Race Plans 2026

[zehyani]

The ice will melt soon. Who is racing this year, and where? I don't intend to do any big races, just stuff around town and in state. The Snake River Race in Mora MN is the first race of the season, and I will probably do it in an aluminum canoe with a friend. The Mississippi race is I think the second weekend of June, and has several segments, but will probably just do the 20 miler.
There are other local races every thursday in Minneapolis during the summer which lead to an intense hour of max heart rate activity.

 

[zehyani]

Any Minnesota paddlers, there are a few local races in the twin cities and nearby.
https://www.enduranceunited.org/long-lake-lap-2026

The long lake lap is a local race around Long Lake in New Brighton next saturday. 4 or 8 miles.
The Minnesota Canoe association has a list as well.

https://www.mncanoe.org/events/

come and have fun.

 

[Alan Gage]

My racing days are done but I encourage anyone in the area to check these out as well. It's a super welcoming and helpful group of people.

Is the Jensen handicap still the same weekend as long lake laps? Winning that one year is my only claim to fame. Was a super fun event where the top paddlers are paired with less experienced paddlers. I managed to get a D ranking based on my abysmal performance in a kayak the previous day on long lake so I was paired with a very good A paddler. It was actually my first race in a canoe and after that I was hooked and set the kayaks aside.

Alan

 

[yknpdlr]

Lumbar back issues have prevented me from joining some of the smaller Adirondack regional races this season. After an RF ablation procedure, Healing (and heeling) is now making good progress while in solo canoe training, so I am working on refurbishing a used Savage River Saranac C4 I have just acquired with my teeam for my 30th consecutive 90 mile race in September. My Granddaughter is excited to be coming out from California for her first ever canoe race and first 90 miler.

 

[zehyani]

The Jensen Handicap is Aug 16, starting at the Anoka County Fairgrounds.
yknpdlr, The 90 mile is a serious race and i am too intimidated to try it so far.

 

[yknpdlr]

The 90 mile is a serious race and i am too intimidated to try it so far.

Everyone has a first time in the 90. Many folks are in it only for the experience of it without regard to competition. With up to 275 paddle boats of all kinds in the race, not everyone is a racer. There is an optional non-racing class for those who feel intimidated by those who choose to be competiors.
The first day is the longest at 35 miles, beginning at 8:00. Although there are a couple of easy cut-off times to be made, if you paddle right along steadily, even at recreational speed, those times are not difficult to make. My wife is an offical timer and paddlers will continue to arrive until after 4:00 PM, fully 8 and more hours later. Applications come out on 1 July from https://www.northernforestcanoetrail.org/get-involved/events-activities/

 

[zehyani]

Tempting.

Maybe next year. I will have to train and find a partner who is willing to do it with me. The longest race i have doen this year is a one day 10.5 miler and I have a long way to go to bet back in shape.

 

[zehyani]

This is an interesting race coming up on Labor day weekend in Bemidji, MN.

Minnesota Paddling Championships

Have not gone before but plan to try it this year.

 

[Alan Gage]

This is an interesting race coming up on Labor day weekend in Bemidji, MN.

Minnesota Paddling Championships

Have not gone before but plan to try it this year.

I've done that one a couple times. Fun course and it was always a great group of paddlers. Good luck!

Alan

 

[zehyani]

I've done that one a couple times. Fun course and it was always a great group of paddlers. Good luck!

Alan

Thanks, I am looking forward to it. Doing both a tandem short race with a friend and the solo to follow. Usually come last in the solo, but it adds to the fun.

 

[yknpdlr]

After you have paddled in the official 90 miler a few times (this year is my 30th), you may be tempted to do the totally unofficial "Cannonball-90", as we call it. The goal is to complete the old traditional 90-mile route all within a single calendar day. I like to start in Old Forge at the stroke of midnight, which puts me in Saranac Lake 2-3 hours before sunset. 13 of them so far in every canoe type from solo to voyageur. On a clear night there are as many stars on the surface of the water as there are in the sky above until sunrise happens on Raquette Lake. Do it on or near the summer solstice for maximum daylight hours. One thing to know is that the accumulated carry milage on the official race route is about 5 miles, but the Cannonball route offers 10 miles of carries. That's just the way it is.

 

[Alan Gage]

Usually come last in the solo

That was one of my favorite positions too.

I hade a great race there one year when I brought my Magic to combine the race and a weekend camping trip. Another guy showed up in a DY Special and we went neck and neck the whole race. It was a windy day and in the calm water I would pull ahead but couldn't shake him off my wake. In the wind he would pull ahead and because of the wind and waves I couldn't stay on his wake and he'd pull ahead. Unfortunately the race ended in the wind. Another fella was in an Encounter and the wind wreaked havoc with that boat.

Did you get a chance to do the Jensen Handicap?

Alan

 

[zehyani]

That was one of my favorite positions too.

I hade a great race there one year when I brought my Magic to combine the race and a weekend camping trip. Another guy showed up in a DY Special and we went neck and neck the whole race. It was a windy day and in the calm water I would pull ahead but couldn't shake him off my wake. In the wind he would pull ahead and because of the wind and waves I couldn't stay on his wake and he'd pull ahead. Unfortunately the race ended in the wind. Another fella was in an Encounter and the wind wreaked havoc with that boat.

Did you get a chance to do the Jensen Handicap?

Alan

came 7th or 8th in the Jensen, solely due to Josh my partner who is young and strong.