Calling all paddlers and wannabes: a family friendly Paddle Day is on deck Saturday.
Held in conjunction with the Outback Steakhouse Canoe Race, the Paddle Day will pit paddlers against a challenge course. By maneuvering around a series of buoys on the Boardman River, participants will build their on-water skills.
While canoes and kayaks will be available, participants are encouraged to bring paddle craft including canoes, kayaks or stand up boards. Paddle Day will be held from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. on the Boardman River in downtown Traverse City, between Cass and 8th streets.
The professional one-person canoe race will begin at 3 p.m. and will feature a five-lap event and a one-lap sprint. Paddle Day attendees are encouraged to stay and watch the estimated 45-minute race.
A second race on Sunday features two-person canoes paddling from the Brown Bridge Dam to Hull Park at the north end of the Boardman Lake. This race begins at 9:30 a.m. and will last an estimated two hours.
An informal group of a dozen paddlers based in the area are hosting the Paddle Day event. These canoe enthusiasts met through racing and get together regularly to train.
They conceived of Paddle Day as a way to generate excitement for the races and spread awareness of the sport.
"[The races] have been flying around under the radar for about seven years now so that's why we're trying to crank it up and get some knowledge out there to get the public down here to see how much fun it can be," said Karl Pearson of Traverse City, the Paddle Day organizer. "So we have a non-competitive event where they can have fun and enjoy themselves and see these great canoe races."
An estimated 30 racers will participate in Saturday's one-person race while Sunday's event will draw 35-40 tandem canoes.
Racing canoes are distinct from the wallowing aluminum whales most people associate with the word canoe. They are sleek, light and made of high-tech materials such as carbon fiber.
"The boats are light and narrow and very tippy," said Garth Greenan of Cedar, the race organizer. "All the seats slide back because it's real critical to get the boat trimmed out just right."
The Family Day Saturday mirrors the family-oriented nature of canoe racing. Some professional racing teams will have a family connection not uncommon in the sport, including father-son, father-daughter or grandfather-grandson combos.
Competitive paddlers hone their talents through steady training that build skills, endurance and speed. Tandem paddlers also have to learn to work together, synchronizing movements and weight shifts, for peak efficiency,.
Whether solo or tandem, racing canoeists must master portages overland treks around water-based blockages. The Outback Steakhouse Canoe Race on Sunday will include four portages on the course
"It's a pretty wide skill level, some race just for fun but most of the people are pretty serious athletes," said Greenan of canoe racing. "It's a very high level of competition at the front of the pack even at the back of the pack."
Competitors in the two pro races will come from around the Midwest although some athletes already are based in northern Michigan.
"A couple of paddlers living here are among the top in the country," said Pearson.
The Paddle Day will be held Saturday from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. on the Boardman River between Cass Street and 8th Street in conjunction with the Outback Steakhouse Canoe Race. A personal flotation device (PFD) is required as well as a $5 insurance fee plus and signed waiver; under 18 years old must have parental permission.
For more information on the informal weekly paddle group, call Karl Pearson at 649-1535.
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