If you’ve ever watched a canoe disappear into churning spring rapids and thought “I want to do that,” now’s your chance.
Registration opened this week for the 53rd annual Raisin River Canoe Race, and if the last half-century of this event is any indication, it’s shaping up to be one of the better ways to spend a Saturday this spring.
The race runs 30 kilometres along the Raisin River from St. Andrews West to Williamstown — a stretch that, come April, is running fast, cold, and unforgiving thanks to the spring melt. Canoes, kayaks, and stand-up paddleboards are all welcome, and so are competitors of every skill level. Last year’s field ranged from seasoned racers to people simply out to prove something to themselves.
Speaking of seasoned racers — the bar is set high. Joel Malenfant and Perry Rancourt, a pro canoe duo out of Shawinigan, Québec, torched the course last year in 2 hours, 34 minutes, and 31 seconds. The average finisher took just over four hours. Whether you’re chasing that record or just trying to make it to Williamstown in one piece, there’s a place for you at the start line.
That start line is at the field beside St. Andrew’s Catholic School in St. Andrews West, with the first wave hitting the water at 10:30 am. Spectators traditionally pack the shorelines and bridges along the route — no registration required to cheer.
Sign up at rrca.on.ca/CanoeRace before spots fill up.
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