Some of the numbers are staggering...over 18,000 paddlers and over 33,000 boats have competed through 47 years of the Kenduskeag Stream Canoe Race. Saturday marks year #48 and those numbers will go up.

You never know from year to year how much water there will be in the Kenduskeag River on the third Saturday in April but this spring the water level will be fine. The 16 1/2 mile course will be a fast one.

Could the high water make for some record breaking performances? Well, someone is going to have to paddle faster than the 1-hour 50-minutes 8-seconds time set by Robert Lang back in 1997. The New Brunswick kayaker owns the overall race record.

Jeff Owen and Steve Woodard have the record time for a canoe - 1:53:30.

The race is sponsored by the Bangor Parks & Rec Department.

Last year's race drew 408 boats and 755 competitors.

Sports Radio 92.9 The Ticket and 929theticket.com will present live coverage of the race. Saturday morning coverage begins at 8am from the race start line at the Mystic Tie Bridge in Kenduskeag.

 

 

More From WWMJ Ellsworth Maine