thank you! It’s encouraging to be nominated for this award and I appreciate your readership.
Have a great weekend and stay tuned for adventure updates.
🙂
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That’s a real adventure … I don’t know how you find time to blog and to visit others as mine … you are wonderful 🙂
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Sometimes it can be a full time job, but the rewards are worth it. I love discovering new blogs and articles/posts/photos that catch my interest.
There’s a world of adventure right before my eyes.
🙂
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That’s is true: the adventure is always where others can not see it… 🙂 good luck!
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Fantastic!
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How is the female team from Texas doing?
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I’ll ask today when speaking with my friends 🙂
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This looks like quite an amazing expedition to take. Will have to put this one on my Bucket List.
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good luck, i did the race last year! It was a great achievement having never paddled before and only getting 8 weeks training in. We Team Pic n Mix managed to finsih 3rd in the LAdies catergory too!! Will be at the finish line this year, cheering everyone in – and this time won’t be knaackered!!
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Go team Pau Hana!
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thanks Pau Hana for being part of the BTL cobb’s arm team. hope to see next year for another great adventure.
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Wow this pushes extreme to the limit (170 miles in 4 days) I wish them the best of luck. I think this will definitely be an outstanding and memorable adventure! Belize always looks so beautiful and there is such an amazing variety of flora and animals to see I would love to scuba there someday.
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This is great. I have been to Belize twice via a boat cruise and was only able to take a short tour, but I have fallen in love with the place and the people. My goal is to take my children. It was wonderful to see a different side of the country.
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Pretty cool. I’ve been to Belize, but it was a little calmer than this. It’s a great little destination.
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#BulaFijiAirways
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