Chris Rezac is a South Dakota native who grew up in Dante. Even though he lives on the east coast and loves sea kayaking, in July he’ll return to his roots.

Rezac and his wife, Laura, are signed up for the July 9 Fort to Field Paddle Battle on the Missouri River. He shared some insights on his impending return and what he loves about paddling.

Question: Where do you live now, and what do you do for a living?

Answer: I graduated Avon High School in 1989. I’m currently living in Charleston, SC. I work as an accountant, and I also organize the annual event, it’s called Oceans. It’s a sea kayaking gathering, workshop and symposium on the Atlantic coast. It brings paddlers from all over the country for learning and camaraderie.

Q: When was the last time you were in these parts?

A: Most recently, Laura and I were in South Dakota for our niece’s wedding in 2019. The last time I paddled the Missouri River was at the 2012 South Dakota Kayak Challenge – 10 years ago.

Q: What brings you back? Tell us about your plans.

A: My wife and I enjoy paddling our tandem sea kayak around Charleston and doing local adventure races. Through the paddling grapevine, we heard about the Fort to Field. I was so excited to return to see my old stomping grounds. I grew up spending as much time at the river as I could, and I remember pulling weeds in a soybean field right along the river, south of Dante. We’d spend weekends camping near the Fort Randall Dam, and I remember when I was a young boy riding the ferry from Running Water to Niobrara. My parents took me and my siblings on that ferry, and we’d often go see the Fourth of July fireworks in Springfield.

For this event, we are planning to paddle roughly 50 miles from Fort Randall to Springfield. My brothers and sister are planning to come cheer us on, and they will join us for camping after we finish. One brother has even proposed to race us on his bicycle while we are paddling.

It is such a privilege to have grown up along this section of a wild and scenic river. It’s one of those things I don’t think I truly appreciated at the time. I also wasn’t a paddler, so I never got to know the river in that way. It’ll be meaningful to go back and paddle this river that, in many ways, is home.

Q: Why is paddling a passion for you? What makes it so alluring?

A: There are so many things – I love the connection with nature, whether on a river, lake or the ocean. It’s a perspective we can’t get from land, or with a motor buzzing behind us. Kayaking is totally self-powered, and so it’s as physical or as lazy as you want it to be. Mastering the balance and maneuvering of a small personal watercraft, one that you can tip completely upside down and roll back upright without losing a beat (or your hat) is amazing. There’s always a new challenge, whether it’s an adventure race like this one, or surfing waves in the ocean or learning traditional skills from the indigenous cultures that developed sea kayaks so long ago. But mainly, the passion comes from a feeling that must be experienced to be understood – gliding across the water, one with nature, feeling self-reliant and independent and free. And finally, I love the friends I have made through paddling. The paddling community is full of kind, fun, adventurous people, and I’ve made lifelong friends (and met my wife!) through this sport. I am looking forward to making new friends in the paddling community in South Dakota.

Q: What would you tell people about the event who do not paddle or know much about the river?

A: I would suggest taking advantage of this organized opportunity to experience this beautiful section of the river in a unique way. Even if you aren’t up for paddling the whole stretch, come check out the starting line or the finish, or sign up to volunteer. Use this opportunity to learn more about this beautiful natural resource that’s right in your backyard. And if you do decide to get involved, or to try paddling, just know that a lot of folks get bitten by the bug. They will start making excuses any time they can to get back on the water.

As Rat says to Mole in the Wind in the Willows, “There is nothing – absolutely nothing – half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats.”

Q: Anything else we should know?

A: Any South Dakota-based paddlers who are up for a trip next spring are welcome to sign up for Oceans ‘23, which will be held May 19-21, 2023, at Fort Caswell in beautiful coastal North Carolina. You can learn more about Oceans at the website: https://chrisrezac. wixsite.com/kayakoceans.

Or check us out on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ groups/kayakoceans.

Paddlers of all skill levels and interests have a great time at this event, and we’d love it if some South Dakota folks to join us.