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The 16th Annual Tour du Teche
Premier Event - October 2, 3 & 4, 2026
Join paddlers from across Louisiana and beyond for the 16th Annual Tour du Teche, a three day, 135 mile paddle race on the historic Bayou Teche from Port Barre to Berwick. The Bayou Teche is Louisiana’s only designated National Water Trail. Kayaks, Canoes, Pirogues and SUP’s welcome.
Whether you are competing solo, tandem, as a relay team, or racing one of our shorter distance events, the Tour du Teche offers a challenge for every paddler.
TDT 135 Registration is Open - REGISTER NOW
Choose your 2026 Tour du Teche race:
• Tour du Teche 135 Race, Oct. 2-4, 2026 LINK
• Tour du Teche 135 Relay Race, Oct. 2-4, 2026 LINK
• Crawfish 30 Mile Race, Oct. 2, 2026 LINK
• Acadian 49 Mile Race, Oct. 2, 2026 LINK
• Hot Sauce 24 Mile Race, Oct. 3, 2026 LINK
• Sugar 59 Mile Race, Oct. 3, 2026 LINK
• Oil & Gas 27 Mile Race, Oct. 4, 2026 LINK
Tour de Teche 135 Race Weekend Schedule of Events
Important Safety Information Video
All racers are required (MANDATORY) to review the Tour du Teche Safety Video before race day. Recommended for all support personnel and fans. Video includes information about navigating the Key Stone Locks/portage.
LINK TO WATCHING THE SAFETY VIDEO
Basic Race Requirements
For every race:
• Each boat must have USCG-approved life jacket (PFD)
• Carry a whistle or sound-producing device
• Have a waterproofed cell phone with race official contacts
• Notify race officials if you withdraw from an event
• Follow all race director instructions and sportsmanship standards
• Tour du Teche Command Center official contact Tave Lamperez 630-605-0671
• Complete waiver(s) and obtain boat number before safety meeting
• Each participant must attend safety meeting before start of race
Participants age 17 and under must wear a USCG-approved life jacket while on the water and in race staging areas.
IMPORTANT DETAILED TDT RACE RULES ADD LINK - Work in progress
Why Race the Tour du Teche?
The Tour du Teche is more than a race. It celebrates the culture, history and natural beauty of the Bayou Teche while bringing together paddlers of all experience levels.
Since its founding, the Tour du Teche has helped:
•Promote Bayou Teche as a National Water Trail
•Support local communities and tourism
•Encourage stewardship of Louisiana waterways
•Build a vibrant paddling community
Every mile paddled helps showcase one of Louisiana’s most unique natural and cultural treasures.
Additional Upcoming Events
Petite Tour Du Teche (Youth Races), August 22, 2026 LINK
Youth paddlers ages 5-17 compete in races ranging from 500 yards to 1 mile.
Location: Chitimacha Boat Launch, 3726 Chitimacha Trail 36 Par Rd 117, Charenton LA
Acadian Odyssey 8. 3 Mile Race 2027
Top of the Teche 7.7 Mile Race 2027
Chitimacha 10 Mile Race 2027
Tour du Teche (races held before October) Schedule of Events
Questions?
Contact Race Director Tave Lamperez
Phone: 630-605-0671
Email: lamperez@netscape.com
Follow us on Facebook for race updates, announcements, training opportunities and events.
July 8-11, 2026 - Non Tour du Teche event - 60th annual White River Race, Bull Shoals, multi-day event, July 8 to July 11, 2026. 18 to 120 miles
CLASSES/CATEGORIES
CLASSES/CATEGORIES
The Tour du Teche has classes based on the type of paddle you use and Length of your boat and sex of paddler(s)
If you use a kayak (double bladed ) paddle then enter the Double Blade Class (D/S), where you can use any paddle during the event.
if you use only a canoe (single bladed) paddle select the single blade (S) class and you can only use a single bladed paddle
SOLO means one person,
TANDEM means two paddlers.
BIG BOATS means three to six paddlers.
Boats are unlimited (meaning any length, width with rudders or not
Recreation means boats less than 18 foot.
if there is no mention of length than that class/category is unlimited (anything goes)
so SOLO D/S means unlimited double blade (single allowed) any kind of boat (racing)
SOLO D recreation means one paddler with a kayak paddle in a boat under 18 foot
SOLO S F means one per paddler using single bladed (canoe) paddle Female in any length boat.
SOLO S M (or no value) means one paddler single blade for Male
Our races are typically small and have 1 to 5 paddlers in a class, if you questions email me above (Tave Lamperez)
we can fix and change your class any time before the race starts.
USCA (canoe single blade only) classes very special canoe classes that have length and width spec, Aluminum canoes are 17 foot and USCA has a max of 18 1/2 foot.
SUP- stand up paddle board
Pirogue - cajun canoe
Mixed teams race with Men for now until we have more paddlers in a class.
If there are more than four (4) similar boats in a class we can make "sub classes"; again this must be done before the race starts.
MAPS
MAPS
Tour du Teche Race Maps from our old website. Loreauville to New Iberia and Chitimacha races are covered in Map Day 2. Top of the Teche is covered in Map Day 1.
RULES
RULES
Current rules Tour du Teche 135 (see this set of full rules for the whole 135 and day races (3 day or single day combinations)
Tour du Teche Relay race rules three days - this is new and really fun and great way to paddle the course but not the whole way!
More Tour du Teche Resources (Updated)
TECHE Project Paddle Trail Planner PDF
Video of 2025 three-day Tour du Teche race focused on the winners Texas Young Guns (YouTube)
Sample Pit plan Distance and checkpoint list by Tave Lamperez (estimated arrival times)
Tour du Teche 135 Driving Guide from TDTIII - one big correction, checkpoint of day 1 shows Breaux Bridge instead of Poche Bridge (mile 30)
Video of Day 2 Key Stone Locks Portage from 2024 (YouTube) drone video - excellent view of first portage @3.5 miles day 2 St Martinville LA
2025 Race summaries and videos
1) short summary by Texas Young Guns - 6 person team by Annika Garcia
2) longer full summary and race video log 50 minutes by Sandy Yonley has drone video
Lodging and Accommodations
Lodging one page summary with links for TDT 135 - 2026
Primitive camping option for TDT 135 - 2026
Contact the Race Director for suggestions and options (see top of Page)
Page updated
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