In the boat for the biggest Buffalo Bayou Regatta ever: Paddle on

A record number of people raced in the Buffalo Bayou Regatta (hosted by Buffalo Bayou Partnership) Saturday. An estimated 425 boats and 700 hopeful paddlers — up from 400 and 650 respectively in 2010— came out for the 39th annual event.

CultureMap's own social media editor Fayza Elmostehi was among that horde, flexing her alter-ego adventure racing muscles while showing me the ins and outs of the art of kayaking, and her carbon fiber paddle. 

She put me to work too. Carrying Fayza's 14-foot Heritage Pisgah Kayak, courtesy of the Partnership and Southwest Paddlesports, was easier than I thought. The boat is light and the convenient handles made maneuvering a breeze, until we had to walk down a hill.

That I left to the professionals as my job was to capture the process in all its glory.

Fayza Elmostehi goes kayaking and Joel Luks captures it on video:

Editor's note: Don't miss CultureMap's extensive photo essay of the race.