| Posted by Dave

Time to Get Wet: Canton Canoe Weekend and Adk Paddlefest 2011

Canton Canoe Weekend and Adirondack Paddlefest

Paddling anyone? It’s May again, and time for two great events in the Adirondacks: the 50th Annual Canton Canoe Weekend and the Adirondack Paddlefest 2011.

The 50th Annual Canton Canoe Weekend, hosted by the St. Lawrence Valley Paddlers, will take place on Friday, May 13 through Sunday, May 15. All weekend races are on the Grasse River, with the start and finish at Taylor Park in Canton. Contestants are encouraged to register at least one hour before the races start.

Friday’s event, the “Traditional Rushton” (aka the “Original Rushton”) will start at 3:30pm and is open to all newcomers. The Rushton Races began in the early 1960s and have long been associated with the town. The 7-mile course, the one used for the first 30 years, is all downriver with several challenging sections of rocks. The race will start at the County Route 21 Bridge over the Grasse River, with the finish at Canton Island Park. There will be a sweep boat to ensure that everyone is off the river by dark and shuttle service will be provided.

Saturday’s event includes the “Modern Rushton,” which begins at 9:30am with the C-1 Pro Marathon Championships, a 14-mile paddle with a $6,000 purse, a $1,500 1st place prize, and a $100 E&V Sprint Bonus award. There will also be a 12-mile C-1 & K-1 Amateur Marathon, along with a C-1 NYMCRA Points Race. Both races are set to take place at the same time.

Sunday’s events feature the C-2 Marathon, beginning at 9:30am. The C-2 Pro Open (all men and all women) and mixed (both men and women) marathons cover a 14-mile stretch of river with a $1500 purse. Meanwhile, the C-2 and K-2 Amateur races will cover a 12 mile radius. There will also be a C-2 NYMCRA Points Race as well as a 6-mile K-1 Race. The Rushton Team Relay Race will take place on Sunday afternoon, followed by the College Co-ed relay race.

The weekend will feature numerous events, where visitors can get a taste of history with a tour of local venues open to the public during the duration of the event. One such venue will be “Camps Up-River on the Grasse” at the Partridge Café on Minor Street, featuring photos of Camps and Campers at Gilmore’s.

There will be plenty of raffles, awards, contests, and free giveaways. Prizes will be awarded for the largest collection of Canton Canoe Weekend t-shirts, the most consecutive years of t-shirts, and for other categories, such as the furthest distance traveled to attend and the closest prediction time. Leading up to the big weekend will be the Rushton Expo with a display of 25 100-year old boats and canoes built in the Rushton Factory on Canton’s Riverside Drive at the Canton Pavilion. The Expo is scheduled to run from Thursday May 12th through Monday May 16th.

And just in time for canoe racing season is Adirondack Paddlefest 2011, which will be held in Old Forge from Friday to Sunday, May 20-22.

Currently in its 13th year, Paddlefest is the largest On-water Paddlesports Show and Sale in the US. Each May, thousands of paddlers travel to Old Forge, to test paddle hundreds of different models of canoes, kayaks and whitewater boats. Paddling industry representatives and experts from companies such as Current Designs, Dagger, Ocean Kayak, Oxbow SUP, Wave Sport, Delta and Pyranha will be on hand to answer questions and help choose the perfect boat in real world conditions.

Throughout the weekend, rain or shine, there will be vendor booths at several designated waterfront venues offering presentations, including Choosing the Perfect Kayak Paddle and Easier Paddling for All Skill Levels. There will also be classes on Tandem Canoe Paddling, Basic Kayak Strokes and a Kayaking clinic for kids. Other events will include live music, a concert on Saturday night, plus an art show.

Admission for Paddlefest is free for kids 12 and under, $5 for adults (per day) with a $20 test paddle fee that will be applied to admission fees and any boat purchases.

For more info on the Canton Boat Race Weekend, visit http://slvpaddlers.org

For more info on Adirondack Paddlefest 2011, visit www.mountainmanoutdoors.com

–Helen Holt is an Assistant Editor for The Free George.

The Free George is the online magazine and visitors’ guide of Upstate NY, covering things from Albany to Lake Placid, including Saratoga, the Lake George region and the Adirondacks. Check out our new City Blogs section for our extended coverage areas as well.