What races are you paddling in 2025?

[JV_RedLeafDesigns]

What are you race plans for 2025?

I’m aiming for the Mississippi 145 in June, the ARC120 in July, and the Ely Portage Marathon in September.

Both of the paddling races will be single bladed in a solo canoe. I’m just hoping to finish the Portage Marathon.

 

[yknpdlr]

I'll be paddling the Adirondack NFCT “Around the Mountain” race in May, and any other Adirondack region races that crop up. Blue Mountain if it is held again this year, and, of course my 29th consecutive Adirondack Canoe Classic, the "90 Miler" followed by the Long Lake Long Boat Regatta two weeks later.
The unofficial non-racing, but for training fun, the “Cannonball 90” (the entire traditional 90 miler route all done in a single day) is always an option, it would be my lucky 13th paddle of that long day trip with its total of 10 miles of portages.

No Yukon races scheduled for this year for me. I don't understand why the Yukon 1000 mile race (my favorite by far) entry fee increased from $250 that I entered and paid twice, has increased to over $4000 per paddler now. Far too many other aspects of that wonderful race have changed as well, all piutting it well beyond my range of near term possibilities.

 

[Tryin']

I will be "racing" my 17yo son on every paddling stint, I am sure..

No real races, though they seem interesting and fun.

 

[Ripple]

Wow "ely portage marathon". That just screams fun! I wonder why they chose the boats they did? There are lighter boats out there. Mr. Bossen put in a real solid time at 4hr 11min can't imagine there was to much walking for that/ (6-6.5 mph avg est.). I bet his knees hurt.

 

[JV_RedLeafDesigns]

I will be "racing" my 17yo son on every paddling stint, I am sure..

No real races, though they seem interesting and fun.

They are, indeed, fun, but time on the water with my kiddos is even more fun in any setting. I’m sure it’s the same for you.

Unfortunately for me, after seeing me race the ARC120 last summer, both of my sons said that they thought I was insane and that they never wanted to do something that looks so miserable.

 

[JV_RedLeafDesigns]

Wow "ely portage marathon". That just screams fun! I wonder why they chose the boats they did? There are lighter boats out there. Mr. Bossen put in a real solid time at 4hr 11min can't imagine there was to much walking for that/ (6-6.5 mph avg est.). I bet his knees hurt.

I wanted to run it last fall, but didn’t get enough training on the roads in. If I do it, I’ll be using my wife’s very light Hornbeck New Tricks 11 with a very cushy portage yoke. It comes in just below the 18 pound minimum, but i can slip a half pound of weight under the seat.

 

[Grandpa Paddler]

NONE!!! At my age and current physical condition, I'm lucky to keep up with the current in a slow flowing river. this gettin' old crap ain't for sissys.

 

[snapper]

I used to do the General Clinton canoe regatta for many years down here on the Susquehanna but once my partner moved, I've never been tempted to do it again. He had just the right amount of seriousness for us to practice but not so much that we couldn't have fun with it. Our goal each year was to finish in the top half of our class since we never had more than 8 hours of practice prior to race day. With the top tier paddlers having 200+ hours of practice before the starter's gun was fired on race day, we had a lot less invested in time and energy. In the end, when you added our 8 hours of practice, along with about 10 hours for the course, we only totaled 18 hours for the entire endeavor. While the better paddlers certainly beat us, it was usually by about two hours so we were still ahead in the long run.

That's all for now. Take care and until next time...be well.

snapper

 

[yknpdlr]

NONE!!! At my age and current physical condition, I'm lucky to keep up with the current in a slow flowing river. this gettin' old crap ain't for sissys.

Oh G'pa, don't give up so easily. I began canoe racing with the 90 miler in 1997 at age 46, and have not missed any year of that race since then, including training for this year now age 74. I raced my first Yukon River Quest 11 years later and my first and second Yukon 1000 mile races at age 58 and 60, add three more YRQ races the last at age 66, and I may not be done yet.

I've always been amazed at the number of older paddlers in most races amongst the usual number of new youngsters. I know 80+ Year-olds who have regularly raced. I definitely credit my years of canoe racing and keeping up with training for continued good health.

Snapper, in contrast to your training, my Yukon team's training goal was always to train for 500 miles, combination of on water and equivalent paddling machine training. It has paid off with our finish in several race classes (canoe type, crew mix, and time), with the cash winning/place purse paying for much of our travel expenses.

 

[Grandpa Paddler]

Oh G'pa, don't give up so easily. I began canoe racing with the 90 miler in 1997 at age 46, and have not missed any year of that race since then, including training for this year now age 74. I raced my first Yukon River Quest 11 years later and my first and second Yukon 1000 mile races at age 58 and 60, add three more YRQ races the last at age 66, and ai may not be done yet.

I've always been amazed at the number of older paddlers in most races amongst the usual number of new youngsters. I know 80+. Year-olds who have regularly raced. I definitely credit my years of canoe racing and keeping up with training for continued good health.

Snapper, in contrast to your training, my Yukon team's training goal was always to train for 500 miles, combination of on water and equivalent paddling machine training. It has paid off with our finish in several race classes (canoe type, crew mix, and time), with the cash winning/place purse paying for much of our travel expenses.

I haven't given up. My spine has given up due to degenerative arthritis and multiple spinal fusions. I'm still paddling, just not as hard or fast.