The Orono High School Canoe Racing Team will be hosting two canoe races this month: the Kenduskeag Sprints and the Machias River Race. All proceeds from both events will benefit the Canoe Racing Team and will go towards equipment and other costs associated with the racing season. The races are as follows:

Kenduskeag Sprints: April 20, 2-6 p.m., Kenduskeag Stream Park (off Valley Avenue) in Bangor – The Kenduskeag Sprints are a sprint-style canoe race through Shopping Cart rapid on the Kenduskeag Stream. The second biggest rapid on the Kenduskeag Stream Canoe Race course, Shopping Cart is always exciting to watch. Many paddlers use this race as a way to learn the river and practice before the full race the next day. Since the course is so short, the entire race can be watched from the finish line as racers negotiate two separate drops with strong waves in between.

Machias River Race: April 29, 11 a.m. start, Rte. 9 in Wesley – The Machias River Canoe Race includes 10 miles of paddling through everything from a flatwater lake to class II rips to a class III+ ledge drop. A mass start (at the head of First Machias Lake on the Studmill Rd. in Wesley) provides for an exciting race from start to finish. The event is capped off with a potluck cookout for all racers and spectators and an award ceremony at the finish line (campsite just off Route 9 beside the Machias River).

For more information regarding either event, contact Kellen Doyle, whitewater captain, at doylekellen@gmail.com or (207)-659-9763.

Copy the Story Link