Canoe races slated for weekend in Tower area

Black River, Kleber Pond and Tower will be buzzing with canoe racers this weekend at the 12th annual Onaway pro races Saturday evening and Sunday morning.

The C-1 race will begin at 4 p.m. on Saturday on the south side of M-68.

Paddlers will paddle a very short distance downstream, turn a buoy, and head upstream to Black River Road, where they will turn the same buoy as they do in Sunday’s C-2 race. They’ll go downstream to the initial buoy in Tower Pond, turn that, and finish along M-68 Highway.

There is a $500 purse with bonuses for masters, seniors, women, and new this year, the first paddler 20 and under.

On Sunday, the C-2 race begins at 10 a.m. with both the Expert 1 and Expert 2 races starting and finishing at the boat launch on Tower Pond behind the softball field and township hall/fire hall on M-68 in Tower. It is same course as last year: a loop on Tower pond, portage Tower Dam (300 yards), paddle to the end of Kleber Pond, turn back and portage Tower Dam again (still 300 yards), paddle to M-68, portage road, paddle up to Black River Road and return downstream. Expert II will have a shorter course with only two portages.

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There is a $1,000 purse, including masters, seniors, mixed (three places) and women’s bonuses. Participants must be a member of the Michigan Canoe Racing Association to receive points and prize money. Lunch will be provided by the Onaway High School Class of 2014.