Past Years: 2011

WE WELCOME YOU to the 54th Des Plaines River Canoe and Kayak Marathon! Following a number of changes in last year's Marathon to accommodate growing interest and participation in kayak competition and other evolving needs, we see only minor fine tuning introduced below for the 2011 Marathon. As before, we remain grateful for the considerable assistance of our co-sponsors, the Forest Preserve District of Cook County and the Lake County Forest Preserves. We do wish you abundant enjoyment and success with your preparation and participation in the May 22 Marathon!

- Al Pilgrim & Jack Snarr, Co-Chairmen

NEW THIS YEAR to the Illinois Canoe/Kayak racing scene will be the Triple Crown Championship Awards to those four men and four women (two of both genders for canoe and two of both for kayak) with the fastest total times overall in the Des Plaines, Mid-American and Chicago Flatwater Classic races. Partners, if any, in the three races need not be consistent, but must be of the same gender. Watch the websites of these three races for further details as they unfold.

CLASS MODIFICATION The numbers of both women and men entered in the newly established Recreational Kayak Class last year warrant a class for each gender, so for 2011 that class will be split into a Women's Recreational Kayak and a Men's Recreational Kayak Classes. However, with no participants last year in the newly introduced Competition Kayak Class (K-1s of 18 to 20 feet in length), that class will be dropped for 2011. Any craft in 2011 that would have been in that class should instead be registered in the Unlimited Kayak Class.

WEB REGISTRATION was a considerable convenience to both registrants and the Marathon administration. This will be continued for 2011 at www.signmeup.com/ canoemarathon. Recall that one partner can register up to three occupants of a craft, order t-shirts and make payment, although other paddlers or passengers must signify agreement to the waiver via an automated process. As before, registration can also be done using the paper form and waiver contained herein. Registration of greater than three participants per craft must also be done using the paper form.

PADDLER'S PATROL SUPPORT The Upper Des Plaines River Ecosystem Partnership is grateful for the financial support provided last year by 141 teams who added contributions totaling several hundred dollars to their registration fees. This came at a time that State support of the Partnership had been reduced to where its programming had been significantly threatened. Be assured that your support was of considerable help to UDPREP and was appreciated greatly!

A similar opportunity will be offered this year to assist with the development by the Illinois Paddling Council of an Illinois Paddler's Patrol. The Patrol, analogous to the Ski Patrol, will make available a cadre of trained safety paddlers to assist paddling events throughout the state wherever there is potential need for on-the-water rescue and recovery assistance. Both the web and paper registration forms enable you to check a box indicating a desire to add $3.00 (or another amount) to the fee. Further information on the Paddler's Patrol and how to indicate interest in joining is available at: www.illinoispaddling.org/paddlers_patrol

RYERSON DAM has been removed and the portage replaced with a mild chute for passage of canoes and kayaks. Dam #1 in Wheeling remains a mandatory portage, unless water level is sufficiently high to rescind this requirement, as in 2010, in which case announcement will be posted at the Start.

HALFWAY TAKE-OUT OPTION enabling some participants the opportunity to paddle a shorter distance will again be supported by pre-race shuttle service from the take-out site at Rivershire Park in Lincolnshire back to the Start. Cars may be parked in an adjoining lot. A map and further detail will be included in the Mailback with your boat number.

TWO GRAND MASTER AWARDS will again be given in recognition of continued strong showing relative to peers of all ages in a class. One will go to that solo paddler whose percentile finish in his or her class is highest among all solo competitors over 70 years of age on race day. The second will go to that tandem paddler whose percentile finish is highest among C2 or K2 paddlers over 70, regardless of who his or her partner may be. For 2010 the inaugural winners were: Solo – Ed Hahn and Tandem – Thomas Szyska. Having now received this recognition in 2010, Ed and Tom will be removed from 2011 consideration.

AGAIN WE ENCOURAGE YOU to partake of the opportunities at the Finish Area to wind down after completing the race, pick up your patch and t-shirts, enjoy the food and music and view special exhibits, including a video tribute recognizing the many contributions to paddling made by Marathon founder and foremost padding advocate Ralph Frese.

OTHER RACES AND PADDLING EVENTS may be located at www.uscanoe.com/eventsSearchRegions.cfm