The program for the Great Muskoka Paddling Experience will be passed out when you enter Annie Williams Park.
The North Canoe Challenge has one race course:
The distance is 8.6 km start at 8:45am in separate waves. This allows paddlers on these big canoes to race again on the 10 km and 5 km races.
For specific information go here. The big canoes will start and finish in front of Annie Williams Park.
The start line is at Bracebridge Bay, a paddling distance of 1.4 km from the put-in at Annie Williams Park. The finish line is at Annie Williams Park. Click here to see maps of the races.
These OMCKRA sanctioned races takes place on the Muskoka River, starting at Bracebridge Bay and continuing downstream. The 10 km race turns around on the mark opposite the Santa's Village Park and returns upstream finishing at Annie Williams Park. The 20 km race enters the south branch of the Muskoka River, continues to the 1st turnaround marker short of Muskoka Falls, returns to main branch, continues downstream to the turnaround marker at Santa's Village Park finishing upstream at Annie Williams Park. The 5 km race will starts after the 20 and 10 km races at Bracebridge Bay, going downstream to the turnaround marker at Hairpin Bend and finishing at Annie Williams Park. There will be safety and checkpoint patrol boats present on the river.
Notice!
Please remember that all craft must follow Ministry of Transport rules requiring a bailing device (except SUPs), a signal device (eg. whistle), and a 15 metre (50') throw line must be onboard.
The wearing of PFDs (life jackets) is mandatory. As this event takes place after October 1st, the Ontario Marathon Canoe Kayak Racing Association says this: Before May 1 and after October 1 all paddlers in every class must wear a lifejacket or PFD.
It is not enough just to have a PFD on-board. We are under obligations to enforce this.
For this race, due to COLD water temperature, inflatable life jackets and belts are not acceptable.
[N.B Please scroll to bottom of this page for rationale]
Thank you for your understanding.
Saturday morning sign-in will be underway at 8:00am at Annie Williams Park and ends at 9:45am sharp.
Registration is Online only and ends Sunday October 4th.
No Event Day Registration.
Fees :Adult $45, Youth (under 18) $35.
(Above fees includes one-day OMCKRA membership - this provides insurance coverage)
[ OMCKRA and OCSRA members get $8 discount. ]
Click here for a list of boat categories.
At 8:30am for North Canoes, and 10:00am, there will be a pre-race information session describing the courses and rules.
Check Paddle Shack/Swift [call 800.661.1429], Algonquin Outfitters [website or call 705. 645.9262 and LIVOutside [website or call 705.646.0492 / 866.646.0492] if you need to rent a Canoe, Kayak or SUP.
*** Please contact the above Outfitters ahead of time so they can supply your preferred rental boat and gear for you on time ***.
Lions Club of Bracebridge will provide onsite catering of breakfast and lunch starting at 7:30 am.
Proceeds go to Lions' charities.
Breakfast: Pancakes, sausages, pea-meal bacon, buns, muffins, yogurt, fruits and juices
Lunch: Hamburgers, Veggie burgers, sausages / chicken breast / pea-meal bacon on a bun, wieners, fruits plus drinks.
We have trophies, medals and prizes galore!
The Fastest Male Paddler
The Fastest Female Paddler
The Fastest Junior Paddler(s)
The Fastest Master Male Paddler
The Fastest Master Female Paddler
The Fastest Classic Canoe
The Fastest North Canoe
Plus lots of prizes and goodies by draw.
The North Canoe Challenge has one race course:
The distance is 8.6 km start at 8:45am in separate waves. This allows paddlers on these big canoes to race again on the 10 km and 5 km races.
For specific information go here. The big canoes will start and finish in front of Annie Williams Park.
The start line is at Bracebridge Bay, a paddling distance of 1.4 km from the put-in at Annie Williams Park. The finish line is at Annie Williams Park. Click here to see maps of the races.
These OMCKRA sanctioned races takes place on the Muskoka River, starting at Bracebridge Bay and continuing downstream. The 10 km race turns around on the mark opposite the Santa's Village Park and returns upstream finishing at Annie Williams Park. The 20 km race enters the south branch of the Muskoka River, continues to the 1st turnaround marker short of Muskoka Falls, returns to main branch, continues downstream to the turnaround marker at Santa's Village Park finishing upstream at Annie Williams Park. The 5 km race will starts after the 20 and 10 km races at Bracebridge Bay, going downstream to the turnaround marker at Hairpin Bend and finishing at Annie Williams Park. There will be safety and checkpoint patrol boats present on the river.
Notice!
Please remember that all craft must follow Ministry of Transport rules requiring a bailing device (except SUPs), a signal device (eg. whistle), and a 15 metre (50') throw line must be onboard.
The wearing of PFDs (life jackets) is mandatory. As this event takes place after October 1st, the Ontario Marathon Canoe Kayak Racing Association says this: Before May 1 and after October 1 all paddlers in every class must wear a lifejacket or PFD.
It is not enough just to have a PFD on-board. We are under obligations to enforce this.
For this race, due to COLD water temperature, inflatable life jackets and belts are not acceptable.
[N.B Please scroll to bottom of this page for rationale]
Thank you for your understanding.
Saturday morning sign-in will be underway at 8:00am at Annie Williams Park and ends at 9:45am sharp.
Registration is Online only and ends Sunday October 4th.
No Event Day Registration.
Fees :Adult $45, Youth (under 18) $35.
(Above fees includes one-day OMCKRA membership - this provides insurance coverage)
[ OMCKRA and OCSRA members get $8 discount. ]
Click here for a list of boat categories.
At 8:30am for North Canoes, and 10:00am, there will be a pre-race information session describing the courses and rules.
Check Paddle Shack/Swift [call 800.661.1429], Algonquin Outfitters [website or call 705. 645.9262 and LIVOutside [website or call 705.646.0492 / 866.646.0492] if you need to rent a Canoe, Kayak or SUP.
*** Please contact the above Outfitters ahead of time so they can supply your preferred rental boat and gear for you on time ***.
Lions Club of Bracebridge will provide onsite catering of breakfast and lunch starting at 7:30 am.
Proceeds go to Lions' charities.
Breakfast: Pancakes, sausages, pea-meal bacon, buns, muffins, yogurt, fruits and juices
Lunch: Hamburgers, Veggie burgers, sausages / chicken breast / pea-meal bacon on a bun, wieners, fruits plus drinks.
We have trophies, medals and prizes galore!
The Fastest Male Paddler
The Fastest Female Paddler
The Fastest Junior Paddler(s)
The Fastest Master Male Paddler
The Fastest Master Female Paddler
The Fastest Classic Canoe
The Fastest North Canoe
Plus lots of prizes and goodies by draw.
Enjoy Free hot Showering and Changing at the Bracebridge Sportplex before making the drive home. This is a special deal for paddlers! Directions here.
Links to published articles:
2015 Stories:
- Bracebridge Examiner: Story
2014 Stories:
- Town of Bracebridge supports races by $1,500 Event Tourism Grant: story
2013 Stories:
- Muskoka Watershed Council media release: story
- Town of Bracebridge media release: story
- Bracebridge Weekender: story
2015 Stories:
- Bracebridge Examiner: Story
2014 Stories:
- Town of Bracebridge supports races by $1,500 Event Tourism Grant: story
2013 Stories:
- Muskoka Watershed Council media release: story
- Town of Bracebridge media release: story
- Bracebridge Weekender: story
Why disallow inflatable life jackets?
The primary basis of disallowing inflatables is that the Muskoka River is COLD in October. Colder than in the summer and we are further north than GTA.
Inflatable life-jackets provide little or no thermal protection.
It has been noted that inflatables would not necessarily be inflated by people who fall in but expect to continue to race. Continuing to paddle with a inflated PFD is very awkward, so there is a disincentive to inflate. Also when you deflate them they are no longer valid and legal because the cartridge has been used, unless you insert a spare cartridge. This event attracts paddlers of all levels of skills and ability. Safety of our paddlers is paramount in October.
If you do not own a regular PFD and if that is your reason for not racing, we have a local outfitter renting them for $3.50 per day.
For more background on cold water: www.coldwaterbootcamp.com/pages/home.html
The primary basis of disallowing inflatables is that the Muskoka River is COLD in October. Colder than in the summer and we are further north than GTA.
Inflatable life-jackets provide little or no thermal protection.
It has been noted that inflatables would not necessarily be inflated by people who fall in but expect to continue to race. Continuing to paddle with a inflated PFD is very awkward, so there is a disincentive to inflate. Also when you deflate them they are no longer valid and legal because the cartridge has been used, unless you insert a spare cartridge. This event attracts paddlers of all levels of skills and ability. Safety of our paddlers is paramount in October.
If you do not own a regular PFD and if that is your reason for not racing, we have a local outfitter renting them for $3.50 per day.
For more background on cold water: www.coldwaterbootcamp.com/pages/home.html
