Tales of the Tape

All night long…

This weekend marked the 63rd Au Sable River Canoe Marathon and the biggest field ever to start the race. Over 100 teams registered for the race and after drops, 94 teams made the run down the concrete and put in their boat at the Old Au Sable fly shop in downtown Grayling. There are certain traditions every michigander should witness firsthand in a lifetime. November 15th in a deer blind is one, walking the Mackinac bridge is another. Screaming and cheering at the start of the ARCM is definitely near the top of my recommendations to experience. And, if you are up for the challenge, follow it on down during the night and get to know some of the teams competing and their bank running crews. Throughout the night, you drive along winding northern Michigan roads to bridges and areas where you can catch a glimpse of the racers, pulling on their paddles for the finish line. Paddlers will cover 120 miles in their journey down stream and there are numerous places to stop and see them pass.

This year the favorites before the race were back-to-back defending champs, Andrew Triebold and Steve Lajoie. These two had teamed up to win three previous marathons together and Triebold added another win with local, Matt Rimer in 2007. There were a couple of prospects to upset them. Steve Corlew was teamed up with veteran of 25 marathons, Bill Torongo. Both guys had knocked on the door a couple times but had never crossed the finish line first. The Halsteads were the last team that had arrived in Oscoda ahead of Triebold in the marathon, finishing 2nd in 2006. But, as the gun sounded at 9pm, Andy and Steve had a half boat length on the field as they rounded the street corner and by the time they left Grayling city limits, they were already a bend ahead. Until Mio dam, Corlew and Torongo kept the gap somewhat close but after the long run in front of the fans, they dropped back and settled into good tempo and finished about 13 minutes behind canoe #1. The race for mixed team title was the best one to watch this year. At the start, the husband/wife teams of Tom and Connie Cannon, Al Limberg and Barb Bradley and the Forge Racing team of Holly Reynolds and Jeff Rankinen were neck and neck. But, in the end, the Cannons pulled ahead and never looked back.

Like always, the last full weekend in July was an exciting one. The racers are now headed for the final leg of the Triple Crown in Canada. Triebold and Lajoie have swepted the last few and are poised to do it again. So until next year, the teams have their work cut out for them. It's a grueling sport but, to hear the fans cheer your name in the wee hours of the night is worth it.

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