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As the canoe racing season arrives in eastern Maine this weekend, paddlers find themselves in a bit of a good-news, bad-news situation.
First, the good: The St. George River Race in Searsmont will go on as planned today.
“It’s not wet and wild like we’d all like to see it, but it provides a different kind of challenge,” race director Dale Cross said Wednesday, a day before heading down the St. George on a fact-finding mission of his own.
“I feel as though the St. George River, even though it’s wild and wonderful when [the water is] high, is still OK,” he said. “It provides other challenges. You’ve got to be a little more crafty to get down through, and the canoeists who can really navigate and take a good line will be OK.”
Now, the bad news: Many years, paddlers are hoping for a thaw to free rivers from ice. This year, streams are open, but drought conditions are having an effect.
Some local paddlers are concerned.
“In 10 years of paddling, this is the lowest [water] I’ve seen [for this time of year],” said Jeff Sands of Bangor, one of the area’s top kayakers. “The conditions right now you can compare to June.”
Another top kayaker, Kenny Cushman of Hampden, concurred.
“It’s quite low right now, and sometimes I’d expect that,” Cushman said, explaining that the low water may remain low because the snow pack has already melted. “There’s really nothing to run off, so unless we get a lot of rain, and get into a weather pattern with rain two or three times a week, it’s not gonna be too good. But I’m not a meteorologist, either.”
The St. George River Race begins at 11 a.m., with registration tables opening at 8:30 at the Methodist church on Route 131 in Searsmont.
The St. George (theoretically) opens the flood gates on the canoe and kayak season. The early schedule: The Passagassawaukeag Stream Race on April 6, the Marsh Stream Sprint on April 7, the Souadabscook Stream Race on April 13, the Souadabscook Stream Sprint on April 14, and the Kenduskeag Stream Canoe Race on April 20.
Cross said the entire region is dealing with the lack of rainfall, as he and his son Aaron found out recently when they competed in a race in Rhode Island.
“You wouldn’t believe it,” Cross said. “We went down for a whitewater championship race and we had to do a running race. … my son was pulling me down through in places, jumping out [of the canoe] in places.”
Cushman said the low water conditions may play a part in which races he chooses to compete in this season, and said others may have to make the same decisions.
“I don’t think it’s gonna get [serious enough to cancel races], but it’s gonna be harder to draw people to it, because people don’t want to hike a race instead of paddle it.”
In addition, Cushman pointed out, the expense of top-notch equipment will make him think twice.
Kayak paddles, he explained, can cost from $300 to $350. Canoe paddles are from $150 to $200. And the boats many of the best paddlers use are made of Kevlar and cost around $1,800.
“People aren’t too excited to beat up their equipment,” he said.
With the region’s most popular race, the Kenduskeag Stream Race, still three weeks away, Cushman said the conditions on that stream are already low.
“I was up there last week,” Cushman said. “I paddled right up to the base of Six Mile Falls. After that I couldn’t get back to the bridge without hitting rocks. It was getting dark, but it was getting low enough that I don’t think you could get down through [Six Mile Falls] without hitting rocks.”
Tracy Willette, the recreation supervisor for the city of Bangor and the director of the Kenduskeag Stream Race, said he and the race committee have already started keeping track of the water level in the stream.
“We’re certainly concerned. Obviously with the conditions that are going on now, it’s something we’re keeping a close eye on,” Willette said. “Is there much we can do right now? Not really.”
Willette said the race committee met last week and talked about several issues, including the water level. If Mother Nature doesn’t cooperate, one solution to low water woes would be to portage around particularly rocky areas.
One of those areas, of course, is the popular vantage point at Six Mile Falls.
“Six Mile is a concern to us. One of the fortunate things about Six Mile is that there is already a portage in place there,” Willette said.
Willette said with three weeks to go until the race, he’s taking a wait-and-see attitude.
“As we get closer, we will certainly take a closer look at how different portions are the stream are and make plans accordingly,” he said.
Regardless of what happens in the future, Cross is confident that paddlers will find a way to have fun in their favorite spring pastime.
“It’ll still be a grand time [this weekend],” Cross said. “People need to realize that some years, you’re gonna have an apparent lack of water. Next year it might be so high that you’re almost afraid to go in the water.”
UPCOMING CANOE RACES
Saturday, March 30
At Belfast, St. George River Race, 11 a.m., contact 338-4598
Saturday, April 6
At Waldo, Passagassawakeg Stream race, 11 a.m., contact 338-4598
Sunday, April 7
At Frankfort, Marsh Stream Sprint, 9 a.m., helmets required, contact Paula Cole 285-7886 (days), 285-7356 (evenings)
Saturday, April 13
At Frankfort, Marsh Stream Downriver, helmets required, noon, contact Matt Daigle 848-3914 or J.R. Mabee 942-0601
At Hampden, Souadabscook Stream race, noon, call Mary Hartt 234-7256 or Ron Muir 667-9340
Sunday, April 14
At Hampden, Souadabscook Stream Sprint, 11 a.m., helmets required, call Paula Cole 285-7886, or 285-7356
Saturday, April 20
At Bangor, 36th Kenduskeag Stream Canoe Race, 8:30 a.m., at Kenduskeag Village, 16.5-mile course, registrations accepted until 1 p.m. on April 19; call 947-1018 or log on to www.bgrme.org.
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