2017 Ausable Canoe Marathon

NORTHEAST MICHIGAN –– More than 10,000 people are expected to gather on the banks of the AuSable River in Grayling as teams race their canoes down the river for the start of the 70th annual AuSable River Canoe Marathon Saturday, July 29.

Marathon Week activities will start Tuesday, July 25, and will continue until the conclusion of the race July 30.

The AuSable River Canoe Marathon is organized by a non-profit organization, AuSable River International Canoe Marathon, which was formed in 1983 and is made up entirely of volunteers, according to the race’s Facebook page.

Heather Tait, chairperson of the Grayling committee of AuSable River International Canoe Marathon, said this year 79 teams have signed up and the 120-mile race usually includes anywhere from 70-90 boats.

“It’s the 70th race this year so we’re celebrating that, which is kind of a cool thing that it’s gone on so long,” Tait said. “I'm very excited to be a part of this year's event. We have 79 teams entered and it should be an interesting race.”

Tait said many of the competitors this year are from outside of Michigan, and some are from outside of the U.S.

“It's awesome to see how far the reach of the Marathon has grown over the past few years,” she said. “We couldn't be successful without the support of the communities along the AuSable, as well as the wonderful group of volunteers we have working on the committee this year, and I'm grateful to have such a great team.”

The teams will travel 120 miles of the river from Grayling through Mio, eventually finishing in Oscoda nearly 20 hours after the start.

This year, the second annual Rabaska/R-9 Race will be hosted July 29-30 and will begin at the Mio Dam at 10 a.m Saturday morning with viewing areas at the Mio Dam, Camp 10 Bridge and Oscoda County Park. Teams of nine will compete in 25-foot voyageur canoes.

The public is welcome to join in on the “The Rabaska Experience,” which will take place Saturday from 8-9:30 a.m. Participants will be able to paddle a Rabaska canoe with experienced paddlers for a $5 donation to the Oscoda County Park.

Robert J Sakimano wrote:so are you participating in this or are you just providing their message board advertising content?

Robert J Sakimano wrote:oh, I don't plan on attending.. I was just curious if you were involved beyond the promotional aspect of it.

GRAYLING, Mich. (WPBN/WGTU)-- Dozens took part in the annual Spike's Challenge Canoe Race.
Spike's Challenge is the final warm-up before the 70th Annual AuSable River Canoe Marathon.

Nordic wrote:Drive by the Starting Line yesterday and thought of this thread

LooseGoose wrote:AuSable Marathon‏ @AuSableMarathon 2h2 hours ago
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Turtleneck wrote:

LooseGoose wrote:AuSable Marathon‏ @AuSableMarathon 2h2 hours ago
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Do you support banning trans people from canoe races, Loose?

LooseGoose wrote:I'll wait for Wags to weigh in now. I'm sure he's very upset at this point.

Of the 80 teams competing in this year’s race from Grayling to Oscoda, 15 pairs of paddlers took to the AuSable River for the first of the three-day time trials. Paddlers went upstream from Penrod’s Canoe Livery to Old AuSable Fly Shop and back down to Penrod’s to determine the starting lineup for Saturday night.

The rookie and veteran combination of Phil Weiler and Rick Joy finished with the second best time of the day.

This year marks Joy’s 37th marathon, while Weiler, who previously served as a representative on the marathon’s committee, is competing in his first.