Known to the SUP world through Paddle Adventurer, Marybeth McLaughlin takes her paddleboard into new territory as she tackles the Muskoka River X for the first time - solo and unsupported. 

The 13th edition of Algonquin Outfitters Muskoka River X - one of the most demanding single-day paddling races in the world - kicks off this Saturday, September 12. 

Starting at dawn from the shore of an undisclosed lake, participants will head deep into Algonquin Park, navigating their way to the finish at a secret location along the Highway 60 Corridor.

In its own words, “River X embodies the fundamentals of Adventure Racing, Paddle Sports and Back-Country Tripping” - a philosophy that resonates strongly with Marybeth McLaughlin, a paddleboarder, Founder, outdoor content creator and trip guide based in Hamilton, Ontario, known to the SUP world through her platform Paddle Adventurer.

Taking on River X for the first time, solo and unsupported on her paddleboard, Marybeth brings a refreshing perspective on the sport and its competitive side, as well as what it means to step into an ultra-endurance challenge and experience it from the inside.

And as supporters of the event, we’re stoked to see this adventure powered by Blackfish Paddles.

Hi Marybeth, how did you get into paddleboarding and SUP guiding?

I’ve been around paddling and the outdoors most of my life, starting with canoeing at summer camp and continuing through outdoor education in high school and my undergrad in Outdoor Recreation, Parks & Tourism.

I actually tried paddleboarding for the first time in Fiji in 2013, but I didn’t own my own board until 2020. That’s when I really got into SUP and started exploring what I could do with it.

When I wanted to start going farther and into the backcountry, my paddleboard was simply the vessel I owned. So I started asking: what can I actually do with this thing?

That curiosity led to longer day trips, backcountry SUP trips and eventually multi-day expeditions. It also became a big part of why I started Paddle Adventurer. I want to help people see what’s possible with the equipment they already own, while building the skills and knowledge to explore safely.

I’ve continued paddling other crafts along the way and got back into sea kayaking a few years ago, which has become another big part of my adventures.

Guiding felt like a natural extension of all of that. I love helping people experience places they might not otherwise get to see and giving them the skills and confidence to take on adventures of their own.

Muskoka River X is considered one of the most demanding single-day paddling races in the world. Why this race and why now?

The Muskoka River X appealed to me because it’s a challenge. It’s outside my comfort zone and it scares me a little. I believe I can do it. The bigger unknown is how long it will take and what it’s going to ask of me along the way. That’s exactly what drew me to it.

It’s roughly 60 km in a single day, including around 8 km of portaging, and the route isn’t revealed until the day before. I’ll have to plot the UTM coordinates myself and then navigate the course by map and compass without GPS.

I’ve done long-distance paddles, backcountry SUP trips, portaging and navigation before, but I’ve never put all of those things together at this scale in a single day.

It feels like the right challenge at the right time. I’m comfortable doing a lot of these things individually, but this takes me beyond what I already know I can do. I want to put all of those skills together and find out what I’m capable of.

What’s drawn you to the endurance race format? 

I’m actually less interested in the racing part than I am in the endurance challenge. I’ve never done a SUP race before, and I’ve never really approached paddleboarding as a fitness activity. For me, it’s always been about adventure, exploring new places and having fun on the water. I love being playful on my board, trying new things and seeing where it can take me. The fitness has mostly been something that comes along with doing all of that.

That’s part of what makes MRX interesting to me. It takes something I already love doing and pushes it into a completely different format.

I think we live in a world where so much of what we do is public, and there can be a lot of pressure to only show the things we’re good at or the things we know we can succeed at. There’s something really freeing about choosing to do something where I genuinely don’t know the outcome.

I’m not going into MRX trying to beat anyone else. I’m interested in finding the edge of my own abilities and seeing what happens when I’m tired, I’ve been moving for hours, I still have kilometres ahead of me, and I have to continue making good decisions.

There’s something really appealing to me about being willing to risk not succeeding. Either way, I’m going to learn something about myself.

What’s your Blackfish paddle setup for this challenge?

I’ll be paddling with the Blackfish Yukon 460. I tested the Yukon 520 last year and really liked it, but for this challenge I wanted the smaller 460 blade. Over this kind of distance, it’s easier on my shoulder and helps reduce fatigue.

Durability is also really important for this race. The route is unknown and I won’t always be paddling open lakes. I could encounter rivers, creeks, rocks, logs and roughly 8 km of portaging, so I need something lightweight and efficient that I can also trust to take some abuse along the way.

What are your expectations as you take on this challenge for the first time?

Honestly, I don’t know what to expect, and that’s part of why I’m doing it.

I expect it to be hard. I expect there will be points when I’m tired, uncomfortable and questioning my decision to sign up. At some point I’ll be paddling, portaging and navigating in the dark, and this will be the longest distance I’ve ever attempted in a single activity or day.

I believe I can do it. What I don’t know is how long it will take, what it’s going to ask of me along the way, or how I’ll respond when things get really hard.

My goal isn’t a particular finishing time or placement. More than anything, I want to show up for myself. I want to manage myself well, make good decisions throughout the day and keep moving forward.

For me, success is showing up for myself, giving it what I have that day and being willing to find out what I’m capable of. I’m showing up to find out.

To find out more about Paddle Adventurer, visit paddleadventurer.com

Follow Marybeth on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube

Find out more about Muskoka River X and follow the event on Instagram and Facebook 

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*Header image by @tonyfphotography | Images courtesy of Marybeth McLaughlin / Paddle Adventurer