Story Created:
Jul 9, 2012 at 11:05 PM CDT
Story Updated:
Jul 17, 2012
A former Rio fest champion was the only US competitor in the 49th annual Regata del Rio Nazas in northern Mexico and was able to come away with the crown. Tommy Yonley competed in the three day, 90 mile kayak race through the Sierra Madre mountains. Making this accomplishment all that much more impressive was Yonley's lack of experience on this river, having no idea what terrain he was taking on, even breaking his $450 paddle on the first day. Yonley's next race will come in three weeks when he travels to Australia for one of the worlds largest kayak races in the world. He said he also plans on competing in Rio fest 2012 later this year in Laredo.
