Thirty racers take part in canoe races

It was another Mother?s Day weekend spent on the water in and around Tower, as canoe racers invaded the area for the 7th annual Onaway Professional Canoe Race. There were more than 30 canoes in both Saturday?s and Sunday?s races.

?That’s a pretty good number, especially since people are coming from all over the state and gas prices are so high,? said organizer Steve Watson. ?The community once again was there for us to help stage this race. Without our sponsors’ support the race wouldn’t happen. It was nice that for the second year in a row, we actually had good weather. The previous five years were awful.?

The weather couldn?t have been better for the racers, especially with the rigorous pace and grueling format. There are four locations were participants have to lift their canoe out of the water and carry it to another location.

No area is tougher than along Co-op Road near Tower Dam, where they have to run with their canoes for approximately a quarter-of-a-mile. They have to do it twice. Racers also have to portage M-68.

DURING SUNDAY?S race, a small cheering section set up in front of the Tower Motel to root all the teams home. Some racers trotted across M-68 with smiles on their faces, while others looked as if every muscle in their body was causing them pain.

It is a tough race, but still without a lot of fanfare, as spectators were limited to people with ties to the individual racers. The event still hasn?t generated the excitement level of the Au Sable River Marathon generates every year.

The weekend winners in Tower have finished on top of the standings on the Au

Sable. One of the co-winners of last year?s sprint from Grayling to Oscoda was Andy Triebold of Concord. He was the winner of the C-1 race Saturday in Tower and teamed up with Matt Meersman of Bristol to claim the C-2 race on Mother?s Day.

Watson was the only local paddler. His partner was Amy Solak of Traverse City. They won the mixed division (man-woman combination) with their 22nd overall finish. The weekend race featured Frank Smutek, 75, of Luzerne and two high school students, both of whom raced Sunday. Students Ryan McClure of Roscommon and Brittney Smutek of Luzerne both raced with their dads.

In terms of looking at next year?s race, Watson isn?t expecting changes, but hopes for more spectators for race No. 8.