Local ultradistance paddlers Josh Friedman and Julie Kirk have done it again. On July 11, the Moyie Springs duo earned their second Guinness World Record in as many years, completing a grueling 51-hour, 371-mile dragon boat expedition on the Missouri River.

They now hold records for both the longest distance covered in a dragon boat in 24 hours and the longest non-stop voyage in a dragon boat. 

In 2023, Friedman and Kirk were part of a 16-member endurance team hand-selected by paddle racing legend Rod Price — a world record holder, author, and dragon boat coach. Dubbed the “Pan Am Express,” the team set out to take a craft traditionally used for short sprints and push it to its extreme: paddling over 300 miles without stopping. 

“Not one person on that team was a dragon boat paddler,” said Kirk. “We’re all endurance paddlers used to double-blade kayaking, not single-blade paddling.” 

That year, they entered the famed MR340 race on the Missouri River, aiming to beat the previous long-distance record by nearly 80 miles. But midway through the race, a severe storm forced its cancellation — the first weather-related shutdown in MR340 history. 

Still, the Pan Am Express walked away victorious, shattering the 24-hour distance record by paddling 200 miles. 

“It’s 90% mental,” Friedman said, drawing from his 20-year career as a Navy SEAL. “Once you’ve gone through Hell Week, you understand what your body and mind are capable of. It becomes second nature to push through.” 

After some well-earned recovery and winter training on the Kootenai River, sometimes barefoot in the frigid water, Friedman and Kirk got the call. 

“Rod contacted us this spring and said, ‘We have unfinished business,’” Kirk said. “We needed to get that farthest distance record.” 

Five returning racers from the 2023 crew joined a group of new paddlers from around the globe, including Germany and Australia, for another go.

The team filed into tight formation on the slender boat, side-by-side on narrow, bone-bruising wooden seats, to brace for more than two days of continuous paddling. 

“It takes intense focus,” Friedman said. “Music helps. Julie creates playlists to keep us grounded. And the scenery helps you stay present. When you’re in the moment, the time really flies.” 

The expedition began at 8 a.m. July 8. The crew rotated rest breaks every 30 minutes, row by row, allowing each pair a brief moment to hydrate, eat, and switch paddling sides before returning to the rhythm. 

“When you have your switch, you hurry up and take a drink of water or throw something in your face and eat it,” Kirk said. 

Throughout the exhausting voyage, teammates leaned on each other mentally and physically. 

“In a race that lasts days, everyone hits a low point,” Friedman said. “Someone’s going to have back pain, someone won’t be able to stay awake. You have to lift each other up, because sooner or later your time will come when you’ll need their help to get through something painful or hard. That’s what makes team endurance racing different. You’re never alone.” 

As owner of Mountain Mike’s Vitamin Shop, Kirk came well-stocked with remedies. 

“I had everything. Someone had an upset stomach? ‘Here — take a papaya enzyme,’” she said. 

At pit stops, the Pan Am Express ground crew removed trash and refueled the paddlers with food and supplies. 

After nearly two full days, the team crossed the MR340 finish line at the 46-hour mark, surpassing the standing record. But they didn’t stop. 

“Rod wanted the new record to be unbreakable,” Kirk said. “So we kept going for five more hours.” 

When they finally docked, the team had logged 371 miles in 51 hours, officially claiming the longest non-stop dragon boat voyage in history.

Then came the crash. 

“After two days awake, I was lights out,” Friedman said. “Julie’s daughter, Maive, drove us back to Illinois. They were making dinner, and I just laid down for a second. I passed out cold until morning. No dreams. Just gone.” 

After returning to Boundary County two weeks ago, Kirk was back at work at Mountain Mike’s almost immediately. 

Friedman, meanwhile, said he has been taking it slow, walking, reading scripture and enjoying quiet recovery. 

“I actually feel better than I usually do after these,” he said. “It’s amazing to achieve something like this. But it’s even more meaningful when you do it with friends. We had some incredible people on that boat. Just phenomenal paddlers — and phenomenal people.” 

    The original five teammates from the 2023 MR340 race now each hold two world records.
  

    Local ultradistance paddlers pose for a group photo after they set a new world record for distance in dragon boats. The team completed a grueling 51-hour, 371-mile dragon boat expedition on the Missouri River.