Scott Miller at Canoecopia 2024

Canoecopia is presented by

Presenting Sponsor

Location
Alliant Energy Center
1919 Alliant Energy Way
Madison, Wisconsin

Show Hours
Friday: 3 PM to 8 PM
Saturday: 9 AM to 6 PM
Sunday: 10 AM to 4 PM

Tickets
1-Day: $15.00
3-Day: $30.00
Ages 17 and under are FREE
Cash or check only for tickets purchased at the event

Parking Fees
1-Day: $8.00
Cash or credit, fees collected by Alliant Energy Center

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mississippispeedrecord.com

Scott Miller of Minneapolis, MN, is the leader of team “Mississippi Speed Record”. He has paddled over 10,000 miles in his life. In 2005 he paddled from Minneapolis to Hudson Bay, following the path of Eric Sevareid as recounted in Sevareid’s book “Canoeing with the Cree”. Scott was the leader of a 2020 attempt to set the Mississippi Speed Record that held a 7 hour lead over record pace but was thwarted by a storm near New Orleans. He is the founder and race director for the Mississippi River Paddle Weekend (June 7-9, 2024) which has races and tours of various lengths on the river in Minnesota just north of the Twin Cities. For more information see twopaddles.org. Scott lives with his wife Heidi in south Minneapolis and works as a Registered Nurse at the University of Minnesota hospital. Judson Steinback of La Crosse, WI, developed his love of paddling when he was a child, fishing with his family and friends from row boats, canoes, and kayaks.. Judson has won the Master’s Class Men’s and Mixed-Gender USCA C-2 National Championships, placed 14th in the Ruta Maya Belize River Challenge, 3rd overall in the Adirondack 90 miler (C-2), and has top 40 finishes (including 29th overall and 1st in the Rookie Class) in the AuSable River Canoe Marathon with Dan Goltz. Judson also organizes the Goose Island Grind, a local Canoe/Kayak/SUP race in his hometown of La Crosse as well as weekly paddle races designed to meet the needs of both new and experienced paddlers alike. Judson lives with his partner Daniela Montañez and two daughters, Julia and Jayda, and their dog Murphy. He loves to explore, travel, and adventure with them. When not training and racing canoes, you can find Judson fly fishing, mountain biking, cross country skiing, schlepping his kids to show choir and dance, or designing and running projects for his landscaping company. Paul Cox, from Atlanta, Georgia, has 20+ years of experience in ultra-distance racing. Early top paddling performances included a third-place finish in the tandem division of the Yukon River Quest and a second-place finish in the Texas Water Safari mixed tandem division. More recently, Paul won the Great Alabama 650 twice and set the course record with Mississippi Speed Record teammate Joe Mann, and placed first overall in a 4-person boat with Joe in the 2023 Missouri River 340.Paul, a digital media editor and operations manager, has also been a kayak & outdoor recreational skills instructor and still enjoys trail running and mountain biking in the cold months. He and his wife, Lisa, have two children — a daughter in high school and a son who recently graduated from college. Wally Werderich of Yorkville, Illinois has lead a life that is never too far away from a river or a paddle. Learning to canoe through the Boy Scouts when he was seven years old, Wally has had a lifetime of river adventures. Wally has competed in multiple United States Canoe Association National Championships and many of the largest canoe races throughout the country. Some of the finishes that Wally is most proud of are, his two top three finishes in the Missouri River 340, his two class wins in the Texas Water Safari, his three class wins and top three finishes in the Tour De Teche, his class win in the Everglades Challenge, his two United States Canoe Association stock C1 national championships, and his AuSable River Canoe Marathon finish. Wally’s wife Belem and his Mom and Dad are also often with Wally on his canoe adventures. His whole family competes with the St. Charles, Canoe Club (IL). While not confirmed, it is rumored that Wally is a member of the legendary Los Humungos Paddleos masked luchador canoe racing team. If asked, Wally will tell you that he makes his living carrying Los Humungos Paddleos’ canoe paddles and washing their capes.

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Also Presenting With

Paul Cox
Paul Cox, from Atlanta, Georgia, has 20+ years experience in ultra distance racing. He got his start in multi-sport adventure races, his teams winning or placing well in many multiple-day races over the years. While he enjoys trail running, orienteering and mountain biking, he finds the most happiness in a kayak or canoe bouncing down whitewater or gliding through a remote section of river. A National Outdoor Leadership School course on the Green River in Utah nearly 25 years ago changed his life and encouraged him to fill it full of adventures, particularly on the water. Over the years, he's completed several of the world’s longest and toughest paddlingraces including the Texas Water Safari, Missouri River 340, Yukon River Quest, Yukon 1000 and the Great Alabama 650. Early top paddling performances included a third-place finish in the tandem division of the Yukon River Quest and a second-place finish in the Texas Water Safari mixed tandem division. Most recently, Paul won the Great Alabama 650 twice and set the course record with Mississippi Speed Record back-up paddler Joe Mann. Paul, a digital media editor and operations manager, has also been a kayak & recreational outdoor skills instructor and still enjoys trail running and mountain biking in the cold months. He and his wife, Lisa, have two children — a middle-school-age daughter and a son in college. You can follow more of his adventures at www.atlantaadventuredad.com.

Todd Foster
Todd Foster of St. Cloud, MN, has been an avid canoer his whole life, starting with his explorer group in the scouts. In 2005 he was part of the Hudson Bay Expedition, a journey of over 2,000 miles from Minneapolis to Hudson Bay. That trip was a celebration of the 75th anniversary of the trip Eric Sevareid wrote about in the classic book "Canoeing with the Cree". Todd was the lead advisor for the nearly successful Mississippi Speed Record attempt in 2021 and again for the successful 2023 run. He is the co-founder of Two Paddles, the organization that puts on the Mississippi River Paddle Weekend.

Wally Werderich
Wally Werderich of Yorkville, Illinois has lead a life that is never too far away from a river or a paddle. Learning to canoe through the Boy Scouts when he was seven years old, Wally has had a lifetime of river adventures. From the serenity of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area to traversing the Grand Canyon on the Colorado River, there is always an adventure with Wally on the water. When Wally was a teenager, the canoe racing bug bit him. Since then, Wally has competed in multiple United States Canoe Association National Championships and many of the largest canoe races throughout the country. Some of the finishes that Wally is most proud of are, his two top three finishes in the Missouri River 340, his two class wins in the Texas Water Safari, histhree class wins and top three finishes in the Tour De Teche, his class win in the Everglades Challenge, his two United States Canoe Association stock C1 national championships, and his AuSable River Canoe Marathon finish. That said, Wally is most proud of the fact that he has spread his love of paddling with his family. Wally fully expects that one day the record will be re-set by either his son, his daughter, or both of them. Wally’s wife Belem is also often with Waly on his canoe adventures, and his Mom and Dad served on the support crew for the MSR journey. His whole family competes with the St. Charles, Canoe Club (IL). While not confirmed, it is rumored that Wally is a member of the legendary Los Humungos Paddleos masked luchador canoe racing team. If asked, Wally will tell you that he makes his living carrying Los Humungos Paddleos’ canoe paddles and washing their capes.

Presentations

Scott Miller, Wally Werderich, Paul Cox, Judson Steinback

Mississippi Speed Record

Algonquin - main floor Sat 2:30pm-3:15pm

In May of 2023 this team of four men set the Guinness World Record for the fastest canoe trip down the 2,300-mile Mississippi River. They started at Lake Itasca on May 10th and reached Mile Marker Zero 16 days, 20 hours and 16 minutes later. They slept, ate, drank, laughed and used the bathroom 24/7 in their Wenonah Minnesota IV canoe. Their support team included over 27 people, 3 dogs, 2 documentary filmmakers, 2 support boats and 2 RV’s. They portaged around 15 dams, paddled through 23 locks, ran 5 sets of rapids and shot two spillways. Come join them as they show clips from the upcoming film and tell stories from their epic adventure!

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