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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- 7/24/02 Grayling, Michigan

 

 

 

ANTICIPATION BUILDS FOR $50,000 WEYERHAEUSER AuSABLE RIVER CANOE MARATHON

 

RACING ACTION GETS UNDERWAY WITH INDY-STYLE “SPRINTS FOR POSITION” THURSDAY & FRIDAY AFTERNOON - NORTH AMERICA’S TOUGHEST, RICHEST CANOE RACES STARTS @ 9 PM SATURDAY NIGHT

 

The excitement is building throughout Northern Michigan as the clock ticks toward the start of North America's richest, toughest non-stop marathon canoe race - the $50,000 Weyerhaeuser AuSable River Canoe Marathon.  An estimated 50,000 fans and many of the top marathon canoe racing teams from throughout Canada and the U.S., have already arrived or are en-route to northern Michigan's fabled AuSable River Valley for the 55th running of this granddaddy of ultra-endurance events.  The AuSable River, long recognized as one of North America’s finest recreational canoeing and trout fishing streams, will be the scene of intense competition throughout the balance of “Marathon week”.

 

Over 50 two-person teams are registered to participate in the Marathon.  Lower than normal water levels throughout the 120-mile length of the AuSable River course will likely lead to slower times during the race. The darkness, any inclement weather, portaging six hydroelectric dams and the sheer torture of up to 19 hours of non-stop paddling at 50 to 80 paddle strokes per minute will all combine to play on the contestants' physical and mental capabilities.

 

On Thursday and Friday the 53 two-person teams entered in the Marathon compete in the Sprints for Position.   Much like Indy 500 qualifying, the teams sprint a short looped course to determine their starting row position for the three-block run with their canoes to the river for Saturday’s start of the 55th Weyerhaeuser AuSable River Canoe Marathon.  The team with the quickest sprint time is awarded the Pole Position in the line-up for Saturday’s running start.  The Sprints for position are staged on the river at Penrod’s Resort [on Maple Street] in Grayling; Thursday 5-8PM, Friday 2-5:45PM.

 

Defending six-time Marathon Champs, Jeff Kolka, 43, of Grayling, Michigan, and Serge Corbin, 45, of St. Boniface, Quebec, will be gunning for an unprecedented seventh consecutive victory at the AuSable Marathon, the middle jewel of the prestigious Triple Crown of Canoe Racing.  The pair won the Triple Crown of Canoe Racing championship in both 2000 & 2001 and gunning for a “triple-Triple” in 2002.

 

The $50,000 Weyerhaeuser AuSable River Canoe Marathon starts with the teams making a spine-tingling LeMans-style run several blocks through the streets of Grayling to the river at Ray's Canoeing at 9:00 P.M., Saturday, July 27.  The pre-race program begins at 6:00 P.M. at Ray’s. Thousands of fans will view all or part of the race, driving to public access sites, bridges, dam portages and other viewing locations along the AuSable River race course to cheer on the teams through Saturday night and on to the finish line in Oscoda between 11 A.M. and noon on Sunday, July 28.

 

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 Festivals 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:

            Grayling Area Visitors Council    (989) 348-2921  (800) 937-8837      http://www.grayling-mi.com

            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 are available on the world-wide web at:  http://www.AuSableCanoeMarathon.org