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EDITOR’S NOTE: Downloadable hi-res course map
graphics, news releases, entry lists, historical information and photographs
are available for your use and to the public at our website: http://www.AuSableCanoeMarathon.org
The Weyerhaeuser AuSable River Canoe Marathon is
The
Marathon’s famous frenzied LeMans-style running start by the two-person teams
with their canoes to the river kicks off a race of fourteen to nineteen hours
& 120 miles non-stop through the night from Grayling, in north central
Michigan, to Oscoda, on the shores of Lake Huron. At the sound of the starter’s pistol at 9:00
P.M. Saturday night, July 27, more than 50 two-person teams will run with their
canoes several blocks through the streets of the Grayling to the AuSable River
in front of Ray’s Canoeing, beginning North America’s toughest, richest
non-stop canoe race.
Excitement is at a fevered pitch among the
participants and fans alike during the frenzied start of the race, which has
been described as the most intense two minutes in competitive sports. More than 50,000 fans will cheer on the
gritty Marathon canoe racing competitors at various points throughout the
race. The heartiest fans drive the full
length of the AuSable River course from Grayling to Oscoda, moving from one
viewing location to the next at public landings, bridges and hydroelectric dam
portages to cheer on their favorite teams.
Staged since 1947, the AuSable Marathon was an ultra-endurance
event long before ultra-endurance became “cool.” The two-person teams must portage six
hydroelectric dams plus battle the darkness, the river’s natural obstructions,
the weather and the sheer exhaustion brought on by paddling their lightweight
hi-tech kevlar or carbon-fiber canoes at a torrid pace of 55 to 80 strokes per
minute non-stop throughout the 14 to 19 hour race. They receive no assistance except food, drink
and, perhaps, a dry shirt passed to them by their “feeders” or “bankrunners” at
points along the course.
Weyerhaeuser AuSable River Canoe Marathon fans are
treated to the highest level of marathon canoe racing competition in North
America as top canoe marathon competitors from throughout the U.S. and Canada
will be competing in the event. The 2002
AuSable Marathon field boasts entries from 15 U.S. states and Canadian
provinces. Also in the 2002 AuSable
Marathon field is one of the top marathon canoe racers from Belize. Armin Lopez, 29, of San Ignacio, Belize, who
will be making his first AuSable Marathon appearance with Steve Landick, 49, of
Marquette, Michigan.
Simply completing the 120 mile non-stop race in
qualifying time [less than 19 hours] is a significant accomplishment. The already daunting task is even tougher for
teams from outside the AuSable River region who must paddle the unfamiliar
twisting upper course through the night.
Many of the teams entered in the race arrived in Grayling a number of
days in advance of the race in order to paddle and familiarize themselves with
various sections of the AuSable River course and to learn where flowing
shortcuts are that will save valuable seconds and minutes during the race.
While water levels are higher this year than they were in 2001, there seems to be little chance that the Marathon’s all-time record is in jeopardy of being broken this year. Quebec’s Serge Corbin, 45, a 15-time AuSable winner, set the Marathon record time of 13:58:08 (13 hours, 58 minutes, 8 seconds) with Saskatchewan’s Solomon Carriere in 1994. Corbin is teamed with a local favorite, Jeff Kolka, 43, of Grayling, Michigan, as the pair attempts an unbelievable and unprecedented seventh consecutive victory on the tough AuSable course.
Not only have the powerful Kolka-Corbin duo been on a roll at the Weyerhaeuser AuSable Marathon, in 2000 and 2001, they also won New York’s General Clinton Canoe Regatta and Quebec’s La Classique de Canots en-route to a three-victory sweep of the Triple Crown of Canoe Racing. The pair picked up this year right where they left off in 2001, taking a 47 second victory [7 hours, 19 minutes, 13 seconds] at the New York race Memorial Day weekend over Al Rudquist, of Grand Rapids, Minnesota, and his partner Tim Triebold, of Spring Harbor, Michigan.
Quebec’s Corbin has won or shared [with his partner] the Triple Crown of Canoe Racing championship every year since its inception 1992. He has clearly been the preeminent marathon canoe racer in North America for more than 20 years. His record is astounding, rising above the level achieved by dominant athletes in other sports. During his 24 years in marathon canoe racing, with a variety of partners, Serge Corbin has won 90% of the major canoe races he has entered!
Among the teams expected to challenge Kolka & Corbin, the reigning AuSable Marathon champs, are two Northern Michigan paddlers who have each previously finished second in the race: Bill Torongo, 40, of Roscommon, Michigan, and his partner John Sullivan, 32, of Grayling, Michigan. Other teams expected to challenge for top-five finishes and, perhaps, compete for the crown include:
· Jim Harwood, 37, of Grayling, Michigan, who is a past AuSable Marathon winner, and his partner Tim Valko, 33, of Pinckney, Michigan
· Bruce Barton, 45, of Homer, Michigan, and Steve Lajoie, 26, of Vaudreuil-Sur-Le-Lac, Quebec
· Mo Harwood, 23, of Grayling, Michigan, and Matt Rimer, 18, of Horton, Michigan
· Rick Joy, 43, of Silverwood, Michigan, who has been a consistent top-five finisher at the Marathon, and Ted Kolka, 36, of Grayling, Michigan. Ted is Marathon Champ Jeff Kolka’s brother.
While many fans will focus on the battle for the
top positions, there will be plenty of attention directed toward other teams as
well. Many fans will be cheering on Al
Widing Sr., 77, of Mio,
Michigan and his partner, Bernie Tuszynski, 45 of Gaylord. Widing, known among Marathon canoe racing
fans as “Amazing Al,” started racing the Marathon in 1955 and has competed in
the race in 6 decades. He will likely be
adding to his long list of AuSable Marathon accomplishments. He has entered and
finished more AuSable Marathons than anyone and finished as high as 2nd. The veteran sets a steady pace throughout the
120 mile race and admits that it is “kind of fun” to pass younger competitors
later in the race as their energy levels and endurance begin to ebb. Two brothers from Grayling, Michigan, make up
the youngest team entered in the 2002 Marathon:
Ryan Halstead, 15, and Rodney Halstead, 17, who are competing the
Amateur division.
Weyerhaeuser AuSable River Canoe Marathon
competitive action kicks off with the Sprints
for Position at Penrods Resort in Grayling on Thursday and Friday
afternoon, July 25-26. The sprints are
much like “Indy 500” pole-position qualifying: Each team paddles a short looped
course, their lap time determines their starting row position for the
spine-tingling LeMans style run to the river that starts the Marathon on
Saturday night.
The Weyerhaeuser AuSable River Canoe Marathon is held in conjunction with Grayling's "AuSable River Festival" and Oscoda’s “AuSable River Days”, featuring a host of events throughout Marathon week. The celebrations recognize the unique importance of the AuSable River to these northern Michigan communities. For more information about the Weyerhaeuser AuSable River Canoe Marathon and festivals, or for information about tourism and recreational opportunities in the AuSable River valley area, contact:
Oscoda-AuSable
Chamber of Commerce (989) 739-7322 (800) 235-4625 http://www.oscoda.com
Extensive information, photographs, course maps and
frequently updated race results for the Weyerhaeuser AuSable River Canoe
Marathon is\will also available on the world-wide web at: http://www.AuSableCanoeMarathon.org