410 mile kayak/canoe race starts in Shreveport

A new uber marathon for paddlers, the 410 de Louisiane, is set to start in Shreveport Sunday, Sept. 27, and end in Berwick on the Atchafalaya River Sunday, Oct. 4.
The 410 – for 410 miles – actually consists of two separate stand-alone races very different in character.
Tour de la Rivière Rouge is a round-the-clock adventure race for accomplished long-distance paddlers. It goes from Shreveport to Port Barre in St. Landry Parish via the Red River, Atchafalaya River and Bayou Courtableau – 275 miles to be paddled inside of 100 hours.
Tour du Teche 135, a multi-faceted race now in its sixth year, is a three-day staged race with finish lines each day and times accumulative. With divisions for highly trained athletes and everyday recreational paddlers – and one-day side races for the less committed – TDT 135 (miles) goes from Port Barre to St. Martinville on Friday, Oct. 2; St. Martinville to Franklin Saturday, Oct. 3; and Franklin to Berwick on Sunday. Oct. 4.
String them together and you have the 410 de Louisiane, a unique event designed to attract the attention of serious canoe and kayak racers around the world, foster low-impact outdoor recreation, and give Louisianans a better appreciation for the great natural beauty and riverine heritage of the state.
Tour du Teche 135 has been an economic engine for communities along Bayou Teche, a regional tourist attraction, and an effective program for promoting and protecting the bayou as a natural and cultural resource. Since the race began, Bayou Teche has been designated a National Paddle Trail by the U.S. Park Service and a National Water Trail by the U.S. Interior Department. The Chitimacha Nation is building a new park on the bayou. There are commercial kayak liveries on the Teche, and government-funded kayak launch pads at various spots. The colorful boats are much more in evidence, in the water and on roof racks, and with them come a high grade of tourists, well-heeled and ecologically sensitive.
The TECHE Project, which spawned Tour du Teche, conducts periodic clean-ups of the bayou. The City of St. Martinville has created a bayou-side park as a venue for festivals as well as a finish/start for the Tour. The Town of Leonville built a launch ramp that has become a focal point for the town. The City of Berwick has turned the Tour du Teche finish into its annual festival.
The Red River race adds a whole new dimension in terms of challenge, culture and heritage.
For more information, visit www.tourduteche.com, email ken@techetoday.com or call (337) 394-6232 and ask for Ken.