Salli O'Donnell

Salli O’Donnell is an elite endurance kayaker whose career has been defined by some of the longest, toughest, and most demanding solo paddle races in the United States.

A lifelong athlete, Salli competed in many sports throughout her life, but she did not take up kayaking until 2012 at the age of 54. In 2015, she discovered surfskis — long, narrow sit-on-top racing kayaks built for speed and efficiency — and quickly fell in love with the challenge of endurance paddling.

Over the past decade, Salli has developed one of the most accomplished resumes in ultradistance kayak racing. Her results include overall solo victories, podium finishes across major river races, and several course records that are not limited by age group or gender.

In 2025, Salli earned a remarkable sweep of overall solo victories at the Great Alabama 650, Missouri River 340, Suwannee River 230, and Pea River Lower 63. Her performance at the Pea River Lower 63 included setting a new overall course record. She also earned 10 medals at the 2025 ACA Sprint Nationals, including four gold medals.

Salli has repeatedly made history as the first woman to finish as the overall solo winner in major endurance paddle events, including the Great Alabama 650, Missouri River 230, Suwannee River 230, and Texas Water Safari. Her course records at the Great Alabama 650, Suwannee River 230, and Pea River Lower 63 reflect both her speed and her consistency over extreme distances.

Fueling is one of the questions Salli receives most often from fellow paddlers. Since first using a custom INFINIT blend while preparing for the 2018 Yukon 1000, her personalized formula has remained the foundation of her training and race nutrition.

INFINIT is proud to fuel Salli as she continues to set records, win outright against deep competitive fields, and redefine what is possible in ultra-endurance paddling.