Triple Crown of Canoe Racing
The Triple Crown of Canoe Racing recognizes the top performances by marathon canoe racers who compete at North America’s three most prestigious marathon canoe races:
General Clinton Canoe Regatta
New York – First held in 1963, the General Clinton Canoe Regatta (GCCR) is staged Memorial Day weekend on New York’s Susquehanna River – a one-day, non-stop 70 mile race from Cooperstown (home of the Baseball Hall of Fame) to Bainbridge, New York.
AuSable River Canoe Marathon
Michigan – First held in 1947, the AuSable River Canoe Marathon (ARCM) is North America’s toughest & richest non-stop canoe race. It is staged from Grayling to Oscoda on Northern Michigan’s famed AuSable River during the last full weekend of July.
Classique Internationale de Canots de la Mauricie
Quebec – First held in 1934, the Classique Internationale de Canots de la Mauricie (CICM) – also known as the International Canoe Classic – is staged Labor Day weekend on central Quebec’s majestic St. Maurice River – a three-day, three-stage race from La Tuque to Trois Rivieres, Quebec. For 2024, La Classique de Canots has been canceled due to organizational difficulties. The Classique organization has established a 2025 race date and is working toward completing the path to a successful race during the Labor Day weekend of 2025.
Défi de Canot de la Saint-Maurice
The Défi de Canot de la Saint-Maurice (DCSM) – also known as the St. Maurice Canoe Challenge – has been designated as the third stage of the Triple Crown for the 2024 season. The DCSM is being organized and staged this year by the marathon canoe racing association of Quebec: Association des Coureurs en Canot du Quebec (ACCQ).
Marathon canoe racing on the grand scale of the Triple Crown of Canoe Racing events is an action-packed, spectator favorite. The competitors maintain a torrid pace of 50 to 90+ paddle strokes per minute amid pitched competition, frenzied running portages, river obstructions, and spills, which all take their toll on the contestants.
These world-class marathon canoe racing events generate national and international media interest and exposure. Triple Crown news reports have been carried worldwide by cable and satellite TV sports and news services. National print media have recognized the unique interest and appeal of these marathon canoe racing spectacles.