Charity Rusch Marshall celebrates the buoyancy of her giant pumpkin turned kayak as she floats the Cowlitz River. On Sunday, Oct. 9, Marshall set a Guinness World Record by paddling 15 miles on the river from Castle Rock to the confluence of the Columbia River at Longview.
A copy of Charity Rusch Marshall’s official Guinness World Record certificate.
A photo of Charity Rusch Marshall in her pumpkin kayak was altered to reflect her new Guinness World Record.
Everyone has a favorite use for pumpkins, and the sheer culinary versatility of the mighty gourd is put on display during Thanksgiving when pies and soups and scones and rolls all take on the distinct flavor of the big orange orbs.
Castle Rock resident Charity Rusch Marshall has a favorite use for pumpkins, too. First, she grows them as big as she can, and then she paddles them around on nearby waterways.
This Thanksgiving, Marshall found herself feeling extra thankful as she basked in the glow of her recent designation as an official Guinness World Record holder.
Marshall actually set the record for longest journey by pumpkin boat (paddling) on Oct. 9, 2016, when she navigated her giant pumpkin shell, which weighed 919 pounds before carving, 15.09 miles down the Cowlitz River from Al Helenberg Memorial Boat Ramp in Castle Rock all the way to the confluence of the Columbia River at Gearhart Gardens in Longview. On Nov. 9, Marshall received an email from the folks at Guinness and discovered that she had been officially recognized as the world’s greatest river pumpkin paddler.
“I got this email saying, ‘You are officially amazing!’” said Marshall, who had been taking part in a back and forth dialogue with the Guinness World Record gatekeepers in order to verify the facts of her record-setting pumpkin paddle. A full 13 months after her soggy bottom pumpkin float, Marshall was caught off guard when the official designation finally arrived.
“It’s really satisfying not only for me but for everyone who went through that long arduous day with me,” said Marshall.
Adding to the surprise was the fact that just one week after Marshall made her Cinderella inspired pumpkin float, a man from Minnesota seized on the idea and wound up tacking on an additional 11 miles to his pumpkin paddling journey. According to Marshall, all records are subject to review by the Guinness record keepers, and for now at least, she is the official title holder.
“He hasn’t been recognized by Guinness,” explained Marshall. “I don’t know if he’s going to end up getting it but for right now I hold the record … Just like anything. You can try to achieve the record, but that doesn’t mean that you’ve got all your ducks in a row to get it.”
Marshall has helped to solidify her claim to pumpkin fame by getting in on the sport at the ground level. As a member of the Pacific Giant Vegetable Growers Club, Marshall not only hollows out the giant gourds for her floatation devices, but she also toils away all spring and summer to curate the biggest pumpkin she can muster. Her personal best is around 1,500 pounds.
One of her favorite ways to cut loose with her pumpkin-loving friends is to participate in the West Coast Giant Pumpkin Regatta in Tualatin, Oregon. This year, more than 20,000 people came out in a driving rain in order to watch the floating pumpkin races, and Marshall wound up taking third place in the wonky event.
Marshall found herself on the television news during the regatta and has enjoyed the media blitz that has followed her record-setting pumpkin paddle last year. She says she cherishes being a spokesperson for the pursuit of growing giant vegetables and all the wacky things you can do with them afterwards.
“As far as my little small community, it’s great. We’ve started a little weigh off and everything,” said Marshall, who added that she helped organize a pumpkin rolling fundraiser this year.
With her official Guinness World Record title in hand, Marshall was sure to extend her gratitude to her support team that helped to document, assist and encourage her along the way on that record setting day.
“I have so many people, but all of my immediate family and of course my husband Lance, and just everyone who was either out with me in the kayaks or just cheering me on and waving from the bridges and bank in the pouring rain,” said Marshall.
With Christmas coming up, Marshall says she might even splurge on a new copy of the Guinness Book of World Records, though she’ll just have to thumb through it first.
“If I’m in it, yeah,” said Marshall with a competitor’s chuckle.
