Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Ausable River Canoe Marathon Race 2011-Grayling Michigan

64th Annual Ausable River 
Canoe Marathon
July 26-31, 2011

The longest professional canoe marathon race in the world. A grueling 120 miles from Grayling to Oscoda. There are several days with various events leading up to the race. The actual race begins at 9pm on Friday, July 29. The racers pick up their canoe and sprint 3 blocks to the river and jockey to get their canoe in the water for the 14-15 hour marathon race to Oscoda. A true test of endurance. 

Start of Race
Then there's the Mio Dam where racers carry their canoe up and down a hill, 1/4 mile to the other side of the dam. The first racers will reach the dam at 1am, others, not until dawn. 

Mio Dam
Some spectators follow the racers watching them at certain points where they are visible (the Mio Dam is a favorite). There's even a spectator guide available at the Ausable River Canoe Marathon website.

New this year is the Dash for Cash on Tuesday the 26th. Starting at 3pm teams can make a dash along a 1/4 mile stretch for a $5000 cash pool. The first place prize is $400.

Andy Triebold will try for his fifth straight 1st place finish and fourth in a row with current partner Steve Lajoie. Go team.

For more information go to the Ausable River Canoe Marathon website.

If you have ever wanted to try canoeing or kayaking, Grayling is the place. Whether you want to take a leisurely ride or an over-niter, there are numerous rental places that can accomodate you.

So if your in the Houghton Lake area at the end of the month and you want to see something different, check out the Ausable Canoe Race Marathon in Grayling.

See you there,

Ken S

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