Which paddle for the worlds longest "Non-Stop" river race?

MR340 Gear (toys)

An average of 350 boats starting at the bumpy confluence of the Kansas and Missouri Rivers. The buildings of Kanas City in the background. (Drone video of the race start)

Too late to worry:

"Had I chosen the correct gear?" 

The jittery exciting pre-start of the MR340 and around all around you see the widest selection of paddles and boats than one could imagine: of the paddles-creatively carved angled wooden paddles, feather light carbon fiber paddles and study but heavy aluminum & plastic paddles from the big box stores. Classic canoe paddles. Even a few venturous souls with narrow Greenland style paddles.

Everyone looked so confident, and so the nagging question: "Had I chosen the correct gear?" 

Note: after completing three of these paddle adventures: I recognize the "Confident demeanors" that arise from the fact that most paddlers had practiced and were confident they would complete the race. The statistics of failure was for those 'other paddlers'

Required equipment & suggested stuff....

Jefferson City Bridge

So what type of paddle to use to torture your body for 340 miles? Or as I prefer to think of it: 18-20 hours of strokes day and night for four, four days?


Well of course the bottom line of what's in your wallet may determine the type of paddle or -your better half may balk at the expense of a high tech blade. However in my opinion it would be foolish not in invest in an expensive carbon fiber blade.

Find one as light as possible.(what is the grammar rule for when using the word light or lite?)

I have completed three MR340 races coming in to the finish line at around 78 hours (near last place) but feeling fairly refreshed because I had slept and I had a light blade. 

Muddy River and an Carbon blade!


Being at the back of the pack each time I was able to watch those who were struggling to the finish line.

And often those paddlers were wielding a blade as heavy as a Viking battle axe (or at least that is how it felt to them after paddling across the state of Missouri.)

It may sound like common sense to obtain a light blade however many paddlers on the muddy Missouri adventure fail to do so.


My shoulders were tired & sore from swinging my ultra light Werner or my Epic wing blade --but the folks swinging heavy blades from Walmart or Dicks? Blisters and pain. The MR340 race page has plenty of scary blister photos.

--Of course if your are trained to use those heavy beasts...... Go for it.

Carbon fiber benefits:

Besides being light

Ability to "Feather" (Twist) the blade

Breaks in half for travel to and from the races.

Ergonomic shaped shaft

Shorten or lengthen to fit you body for maximum efficiency 


And the price? The outrageous ridiculous tear-driving, hair pulling price? The cost of the carbon fiber blades are divorce fighting words, in another time you could have sold your soul cheaper.

Horrifying expensive & worth every penny

Wing blade Morning on a Florida Spring River 

Horrifying, disturbingly expensive & worth every penny.

FYI, I am not pushing the Epic paddle, -that just happens to be the only photos I have. (Werners and Epics)

Suwanee River in the rain & carbon fiber blade



Big box store paddles: Heavy and strong.

Use them on the 340 Missouri River race? ....well look at the MR340 web forum and admire the GIANT palm blisters after swinging these paddles for 340 miles.

To be fair:

The Benefits of the big box store paddles:

The price cannot be beat.

They divide in half for easy storage and travel

The big plastic blades push a lot of water

They are nearly indestructible. (The big box store kayak blade I own?)  -I found on the road near Haulover canal after falling out of a fishing kayak.




Wing blade morning reflection upon a reflection



Story from our last race: A Midwest tornado?



Return Home from Which Paddle for the MR340 page



Do you need the perfect gift?

For pet lovers around the globe, "It's a Matter of Luck" is a collection of heart warming stories of horse rescues from the slaughterhouse. 

Available on Amazon: 



Kim ryba

It's a Matter of Luck: Inspirational, Heartfelt Stories of Horses Given a Second Chance.

by Kim Ryba & Lina T. Lindgren

Warning: This book may cause your eyes to water in a good way. (speaking from experience after reading it)

Please give Kim and Lina a heartfelt review on Amazon!



Author Bruce Ryba

Author Bruce Ryba at Kennedy Space Center Launch Pad 39B & Artemis 1. "We are going to the Moon!"

Author's discussion (that's me) on You Tube of a book review on Amazon


For the video versions of information, please check out my YouTube Channel (Turkeys, Flintknapping, dive stories etc.)


My fictional series/stories on Florida history:

Freedoms Quest (book one)
Struggle for the northern frontier and other lost tales of old Florida. 

Available on Amazon

End of Empire

Desperate times call for bold action.
In a desperate move to retain Florida and protect the treasure-laden galleons on their dangerous return journey to Europe, the King of Spain issues a royal decree offering refuge to all English slaves who escape Florida and pick up a musket to defend the coquina walls of Saint Augustine.
In another bold gamble, the King offers refuge to the dissatisfied Indian nations of the southeast who will take up arms against the English.
Clans, traumatized by war and disease, cross the Spanish Frontier to settle the cattle-rich land and burned missions of Florida.

Follow the descendants of the conquistador Louis Castillo in remote Spanish Florida, a wild and swept by diseases, hurricanes, and northern invasions.

 Book Two: Available on Amazon!