Dabbling In Paddleism Podcast

In this episode, Chris Thomas sits down with Alex Somoano, massage therapist and stand up paddle boarder originally hailing from Cuba who emigrated to the U.S. in Miami, Florida as a young child where he quickly discovered he was athletically inclined. I’ve been looking forward to this chat for a long time and it really turned out to be a fantastic conversation with a great human being. We cover so much in this episode from his origin story into paddling, a traumatic accident that started him on his journey to quote “find quality in everything”, the Crossing for Cystic Fibrosis, how paddling calms the mind and brings an inner peace, the importance of massage therapy for recovery, focus on process rather than outcome, the ’22, ’23, and ’24 Last Paddler Standing Races from training, to strategy, to emotions, and everything in between, nutrition, water quality in South Florida, and falling asleep standing up. There’s so much more to this episode, but I’ll let you hear it from Alex himself on this 27th episode of the Dabbling in Paddleism Podcast…

Alex’s Book Recommendations:

-Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, by Robert M Pirsig: https://a.co/d/0EX10Ig

-The Tao of Pooh, by Benjamin Hoff: https://a.co/d/dVaRrOV

-Inner Excellence, by Jim Murphy: https://a.co/d/gX4cJaw

Races mentioned:

-Key West Paddle Classic: https://www.floridakeyswatermancompany.com/keywestpaddleclassic

-Crossing for Cystic Fibrosis: https://crossingforcysticfibrosis.com/

-L2O: https://www.paddlesignup.com/Race/FL/Stuart/Lake2OceanPaddleRace

-Last Paddler Standing: https://lastpaddlerstanding.com/

-Introducing Fastest Known Paddle with Lindsey Tilton on the Training Chats Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/17-chris-thomas-fastest-known-paddle-paddlings-answer/id1752312685?i=1000732530635

*Episode thumbnail photo credit: Mike Carson (@mikecarson.wmv)

In this episode, Chris Thomas sits down with Ryan Milby out of Missouri, who is a self-proclaimed normal dude, Chief Hobby Officer, and founder of Llama Racks. We cover so much in this episode from yet again the welcoming nature of the paddling community, his journey getting into ultramarathon paddle racing as well as starting Llama Racks, jumping in head first into the MR340 and paddling through the night for the first time during the race, attention to detail in designing his racks, available options for all human powered boats, customizable options, the importance of not giving up and proceeding as the way opens, shipping options outside of the U.S., and breaking a boat completely in half in the Texas Water Safari. There’s so much more to this episode, but I’ll let you hear it from Ryan himself on this 26th episode of the Dabbling in Paddleism Podcast…

Ryan’s Book Recommendations:

-The Kid Who Climbed Everest, by Bear Grylls: https://a.co/d/jgvJILO

How to find Ryan, Llama Racks, and Some Beach Outfitters:

www.llamaracks.com

www.llamaracks.com/some-beach-kayaks-liberty

@llamaracks - Instagram

@somebeachkayaksliberty - Instagram

In this episode, Chris Thomas sits down with Esther Wheeler one of the premier ultramarathon female paddlers who just came out on top again this year in the Yukon River Quest in a kayak. We cover so much in this episode from the way she entered the paddling scene through a traumatic experience on whitewater, visualization techniques, the spell of the Yukon, the Great River Club, being a board member of the YRQ, her take on the 2025 dragon boat Guinness world record for distance traveled at the MR340, the importance of giving people chances, sleep deprivation strategies, testing out the Inside Passage in preparation for the Race to Alaska, and immigration fails after the Yukon 1000. There’s so much more to this episode, but I’ll let you hear it from Esther herself on this 25th episode of the Dabbling in Paddleism Podcast…

Esther’s IG: @wheelerest

Esther’s Book Recommendations:

-Dare to Do, by Sarah Ouden: https://a.co/d/dK8Vs6s

-Kayaking the Aleutians, Justine Curgenven & Sarah Ouden (DVD): https://a.co/d/gHeHl8f

-The Boys in the Boat, by Daniel James Brown: https://a.co/d/49nyEAk

In this episode, Chris Thomas sits down with Esther Wheeler one of the premier ultramarathon female paddlers who just came out on top again this year in the Yukon River Quest in a kayak. We cover so much in this episode from the way she entered the paddling scene through a traumatic experience on whitewater, visualization techniques, the spell of the Yukon, the Great River Club, being a board member of the YRQ, her take on the 2025 dragon boat Guinness world record for distance traveled at the MR340, the importance of giving people chances, sleep deprivation strategies, testing out the Inside Passage in preparation for the Race to Alaska, and immigration fails after the Yukon 1000. There’s so much more to this episode, but I’ll let you hear it from Esther herself on this 25th episode of the Dabbling in Paddleism Podcast…

Esther's Instagram: @WheelerEst

Esther's book recommendations:

-Dare to Do, by Sarah Ouden: https://a.co/d/dK8Vs6s

-Kayaking the Aleutians, Justine Curgenven & Sarah Ouden (DVD): https://a.co/d/gHeHl8f

-The Boys in the Boat, by Daniel James Brown: https://a.co/d/aKlva51

In this episode, Chris Thomas sits down with Michelle Bousquet, ultramarathon runner and paddler out of Montreal who just podiumed in the 2025 Yukon River Quest in the solo female kayak class on her second attempt. We cover so much in this episode from her journey to finding ultramarathon running as well as ultramarathon paddling, her 250 mile Cocodona ultramarathon running race, sleep deprivation strategies, the 2024 and 2025 Yukon River Quest races, lessons from DNFs and hypothermia, broken rudders, the amazing wildness of the Yukon River, being a rafting guide on the Grand Canyon, and beer miles. There’s so much more to this episode, but I’ll let you hear it from Michelle Bousquet herself on this 24th episode of the Dabbling in Paddleism Podcast…

Classique internationale de canots de la Mauricie: https://www.classiquedecanots.com/EN/LaClassique.html

Michelle’s book recommendations:

-Born to Run, by Christopher McDougal: https://a.co/d/gDq7tpD

-Eat & Run, by Scott Jurek: https://a.co/d/0TdeQZc

-Upside Down on the Yukon River, by Steve Cannon: https://a.co/d/gCogD9d

Michelle’s social handles:

-IG: @michelle_bousquet

-Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/16mZR2SRW3/?mibextid=wwXIfr

In this episode, Chris Thomas sits down with Alain Morvan out of France who is the race director for the Loire 725, which is the longest ultramarathon paddling race in Europe. Alain started out as a whitewater paddler in his younger days and eventually made his way to ultramarathon paddling with the goal of competing in the Yukon River Quest. We cover so much in this episode from the origins and evolution of the race, his dedication to protecting the environment of the Loire river, support of the communities along the route, how a stage race helps build and support the paddling community, the race route itself and the rules of the race, typical lodging arrangements for racers including camping at a rugby stadium, support crews, and how foreigners would rent a boat for the race. There’s so much more to this episode, but I’ll let you hear it from Alain Morvan himself on this 23rd episode of the Dabbling in Paddleism Podcast…

Loire 725 website: Next race is June 14-20, 2026

-(English): https://loire725.com/en/presentation-english/

-(French): https://loire725.com/

Alain's contact:

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100069158600419

https://www.facebook.com/alain.morvan.18/

Alain’s book recommendation: La Loire vue de fleuve (Loire River rules/etiquette), by Jean-Francois Souchard https://imagesdeloire.fr/produit/la-loire-vue-du-fleuve-guide-de-randonnee-nautique/

In this episode, Chris Thomas sits down with Ben Lott out of New Zealand who is an ultramarathon paddler, mountaineer, adventurer, trail runner, adventure racer, and equestrian who keeps finding his way back to the Yukon year after year. In addition to his adventuring exploits he is involved with the Yukon River Quest board and is involved with the race fleet as well. We cover so much in this episode from the life changing injury that brought him to paddling and the Yukon, the importance of implicitly trusting a paddling partner, the importance of giving back to the sport of ultramarathon paddling by being involved in races, insights from being an equestrian that overlap with paddling, paddling technique, the importance for racers to care for their boats in the Yukon, making paddle sports sexy again, boob cups, and the conditions New Zealanders paddle in that make them prime competitors in the Yukon. There’s so much more to this episode, but I’ll let you hear it from Ben Lott himself on this 22nd episode of the Dabbling in Paddleism Podcast…

Ben's Instagram: @lotts_nzl

Finding Ben documentary: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkzf4lMjX77XdOuHtI-sfByeLcQ_7gQBo&si=emgCe3i3HoqRG48u

Finding Ben articles (Yukon 1000 website): https://www.yukon1000.org/findingbenpart1/

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/130808417/finding-ben-part-2-1000-miles-and-beyond

Ben's Recommended New Zealand Paddle Adventures:

-Clutha River, NZ: https://www.cluthanz.com/explore/activities-and-attractions/all-activities-and-attractions/mighty-clutha-river

-Fjordland, NZ: https://www.cluthanz.com/explore/activities-and-attractions/all-activities-and-attractions/mighty-clutha-river

Ben’s Book Recommendations:

-Let My People Go Surfing, Yvon Chouinard - https://a.co/d/ezNRpw5

-The Long Walk, Slavomir Rawicz: https://a.co/d/0INH0gB

Chris’s Book Recommendations

-Some Stories: Lessons from the Edge of Business and Sport, Yvon Chouinard - https://a.co/d/6IQ1JzG

-Life Lived Wild: Adventures at the Edge of the Map, Rick Ridgeway - https://a.co/d/3oKcLqC

In this episode, Chris Thomas sits down with Glenn Nolan and Maureen Hatherley out of Ontario, Canada. Glenn and Maureen are absolute gems and certainly fan and racer favorites for those that follow the Yukon 1000. They both just completed the Yukon River Quest and the Yukon 1000 in back-to-back fashion, so we take a deep dive into their grueling experience in the Yukon this year. We cover so much in this episode from their experiences in Outward Bound which was actually how they met, tackling the Yukon 1000 after 3 straight finishes in the Yukon River Quest, the pull of the Yukon and especially the paddling community that keeps them coming back, cross training to prepare for the Yukon in frozen conditions, the adversity of a cancer diagnosis and treatment, the skill of reading water, forest fires, and what it’s like to complete the Yukon 1000 immediately after the Yukon River Quest. There’s so much more to this episode, but I’ll let you hear it from Glenn and Maureen themselves, in this 21st episode of the Dabbling In Paddleism Podcast.

Socials:

Maureen

Instagram: @hatherleymaureen

Facebook: Maureen Hatherley

Glenn

instagram: @glennnolan698

Facebook: Glenn Nolan

Outward Bound Canada: www.outwardbound.ca

In this episode, Chris Thomas sits down with Trey Reaves out of Alabama, who has accomplished more than most men and without the use of his legs. Trey is well known for accomplishing amazing feats in his kayak, especially recently as he just set the record for paddling the entire length of the Tennessee River in just over 7 days. We cover so much in this episode from Trey spending 2.5 years planning his record setting attempt, the Tennessee River Line organization, support and an upcoming documentary on the attempt from Mike Carson 105, massive lightening storms, what to expect when going through a lock in a kayak, the beauty of the Tennessee River, the massive amount of community support he received along his journey, and his part in the 17-man crew that set the world record for distance traveled in a dragon boat during the 2025 MR340. There’s so much more to this episode, but I’ll let you hear it from Trey himself, aka The Duke of Paducah, in this 20th episode of the Dabbling In Paddleism Podcast.

Tennessee River Line website: https://www.tnriverline.org/

Tennessee River Line interactive map: https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/160e2b777f954d8e8bdc48f6ceb12028

In this episode, Chris Thomas sits down with Jake VanLue out of Southwestern Missouri who recently took 1st place in the male solo kayak class in the Suwannee 230. We cover so much in this episode from inspiration and the drive to succeed he gets from his father, hypothermia interventions after going upside down on the Yukon on Lake Laberge, coaching support for ultras, the mental aspect of training and racing, the story of his male solo kayak class 1st place finish in the 2025 Suwannee 230, lessons learned from failure, rhabdomyolysis, crew support, lessons learned from a couple DNFs, and balancing training and family life. There’s so much more to this episode, but I’ll let you hear it from Jake himself on this 19th episode of the Dabbling In Paddleism Podcast…

Jake's IG: @jakevanlue

Hammer Nutrition: https://www.hammernutrition.com/JAKE86984