Ryan McCoy—Born and raised in Kansas, Ryan J. McCoy didn't find his way on to the "dirty and dangerous" Kaw River until reading about the MR340. Baptized by 100+ temperatures, wind, and drenched by an overnight thunderstorm on the first trip out, he was hooked and couldn't wait to get back on the water.

After a few shorter Kansas paddle races, some more successful than others, Ryan is a Texas Water Safari and three-time MR340 finisher. His best MR340 finish came with his wife Amanda in the bow and his parents as ground crew, and the Mirkwood Wanderers wouldn't have finished the TWS without Dan on the tiller.