The Klondike Challenge

The 2023 MCRA season will kick off in April with the Klondike Challenge in Oscoda on April 1st. This is a fundraiser for the AuSable River Canoe Marathon.

Facebook Event Page: https://www.facebook.com/events/522380719994048

This event is organized by the AuSable River International Canoe Marathon Committee, and hosted in conjunction with the Michigan Canoe Racing Association. Paddlers and runners of all ages and talent levels are welcome to enter. See you there!

NEW THIS YEAR-CASH PRIZES ($25/person) FOR THE WINNERS OF THE FOLLOWING

CATEGORIES:

C2 Overall
C1 Overall
Kayak Overall
C2 Mixed
C2 Women
C1 Woman
C2 Oldest Team
C1 Oldest Paddler
C2 Youngest Team
C1 Youngest Paddler
C2 Local
C1 Local
C2 Furthest Traveled
C1 Furthest Traveled

Additional prizes may be raffled off to other competitors

2023 CANOE / KAYAK CHALLENGE

Saturday, April 1st, 2023

Entry Fee: $10 per paddler

Registration: 11:00 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. at Huntington Bank [4452 County Highway F-41, Oscoda, MI 48750]

A brief MCRA Membership Meeting on 2023 sanctioned races will take place at 12:15 p.m. during the paddler’s briefing.

Event Start: C-2 event starts at 1:00 p.m. C-1 event starts after C-2’s are underway.

Event Course: The course is approximately 4.25 miles (2.75 miles upstream, 1.5 miles downstream). The canoe / kayak challenge will start at the mouth of Van Etten Creek (where it meets the AuSable River), heading upstream to Van Etten Dam, then performing a counter-clockwise buoy-turn, and then heading back downstream to finish just passed the F-41 bridge near Huntington Bank. Race course is approximately 45 minutes in length.

Other info: Food and Awards will take place at the Huntington Bank following the race. Meals are not included with race entry fee.

Non-racing canoes and non-racing kayaks are allowed. You must provide your own cold-weather gear and safety equipment, such as life jackets/PFD’s. Please take cold-weather and cold-water precautions.

2023 RUN / WALK CHALLENGE

Sunday, April 2nd, 2023

Registration: 11:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. across from the Van Etten Lake State Forest Campground [Intersection of Perimeter Rd & Pride Rd]

Event Start: 5K & 10K events start at 1:00 p.m.

Event Course: Looped course along Perimeter Rd. 10K runners will do two laps.

For more information about the Canoe/Kayak or Run/Walk Challenge, please contact:
Rod Matthews
989- 739-3948
oscoda@ausablecanoemarathon.org