HOULTON, Maine – Slightly higher water levels might add some racing thrills to next week’s annual Down River Point Series canoe and kayak race on the Meduxnekeag River.
For race veterans and locals, the decades-old event is a harbinger of spring, often bearing promises of warmer days ahead.
In a new twist to the legendary event, organizer Jane Torres, the executive director of the Greater Houlton Area Chamber of Commerce, partnered with the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians, the Houlton Downtown Committee and The Natural Resources Council of Maine to celebrate World Fish Migration Day as part of the race.
“In the park we have added a 5K cross country race around the Meduxnekeag River Trail to be run while we are waiting for kayaks and canoes to cross the finish line,” she said. “There will be lots of displays, a food truck and the House of Bounce.”
The whitewater racing season began in late March with the St. George River Race. The Meduxnekeag contest, Down River No. 9, kicks off at 10 a.m., Saturday, May 2.
The eight-mile race from New Limerick to Houlton is part of the Maine Canoe and Kayak Racing Organization Down River Point Series and generally draws about 100 racers.
Last year’s paddle drew Maine legends like Terry Wescott, who 10 years ago won the grueling Yukon 1,000 river race from Canada to Alaska with Brad Crog.
“We were the first and the oldest to ever do the race and win,” Wescott said last year, referring to the Alaska race.
Maliseet Tribe member Shari Venno, who is also on the Downtown Committee, has been telling organizers about World Fish Migration Day for two years, Torres said.
“This year we finally pulled it together with some others and decided it would be a perfect fit with the Meduxnekeag River Race,” she said. “I can’t wait for the children who are coloring fish to “swim” from Serendipitous Dragonfly on Main Street through the Square and across the bridge to symbolize migration.”
At 1 p.m. an instream restoration river walk will take place in Riverfront Park with fluvial geomorphologist John Field, who will talk about instream restoration and its importance to fish.
There will also be stream demonstrations about natural streams, the impact of improper crossing and lessons on how to create appropriate crossings.
Angie Wotton of the Southern Aroostook Soil & Water Conservation District will demonstrate live staking, an easy method of adding fast-growing plants to stream banks to improve the health and stability of the soil.
The Wilderness Pines food truck will be at the event all day.
“We are very much looking forward to partnering with these awesome groups to bring more excitement to race day,” Torres said. “Fingers crossed for a nice rain storm a few days before to keep the river’s water level up and perfect weather on May 2.”
The Meduxnekeag race starts at Lynwood Wellington’s house on the Station Road in New Limerick and ends at Houlton’s Gateway Bridge
Again this year, race expert and Down River Point Series champion Peter Blood is back from Florida to help Torres at the starting line. Unlike some in the series, the Meduxnekeag race has a staggered start, with small groups of similar abilities starting together.
Along with his racing partner, Clint Cushman, Blood won first place in the 1996 point series with 35 points.
Check-in at the race site runs from 8 to 9:30 a.m. and racers must be at the mandatory briefing at 9:30 a.m. to participate. The boats begin hitting the water at 10 a.m. with the first racers nearing the finish at Houlton Gateway Bridge between 11:30 a.m. and noon.
Participants can pre-register at greaterhoulton.com or register on the day of the race. Registration is $20 for adults, and $15 for children under 18.
Contact Jane Torres (207) 532-4216 [email protected] or Peter Blood (207) 532-2577 for more information.
