2016 Ausable Canoe Marathon

The AuSable River Canoe Marathon committee appoints a Flagship Radio Station for future events and race broadcasts – 98.5 WUPS.
The AuSable River Canoe Marathon (ARCM) committee is pleased to announce it has appointed 98.5 UPS as its Official Radio Broadcast Flagship Station. The committee, in partnership with the ownership of 98.5 UPS, will create a newly formed radio network comprised of stations within Michigan, as well as other U.S. states, and Canada.

AuSable River Canoe Marathon committee representative, Phil Weiler, commented, “The development of an AuSable Marathon radio network is a very exciting concept. Attracting more visitors to the AuSable River Valley communities is one of the primary missions of the AuSable Marathon. Increasing public awareness of this magnificent region is a big step toward achieving that objective.”

In addition, Mike Chires owner of Black Diamond Broadcast Group (98.5 WUPS and 92.1 The Twister), said “We are excited and proud of our new partnership with the AuSable River Canoe Marathon. We’re looking forward to bringing coverage of one of the most exciting events in our state each year to fans throughout Michigan, other U.S. states and abroad”.

In 2016, AuSable River Canoe Marathon Week will kick off on Tuesday, July 26, with the Dash for Cash in Oscoda. Activities continue with the AuSable Marathon Time Trials, July 27-29, in Grayling. The 69th AuSable River Canoe Marathon begins in Grayling at 9:00 pm, Saturday, July 30 and finishes in Oscoda, Sunday, July 31.

Champions of the 2015 AuSable River Canoe Marathon - Andrew Triebold, of Grayling, Michigan, and Steve Lajoie, of Mirabel, Quebec. They completed the 120-mile Grayling to Oscoda course in 14:31:56 (14 hours, 31 minutes, 56 seconds). This is the dynamic duo's eighth consecutive Marathon victory and ninth overall. Andrew Triebold now has 10 AuSable Marathon victories, having also won the race in 2007 with Matthew Rimer.

Giant Moose wrote:I assume P.J. Fleck won the 2015 marathon?

Robert J Sakimano wrote:

Giant Moose wrote:I assume P.J. Fleck won the 2015 marathon?

is that Gerry and Cookie's kid?

LooseGoose wrote:Gotts' Landing 12 hrs ·
We have received a few calls lately from people with their own canoes and kayaks who can't wait to get on the river. This is the road to Comins Flats, where we get people off the river. It looks like we're all going to have to be patient just a little bit longer.

Giant Moose wrote:

LooseGoose wrote:Gotts' Landing 12 hrs ·
We have received a few calls lately from people with their own canoes and kayaks who can't wait to get on the river. This is the road to Comins Flats, where we get people off the river. It looks like we're all going to have to be patient just a little bit longer.

Is this going to ruin the marathon?

Also, 2016 brings the Inaugural Rabaska / R-9 Canoe Race at the AuSable Marathon, with teams from Quebec traveling to Michigan with their 20+ foot long voyager-type canoes for a competition on the AuSable River in conjunction with the AuSable Marathon.

The AuSable River Canoe Marathon's time trials event - a competition that determines starting positions for the race's run to the river - will feature significant changes this year, including a new course and a new spectator viewing area.

The AuSable River Canoe Marathon is a 120-mile nonstop race from Grayling to Oscoda, held every year during the last full weekend of July. It starts on a Saturday night and ends on Sunday. Hundreds of spectators view the event at a variety of places throughout the race course. In the last 10 years, the AuSable Marathon has had an average of 80.3 paddling teams competing in the race.

The AuSable River Canoe Marathon is moving its time trials course this year in an effort to gain more exposure for the event, and race officials and paddling teams conducted a test of the new course on Wednesday night. The AuSable Marathon is a 120-mile canoe race from Grayling to Oscoda. The start of the race features paddling teams running with their canoes to the water at the Old AuSable Fly Shop in Grayling. In order to determine starting placements for the run to the river, the Marathon conducts a three-day time trials competition. Teams earn their spots with their finish times at sprints.

The old sprint course started at Penrod's. Teams paddled downstream, turned around at a buoy, and finished the sprint going upstream.

The new course has paddling teams starting at Penrod's and going upstream to the Old AuSable Fly Shop, completing the buoy turn, and finishing going downstream.

LooseGoose wrote:Parmalee Trading Post 3 hrs ·
First Canoe trip of the year!

The AuSable Marathon is a 120-mile race. It starts in Grayling at 9 p.m. on Saturday, July 30, and ends on Sunday, July 31. Teams will reach the finish line at Oscoda in 14 to 19 hours.

Presenting sponsor this year is Consumers Energy.

GRAYLING – As the start of the 69th AuSable River Canoe Marathon inches closer, one team is looking to set itself apart in North America’s longest canoe race.

One of only four all-female teams competing, Katie and Kristi Treston will take to the AuSable River this weekend for the second time.

Originally from downstate Pinckney, the Trestons have since relocated and now call northern Michigan home, with Kristi living in Grayling and Katie in Traverse City.

The Trestons are no strangers to northern Michigan, though, having spent summers in Grayling, cheering on marathon competitors.

“We’d throw a tarp down like that morning at about 7 a.m.,” Kristi Treston said. “We’d all go and we’d make our own team shirts, we didn’t even follow a boat at the time.”

Former volleyball athletes at Clarion (Pa.) University, the Trestons have continued to challenge themselves athletically, running in the Detroit Free Press and Boston marathons.

Despite their growing resume of marathons completed, Katie and Kristi Treston had yet to meet a challenge quite like the 120-mile AuSable Rive Canoe Marathon.

Competing as rookies last year, the Trestons came home in 67th place out of 84 teams, finishing in 18:24:34.

“The most challenging part was knowing what the night was going to entail, because we had no idea what we were getting ourselves into,” Kristi Treston said.

NORTHEAST MICHIGAN — More than 10,000 people will gather on the banks of the AuSable River in Grayling as teams race into the pristine waters for the start of the 68th annual AuSable River Canoe Marathon July 30.

The two-person teams race to and down the steep banks of the AuSable with canoes slung atop their shoulders, splashing into the water as the crowds cheer on.

“It looks like there will be a record field,” ARCM Communications Director Steve Southard said. “We also have a record number of out-of-state paddlers this year.”

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

If the insane distance and nonstop duration weren’t enough, these paddlers will hit the water in Grayling around 9 p.m. and traverse the turns and obstacles of the marathon through the dark of night to the early morning hours and, for some, midday on Sunday.

The only light the paddlers will see is what they provide, Mother Nature provides and the portable spotlights at the portages located at each of the five hydroelectric dams along the river.

Motivations for racing the event vary from a challenge of physical endurance, a chance for a cut of the $50,000 prize purse, a personal challenge or sheer lunacy.

GRAYLING – Andrew Triebold and Steve Lajoie have become well-known names in the AuSable River Canoe Marathon over the last 12 years, winning the event nine times.

The duo has etched their names into the champion’s column every year since 2008, as well as winning the Triple Crown of Canoe Racing from 2008-13. Additionally, Triebold won the Triple Crown as an individual in 2014.

This year, the decorated partners have split up, with Lajoie, who’s from Quebec, deciding not to participate in this year’s marathon.

Triebold, a Grayling native, has picked up a new partner in Jacob DuBois, a native of Houston, Texas, who will be competing in his first AuSable Canoe Marathon.

With Triebold and Lajoie not defending their title, the field has opened up.

LooseGoose wrote:Shannon McGrattan ‏@Shan_McGrattan 54m54 minutes ago
Treston sisters set to tackle @AuSableMarathon

Treston Sisters Tackle AuSable River Canoe Marathon

GRAYLING – As the start of the 69th AuSable River Canoe Marathon inches closer, one team is looking to set itself apart in North America’s longest canoe race.

One of only four all-female teams competing, Katie and Kristi Treston will take to the AuSable River this weekend for the second time.

Originally from downstate Pinckney, the Trestons have since relocated and now call northern Michigan home, with Kristi living in Grayling and Katie in Traverse City.

The Trestons are no strangers to northern Michigan, though, having spent summers in Grayling, cheering on marathon competitors.

“We’d throw a tarp down like that morning at about 7 a.m.,” Kristi Treston said. “We’d all go and we’d make our own team shirts, we didn’t even follow a boat at the time.”

Former volleyball athletes at Clarion (Pa.) University, the Trestons have continued to challenge themselves athletically, running in the Detroit Free Press and Boston marathons.

Despite their growing resume of marathons completed, Katie and Kristi Treston had yet to meet a challenge quite like the 120-mile AuSable Rive Canoe Marathon.

Competing as rookies last year, the Trestons came home in 67th place out of 84 teams, finishing in 18:24:34.

“The most challenging part was knowing what the night was going to entail, because we had no idea what we were getting ourselves into,” Kristi Treston said.