Ruta Maya race; no easy paddle

Tonight bruised muscles are still being massaged and many a back are still sore, the result of the strenuous strokes invested in the La Ruta Maya competition over the weekend. Sheer determination and mental and physical strength brought all the teams over the finish line. When the race left the Hawkesworth bridge, on March 3rd, over 70 canoes were in the water, but by day four, nineteen teams had dropped out, with some participants even requiring cortisone shots. News Five was able to capture the start and finish and some of the stress in between. Here’s an in depth report of “La Ruta Maya” and all that it implies.

Janelle Chanona, Reporting

“La Ruta Maya” might be the way the Mayans got to Belize City from Cayo, but just because times have changed doesn’t mean things have gotten easier. Three years ago, a number of people in Cayo became concerned about the environmental condition of the Macal and Belize Rivers and decided a canoe race would be just the thing to promote cleaner waters. But this isn’t any quick paddle; the route covers just over 174 miles of twists and bends, rocks and rapids. But that scary setting hasn’t kept competitors away. Every year the sign up sheet has gotten longer and longer. Eager to get started, it’s still dark when most of the paddlers put their canoes into the water. At the start of this year’s race, competitors were optimistic, realistic and some were just a little naive.

Janelle Chanona

“What made you want to be involved in Ruta Maya?”

Andrew Wade, Amateur Paddler

“Just for the experience, never really had anything to do this weekend.”

David Singleton, Team BATSUB

“We’re doing it for the enjoyment. It’s going to be a great four days, it’s going to be a hard few days but we’re going to enjoy ourselves.”

Janelle Chanona

“Is it anything like the army?”

David Singleton

“Ask me at the end. (Smiles)”

Cathy Barothy, Amateur Paddler

“This is our first time go around so we are going to be safe and make it to the end.”

And when the gun went off, there was NO holding back and the bow to bow battle for station prizes along the way began. But with close to $40,000 in cash and prizes at stake, it would be easy to put the environmental aspect in the back seat of the boat but organizer Richard Harrison says each stroke is symbolic of saving the river and the rainforests.

Richard Harrison, Competition Organizer

“We are still remaining focused on the tripod principles, the themes we have used to promote the event. One is that we are promoting an understanding and appreciation for the ecology of the Belize Old River. That we are doing this year in conjunction with the Belize Audubon Society, Birds without Borders, Prosser Fertilizer, Radio Ritmo and the University College of Belize.”

As the canoes wound it’s way down towards Belize City, mahogany trees were planted at each village and the Belize Audubon Society counted birds to compare with last year’s figures. But between the birds and the trees, it was disappointing to see the garbage left along the banks of the river and in the water for everyone to see.

Nevertheless, the paddling persisted despite what had to be severe pain in every major muscle group. Nightly stops were at Banana Bank, Bermudian Landing, Boom and finally, just when it seem like it would never come, Belize City came into focus on the horizon. The win wasn’t dramatic, but only because of their commanding lead and for team Black Rock, finishing first was the perfect end to a grueling ordeal. The triumphant team say they could have gone on for longer.

Leroy Romero, Team Black Rock, Champions 2000

“Still ready. Still could go.