And they’re off!
The annual Length of the Lake paddle race began at Vernon’s Kin Beach on the northern shores of Okanagan Lake at 7 a.m. (though early starters got underway at 6 a.m.).
The race will end later Sunday 100 kilometres away at Penticton’s Peach on the southern end of the lake.
In between are four on-shore aid station/checkpoints where paddlers and their support crews will find water, washrooms, and parking. The race may be long, but the list of rules is short. In a nutshell, crews must arrive at each checkpoint before the designated cut-off times. Crew changes are optional but may take place only at the checkpoints.
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Stations are located at Fintry, Bear Creek, Peachland and Summerland.
Unofficial, including “build-your-own” categories are welcome and are eligible for bragging rights and a place in the Length of the Lake Ultra-paddle history books.
This year, there are a total of five outrigger canoe six-person (OC6) boats competing, three OC2 and one OC1.
LENGTH OF THE LAKE RECORD BOOK (courtesy pentictonoutrigger.com):
OUTRIGGER CANOE
OC-6 MEN — 7:38:24 — 2016 by ICEMEN 60 masters crew ***( FASTEST EVER EVER) (fastest of all classes);
WOMEN — 10.54 – set in 2009;
MIXED — 8:07 – 2002 by Calgary Canoe Club;
OC-2 MEN — 8:32 – 2008 BY CCC;
MIXED – 8:38 – 2008;
MEN IRON — 8:37 – 2008;
OC -1 MEN IRON — 9:13 2006 BY D ANDERSON;
WOMEN – 11:40 2005 BY T. HOEBEN;
KAYAK / SURF SKI
SK-2 MEN 7:50 2006;
MIXED 8:18 2008;
SK -1 MEN 7:40 2005 IAN MACKENZIE / J HUDSON;
MIXED 8:39 2008 CCC;
MEN IRON 9:39 2005 J ZIMMERMAN.
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