Canoeists show competitive side during weekend race in Tower

The canoe racers participating in the fourth annual Professional Canoe Races weren’t here for a recreational weekend away from home.

The wind was stiff.

The clouds were uninviting.

The water was brutally cold.

It speaks to the degree of passion canoe enthusiasts have demonstrated the last four years. “”It cooperated about as much as it has in recent years,” said organizer Steve Watson, who has been the driving force in bringing the racers to the area.

Watson can only hope the weather will be nice one of these years.

Regardless of the conditions, the competitive nature of the Tower race rivals that of a mini AuSable Canoe Marathon.

IT WAS a fight for first from the moment the race started at 10:30 a.m. Sunday at the Tower Pond boat launch.

The racers circled Tower Pond and then sprinted toward Tower Dam.

It was a disappointing first 10 minutes for one pair, who tipped over in Tower Pond for the second year in a row.

A rescue boat quickly rushed to retrieve the capsized boat.

Concerned about hypothermia setting in, the soaked men were quickly escorted to a running vehicle with the heat on.

It was a precautionary measure, as both men, while disappointed, were safe.

The race continued toward Kleber Dam. There the racers make a 180-degree turn at a buoy that gives spectators a front row view of the action from the rocks on the dam.

It doesn’t give the racers much room for a turn. One team lost some time when they took the turn too sharply and cut in front of the buoy. They had to stop, back the canoe up, and then complete the turn.

Then there was the grueling return up stream and the muscle-draining jog up Co-op Road.

IN THE EARLY stages of the race, when their energy isn’t as sapped, portaging Co-op Road around Tower Dam isn’t as difficult, but the return trip, after paddling upstream on Kleber Pond, the run up the incline on Co-op Road, tests the endurance of every competitor.

Some teams carry their canoes on their shoulders and run the entire distance of the dirt road, while others have to put it at their sides and need to walk.

Andy Triebold of Concord and Matt Rimer of Horton had commanding lead at that stage of the race and would eventually come in first (1:41.35), nearly seven minutes ahead of the second place team of Jeff Kolka of Grayling and Ma

tt Streib of Indiana (1:48.28).

Watson and Ted Smotek of Luzerne made up 60 to 70 yards on the fourth place team and passed them, but couldn’t maintain the position and finished in fifth place with a time of 1:54.12.

Taking third was Matt Ashton of Grayling and Rick Joy of Silverwood (1:51.20).

Triebold won Saturday’s sprint with a time of 46:39, while Kolka was second (47:41).

“We appreciated the support of the local businesses in bringing these people into town,” said Watson. “We had some good teams and I’m happy with the tournament.”

An awards banquet was conducted at the 211 at Black Lake, following Sunday’s race.