2015 Ausable Canoe Marathon

LooseGoose wrote:Since 1947,One of the Greatest Canoe Races on Earth!

The AuSable River Canoe Marathon - a 120-mile nonstop race from Grayling to Oscoda slated for Saturday, July 25 - has more than 70 teams signed up for this year's event.

The AuSable Marathon has three registration deadlines. The first deadline was Friday, June 12, and the second is Friday, July 3. The third and final deadline is noon on Monday, July 20.

LooseGoose wrote:More than 70 teams training for 2015 AuSable River Canoe Marathon

The AuSable River Canoe Marathon - a 120-mile nonstop race from Grayling to Oscoda slated for Saturday, July 25 - has more than 70 teams signed up for this year's event.

The AuSable Marathon has three registration deadlines. The first deadline was Friday, June 12, and the second is Friday, July 3. The third and final deadline is noon on Monday, July 20.

Watch Out Pylon! wrote:

LooseGoose wrote:More than 70 teams training for 2015 AuSable River Canoe Marathon

Wait, this is a serious competition? I thought it was a huge river party.

LooseGoose wrote:

Watch Out Pylon! wrote:

Wait, this is a serious competition? I thought it was a huge river party.

Yes, it's part of the Triple Crown of canoe racing.   There are parties on all the bridges and at the portages for the spectators but it's
deadly serious for the competitors.

Triple Crown of Canoe Racing

Giant Moose wrote:

LooseGoose wrote:
Yes, it's part of the Triple Crown of canoe racing.   There are parties on all the bridges and at the portages for the spectators but it's
deadly serious for the competitors.

Triple Crown of Canoe Racing

There is a Triple Crown of canoe racing?

GRAYLING, MI – They don't call him Amazing Al for nothing.

Not because Al Widing Sr. has been racing in the Au Sable River Canoe Marathon since before most current paddlers were born. Not because of his 11 top-10 finishes, or nine top-fives.

And not because the Mio paddler has found success with over 20 different partners.

No, the "amazing" moniker was attached to Widing Sr.'s name about 10 years ago as he approached 80 years old and still showed up every year -- and finished ahead of most of the field.

Now, at 89 years old, Al Widing Sr. still has some amazement left in him.

"He's a fixture, he's our Gordie Howe," said Au Sable Marathon spokesperson Phil Weiler. "Everybody that comes here wants to at least paddle with him once. We're really fortunate to have him.

GRAYLING, Mich., July 9, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- The 68^th edition of the AuSable River Canoe Marathon – a grueling 120-mile overnight non-stop canoe race from Grayling to Oscoda, Michigan – is upcoming Saturday & Sunday, July 25-26.

Presented in 2015 by Consumers Energy and the Michigan Army National Guard – the AuSable Marathon is the middle leg of the Triple Crown of Canoe Racing.

This canoe race is exceptional in many respects. More than 80 professional two-person canoe racing teams from throughout the U.S. and Canada are entered. They will paddle at an amazing rate of 50-80 paddle strokes per minute for 14 to 19 hours in sleek hi-tech carbon-fiber racing canoes that weigh less than 30 pounds, some costing $5,000 or more.

The teams battle the darkness, river obstructions, frequently adverse weather conditions and sheer exhaustion during the course of the 120-mile race that includes running portages around six Consumers Energy hydro dams.  At various locations along the way they receive food, drink, clothing changes and other support from "feeders," or pit crews. The top teams vie for a share of the $50,000 cash & prizes purse.

Thousands of fans follow the action from the frenzied LeMans-style running start to the river that begins the race in Grayling, on to viewing locations at bridges, public access points and dam portages to cheer on the teams throughout the race to the finish line in Oscoda.

Thousands more fans encourage the competitors from riverfront cabins and homes along the fabled AuSable River, many being the site of Marathon parties where family and friends gather to catch a glimpse of the action. Up to 50,000 fans are expected to view at least some part of the race.

Race officials said thousands of fans follow the action from the frenzied Le Mans-style running start to the river that begins the race in Grayling, on to viewing locations at bridges, public access points and dam portages to cheer on the teams throughout the race to the finish line in Oscoda.

Weiler said up to 50,000 fans are expected to view at least some part of the race.


He said in the early stages of the race fans flock to McMasters and Stephan bridges in
Crawford County to watch the race. He said the bridges are closed and spectators must walk to the river to view the action.

He suggested people take their time with the viewing locations, drive slowly, and watch the action with caution.

“People have plenty of time to get from location to location,” he said. “Have a designated driver and be safe on the river.”

Another new feature of this year’s race is the ability to watch the action unfold online through the race’s official website. Last year race officials did a trial run with GPS tracking equipment in a few select canoes. This year every team will be tracked, Weiler said.

Herbie Green wrote:It seems like this race has been going on for months now

Herbie Green wrote:It seems like this race has been going on for months now