Mississippi Speed Record: An Epic Adventure
A 90-minute documentary
One intense trip!
Embark on an epic journey with four adventurous spirits as they undertake the ultimate test of endurance and determination. Mississippi Speed Record: An Epic Adventure follows their incredible quest to paddle the entire 2,340 miles of the Mississippi River in a single 23-foot canoe, aiming to set a new Guinness World Record for the fastest time down the river.
They paddle 24/7 for over 2 weeks, eating, sleeping, and even going to the bathroom in the canoe. Supported by a dedicated crew of over 20 people and two trailing support boats, they receive a constant stream of supplies and encouragement, fueling their drive to break the record.
Their journey captures the imagination of over a million followers on social media, with cheering fans lining the riverbanks, sharing in every triumph and setback. This exhilarating and inspiring documentary shows it’s not about conquering the river—it's about moving in harmony with its flow. Will the Mississippi River allow them to break the record?
Reviews
"Wow, what a wonderful video and great experience! This team was amazing, especially excited for my two friends Wally and Judd, the whole group including the feeders inspire me, Mike Kies!"
"Great Job documenting their trip and everything they ALL went through! CONGRATULATIONS TO EVERYONE!"
Documenting a Guinness World Record attempt
Completed in 16 Days 20 hours and 16 minutes
23 hours faster than the previous record
On May 10th, 2023 Scott Miller, Judson Steinback, Paul Cox, and Wally Werderich paddled out from the headwaters of the Mississippi River at Lake Itasca, MN in their 4-person canoe. They paddled 24/7 until they reached the Gulf of Mexico. They switched off between paddling and resting to keep the canoe moving all hours of the day and night. When they did come to shore, they rarely stopped for more than 20 minutes. They battled severe sleep deprivation, lock and dams, barge traffic and weather to make it to mile marker 0 on the Mississippi River.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE TEAM, THEIR SUPPORT CREW, AND THE RECORD ON THEIR WEBSITE HERE MISSISSIPPISPEEDRECORD.COM
The team even included Wilderness Mindset in their submission to Guinness World Records and we received a Certificate of Participation for being involved in this record breaking attempt. That makes two Guinness World Records that we have documented on the Mississippi River now!
The World Premiere happened August 3rd, 2024
"Mississippi Speed Record: An Epic Adventure" Premiered at the Riverview Theater Saturday, August 3rd. Merchandise was available and the first world showing was EPIC!
This was the first ever World Premiere that Wilderness Mindset has hosted and we LOVED it, thanks to you! And thank you to all our volunteers, too! Seriously, with out them it would not have gone so smoothly. Thank you Ryan Church, Brad Sjostrom and his kids Annie, Mike, and Mike's wonderful girlfriend Sydney. Mindy Schroeder-Kragness and Chad Kragness. Lisa Cox and Pauline. Todd McMahon and George Hulbert for helping, too! Thank you to Frank Bures for hosting the discussion panel and for everyone being able and willing to discuss their experiences. And a special thanks to Scott E. Miller for helping out and finding the venues.
Riverview Theater ready to show MSR AEA
Just about a FULL HOUSE!
Amy Robin, Scott Mansker, Brad Sjostrom, and Mark Handley with "The Jacket". Yes, there is a story behind it.
Additional Showings
August 3rd, 2024 - Riverview Theater - Minneapolis, MN - Doors Open at 9:30 AM - Tickets
August 14th, 2024 - Ragtag Cinema - Columbia, MO - Doors open at 6:00 PM - Tickets
SOLD OUT!
August 15th, 2024 - Rivoli Theatre and Pizzeria - La Crosse, WI - Doors at 6:45 pm - Tickets FREE EVENT!
SOLD OUT!
MEet the Cast
Scott Miller
Scott is the leader of team "Mississippi Speed Record." His first attempt to break the record was in 2020. They made it all the way to New Orleans when a huge storm came in and tragically sank their canoe.
Scott's personality is the magnet that brought the entire team together, paddlers, support crew and camera crew.
Unlike the rest of his teammates, Scott doesn't have a long resume of canoe racing, his experience lies in long-distance canoe expeditions. He brings a slightly different perspective to the team that is valuable in terms of endurance and adjusting on the fly, two things that are very important on a record attempt as long as this.
His fellow paddlers say he has forgotten more about the Mississippi River than they know. He is a wealth of knowledge about paddling and his determination is unbreakable.
Judd Steinback
Judd developed his love of paddling when he was a child, fishing with his family from row boats. Since then he has raced professionally domestically and abroad. When not training and racing canoes, you can find Judd fly fishing, running projects for his landscaping company, or schlepping his daughters to their activities.
Judd radiates positivity and love. He always has a smile on his face, and he kept the team laughing with his bottomless reserve of movie quotes.
Wally Werderich
Wally has been canoeing since he was in the boy scouts at 7 years old. The racing bug bit him early on and he has competed in many of the largest canoe races throughout the country.
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.
Being the oldest of the four paddlers, Wally earned a reputation of being the wise fatherly figure in the group.
Paul Cox
Paul has 20+ years in ultra-distance racing. He's completed and holds records in some of the worlds toughest and longest paddling races. Not only is he a very accomplished paddler, he competes in running and cycling events as well. He earned a repuation as being the best overall athlete in the group. It was said that even if he was struck dead by lightning his arms would continue paddling.
Paul is the expert at calculating split times in his head, constantly updating his team with projections about where they will be in relation to the current record.
His personality is more reserved and quiet than his teammates, he tends to think more and speak less. The respect he has earned from those around him, means they listen when he does speak.
Michael "Moose" Dougherty
Michael was introduced to us as Moose. We didn't even know his real name until later in the project. He is the leader of the support crew. A logistical mastermind behind many of the operations that keep the paddlers moving down the river.
Scott Mansker
Scott Mansker is a founder of the infamous MR340 a 340 mile race across the state of Missouri. He captains the Falcon, a support boat during the race which runs 24/7. His skillset couldn't be anymore perfectly aligned to be a leader of the support boat crew for the Mississippi Speed Record.
The Support Crew
With a record attempt like this one it simply wouldn't be possible without a dedicated support crew. The success of the Mississippi Speed Record is as much a function of the amazing support crew as it is because of the paddlers.
This wonderful team, many of whom were strangers at the beginning, worked together incredibly well under very stressful circumstances while living in close proximity to each other.
Their kindness and unwavering focus on a single goal may just be the reason that the whole team was successful. It has been said that another team of paddlers may come together in the future who are faster but it's very unlikely that they will have a support team this robust around them.
Mississippi Speed Record Photos
All photos are available for sale as prints! Reach out to us on the Contact Page to learn more.
