Spike’s Challenge sprints,
races to be held this weekend
July 23, 24
C-1 race and C-2 sprints for
position to be held Saturday, C-2 race set for Sunday
For many paddlers, this weekend’s Spike’s Challenge
Paddlers’ Tribute canoe races will serve as warm-ups for the AuSable River
Canoe Marathon, a 120-mile race from Grayling to Oscoda that will be conducted
the following weekend. For others, it’s an opportunity to compete against
fellow paddlers and get a taste of what the AuSable Marathon has to offer.
The Spike’s Challenge C-2 race runs from Ray’s Canoe Livery
to McMasters Bridge, and begins with paddling teams running through the streets
of Grayling with their canoes before launching their crafts into the river. The
winning teams reach the finish line in 2.5 to 3 hours. McMasters Bridge is the
fourth checkpoint of the AuSable Marathon – a race that has a total of 15
checkpoints. The Spike’s Challenge C-2 race course represents the first
one-quarter (approximately) of the 120-mile AuSable Marathon.
“It’s a great tune-up for the Marathon,” said Tim Zigila,
AuSable River Canoe Marathon Committee Co-Chair. “We’re glad to have Spike’s
back as sponsor of the race.”
For canoe racing fans, the Spike’s Challenge offers an
opportunity to see paddlers navigate the first one-quarter of the AuSable
Marathon course during daylight hours. (The AuSable Marathon starts at 9 p.m.
and most of the race is paddled during nighttime hours.)
“It’s a great race to watch for spectators because they can
see a lot of what the Marathon’s about. It’s three hours of the Marathon in
daylight,” Zigila said. “Spectators can see feeders doing a feed (usually at
Wakeley Bridge). (The race) gives a good overall view of what the teams do.”
The Spike’s Challenge C-2 race starts with sprints for
position on Saturday, July 23, beginning at 10 a.m. During sprints, paddlers
complete a looped course and times determine where teams will line up for the
race start’s run to the river on Sunday morning.
The starting line for sprints is in the City Park near the
pedestrian bridge over the AuSable River. Teams travel upstream, navigate under
a railroad bridge, turn around at a buoy near the County Building, go under the
bridge one more time, and finish at the starting line.
“We’re looking forward to the sprints for position. They’re
held at the City Park and people can come out and watch those, get a glimpse of
canoe racing,” Zigila said.
The C-2 race starts at 9 a.m. on Sunday, July 24. Teams line
up according to their sprint times and – at the starting gun – run with their
canoes to the river at Ray’s. Teams reach the finish line at McMasters Bridge
between 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m.
The Spike’s Challenge Paddlers’ Tribute weekend also
includes a C-1 (one-person) canoe race. The C-1 race, which usually draws at
least a few AuSable Marathon paddlers, starts at Borchers Canoe Livery at 6
p.m. on Saturday, July 23. Competitors reach the finish line at Burton’s
Landing 40 to 90 minutes later.
The 58th Weyerhaeuser AuSable River Canoe Marathon will
start at 9 p.m. on Saturday, July 30, at Ray’s Canoe Livery. The pre-race
program begins at 5:30 p.m. Time trials for the 2005 AuSable River Canoe
Marathon will be held at Penrod’s on Thursday, July 28, from 5-8:30 p.m. and
Friday, July 29, from 2-6 p.m. Time trials determine starting positions for the
run to the river on Saturday night.
