BIGGEST FIELD EVER CELEBRATES 25^TH ADIRONDACK CANOE CLASSIC

252 canoes, kayaks, guideboats and war canoes powered by more than 500 paddlers made their way from Old Forge to Saranac Lake this past weekend in the 25^th annual Adirondack Canoe Classic.  The Adirondack Watershed Alliance, The Central Adirondack Association and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation hosted the event.  Major sponsors included Wenonah Canoes, Capital District Physicians Health Care Plan, Long Lake Recreation, CAMPMOR, Adirondack Bank, Grand Union Family Markets, Hyde Fuel, Forge Racing, Placid Boatworks and MAC’S Canoe Livery.

Known as “The 90-Miler,” the event features 16 boat classes, including those for the 8-person war canoes, guideboats, and various canoe and kayak classes. The fastest time of the weekend went to South Otselic resident John Ders and Clinton resident Andrew Jillings, paddling a two-person kayak, finished in 12 hours, 45 minutes and 38 seconds.   Ridgeland resident Ben Lawry and Dana Henry were the fastest tandem canoe with a time of 12:46:40. The fastest guideboat was rowed by Randy Blakemen and Brian LaFountain of Malta, they finished in 16:27:07. The fastest solo kayaker was Larry Thomas of Saratoga Springs.  He completed the event in 14:14:15. The fastest solo canoer was Jeff Pedersen of Gilbertsville with a total 3-day time of 14:45:30. The fastest 4-person canoe team was Bill Pollack, Claude Roux, Brian and Dena Gill of Quebec with an accumulated time of 14:32:38.  The fastest war canoe was the Burnt Hills Chiropractic Team of Roger and Joan Henry, Alec Davis, Ted Lutz, Jim Amell, Ed Greiner, Brian Young and Donald Patneaude.  Their winning time was 13:04:40.

 Not everyone was in it for the competition.  More than 70 boats participated in the Open Touring Class.  The class is designed for people who are more interested in the personal challenge than the competition.

There are five special recognition awards.  The Terry Healey Award, dedicated to the memory of a former DEC employee who was instrumental in securing the long standing role of the department in the 90-Miler, was awarded to Bob Yerka, of Poland, New York, for his long standing commitment to the event.   

The Pete Clark Memorial Award given to the guideboater who best exemplifies the traditions of the rowing community and the fun and fellowship off of the water was awarded to two close friends of Pete’s who were rowing in his honor, Matt Napierala and Rod Ives.

 The Richard Reynolds Memorial Award given to the fastest father and daughter team in the event.  The winners were Rodney and Miranda Robinson of Otego.  Dick was an eighteen-year veteran of the Adirondack Canoe Classic.  He loved paddling, and he loved paddling with his daughter Holly in his favorite race, the 90-Miler, best. 

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Regional Challenge Trophy was won by Adirondack Region 5 for having the highest number of employees participate and do well in the event.

The Adirondack Museum Cup awarded to the fastest guideboat in the Adirondack Canoe Classic was awarded to Randy Blakeman and Brian LaFountain.  There were 16 guideboats rowed in the 90-Miler this year, the most in the history of the event.

            The event featured two paddlers who have participated in every 90-Miler. South Glens Falls resident Ray Morris, joined by his grandchildren, Ricky and Mary Stockwell, finished in 21:24:09 in the open touring class. Sherburne resident Holly Crouch, paddling in the C-1 amateur class, completed the race in 20:02:08.

            Pins indicating the number of years of participation and number of miles paddled were handed out to all paddlers.  There was a horde of first time paddlers, numerous veterans, and a gritty group of paddlers who earned their 20 year gold canoe including Glen Vandewinckel, Ken Gerg, Jas Yolles, Anne Gill-Wood, Robert Wood, and Bob Pierson. Ray Morris and Holly Crouch were presented 25 year Adirondack Chair medallions to commemorate their ability to participate in every 90-Miler since 1983.

            A dynamic cadre of dedicated volunteers comes together every year to assure the success of the 90-Miler.  Members of the NYS DEC, led by Mike Grove and Phil Johnstone, provide boat safety and communications along the route; The American Red Cross Emergency Hamm Radio Communications Team, led by Roland and Jackie Patnode provide radio communications to race officials; Search and Rescue of the Northern Adirondacks (SARNAK) provides first aid along the route.  The Canoe Race Association of Professionals provides timing, logistics and canoe transportation for the four days of the event.

            The 90-Miler has a significant beginning of the “shoulder season” impact on the numerous businesses along the route with participants eating in restaurants, filling up their vehicles, staying in area motels, and shopping in the local stores.  In addition to the 500 participants, more than 1000 people acting as pit crews, spectators or 90- Miler groupies wend their way through the small Adirondack communities on the course.

Every participant in every boat has a story.  Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans in the Wounded Warrior War Canoe. People participating in memory of loved ones.  A woman came from New Zealand.    A honeymooning couple.  Cancer Survivors beating the odds.    Parents paddling with their children, and grandchildren.  Husbands and wives.  Friends coming together to enjoy the Adirondack scenery, the camaraderie and the challenge.  In 25 years a community of paddlers has developed around the event.  The common thread being the annual feat of paddling from Old Forge to Saranac Lake.  Current Race Director Brian McDonnell says he is emulating the goals of the original event organizer, Sue Dyer who said, “We wanted to offer something physically challenging, naturally gorgeous and positively memorable after the pain goes away!”