The Marathon will begin at 9:00 a.m. (EDT). This 16 mile Marathon is a tough race designed for experienced marathon paddlers.
K-1 (men and women) has joined the C-1 (men and women) to become the only two pro divisions.
The C-1 class follows the USCA boat specifications.
Only ICF K-1 paddlers in the Pro-Marathon Division qualify for USACK's Marathon National Ranking.
This year's race will be especially exciting with the top athletes in the country competing for both C1 and K1! Here are some movies and pics of other top C1 and K1 races.
The course is on a challenging part of the St. Joseph River and will include two portages at St. Pat's Park. There are strong current, boils, converging currents, and many, many strainers to paddle through and around. This race requires good technical skills and the stamina to paddle hard for 2 1/2 hours or more.
We have made some exciting changes to the course this year:
All pro-marathoners will complete 2 portages.
ALL boats, including the pros, will start on the water (NO LEMANS START!)
Pro-Marathon--cash will be awarded only to classes with 3 or more boats participating.
Paddlers in a class with fewer than 3 participants will be entered into the men's category.
The racers start at St. Pat’s, go south (upstream) to the Turn-Around Island (across the street from Pinhook Park). They round the island clockwise (this is the only clockwise turn; all others are counter-clockwise!) and go north (downstream) past St. Pat's to the Bertrand Rd. Bridge. They go upstream to St. Pat's for their 1st portage, back in and up to the Darden Rd. Bridge, and back to St. Pat's. At St. Pat's, they'll get out again for a portage, up to Auten Rd. and back again finally to St. Pat's Park.
This will be an exciting race for both racers and spectators. This marathon race is advertised to seasoned racers all over the country.
