Boat Classes
Everyone is welcome to participate.
First time participants, repeat paddlers, and serious competitors can all enjoy the excitement, challenge, and camaraderie that this historic event provides. With a choice of 22 different class specifications and two course distances, there is something for everyone. We welcome all ages, levels of experience, and most boat and board types.
If you register for the 18.5 mile Marathon and prefer to not participate in the "racing" aspect of the event, select Class 22, No Contest.
(1) Minithon - A non-competitve paddle from Potawatomi Woods to finish line at Dam No. 2 Woods - a 5.25 mile alternative to the 18.5 mile Marathon, with the same scenery, excitement of paddling in an historic event and support for participants.
• No award given.
• Any riverworthy paddle powered craft.
• All paddlers and passengers must be registered and must sign a waiver form.
Note: lead paddler of any craft with more than four occupants must contact info@canoemarathon.com to arrange for registration.
Ages: any
Gender: open Paddlers: up to two paddlers. Two-paddler teams may have up to two passengers
Paddle type: any
Description (Canoes)
(2) C2 Junior Men, Women, or Mixed
Craft: aluminum or touring canoe.
Aluminum, any aluminum canoe, except "super-aluminum" racing canoes such as Minnichs and Beavers;
Touring, any other canoe not clearly designed for racing. Excluded "racing canoes" include any non-aluminum racing canoe recognized by USCA, and any ICF canoe design.
Ages: both paddlers must be 17 or younger on the day of the event.
Gender: open
Paddlers: 2
Paddle type: single-bladed paddles
(3) C2 Adult/Youth Aluminum or Touring
Craft: aluminum or touring canoe. Same specification as C2 Junior, Men, Women or Mixed, see above.
Ages: youth 14 or younger on day of event with an adult 29 or over on day of event.
Gender: open
Paddlers: 2
Paddle Type: single-bladed paddles
(4) C2 Women Aluminum or Touring **
Craft: aluminum or touring canoe. Same specifications as C2 Junior Men, Women or Mixed, see above.
Ages: any
Gender: women
Paddlers: 2
Paddle Type: single-bladed paddles
(5) C2 Men Aluminum **
Craft: any aluminum canoe except "super-aluminum" racing canoes such as Minnichs and Beavers, which must compete in the C2 Men Competition.
Ages: any
Gender: men
Paddlers: 2
Paddle Type: single-bladed paddles
(6) C2 Men Touring **
Craft: touring canoe, any canoe not clearly designed for racing. Excluded "racing canoes" include any non-aluminum racing canoes recognized by USCA, and any IFC canoe designs.
Ages: any
Gender: men
Paddlers: 2
Paddle Type: single-bladed paddles
(7) C2 Competition (Includes Women/Men/Masters) **
Craft: any double paddler, non-aluminum racing canoe recognized by USCA.
Ages: any
Gender: any
Paddlers: 2
Paddle Type: single-bladed paddles
(8) C2 Mixed Aluminum **
Craft: any aluminum canoe except "super aluminum" racing canoes such as Minnichs and Beavers, which must compete in the C2 Women, Mixed Competition or the C2 Masters Competition class.
Ages: any
Gender: man and woman
Paddlers: 2
Paddle Type: single-bladed paddles
(9) C2 Mixed Touring **
Craft: touring canoe, any touring canoe not clearly designed for racing. Excluded "racing canoes" include any non-aluminum racing canoes recognized by USCA, and any ICF canoe design.
Ages: any
Gender: man and woman
Paddlers: 2
Paddle Type: single-bladed paddles
(10) C2 Masters Aluminum or Touring **
Craft: aluminum or touring canoe. Aluminum, any aluminum canoe except "super-aluminum" racing canoes such as Minnichs and Beavers; Touring, any canoe not clearly designed for racing. Excluded "racing canoes" included any non-aluminum racing canoe recognized by USCA, and any IFC canoe design.
Ages: both paddlers must be 40 or older on the day of the event
Gender: open
Paddlers: 2
Paddle Type: single-bladed paddles
(11) C1 Single Paddler
Craft: any single paddler racing canoe recognized by USCA.
Ages: any
Gender: open
Paddlers: 1
Paddle Type: single-bladed paddle
** - Denotes class has had historically low numbers to receive an award (Must have 6 per class for trophy) These classes could be combined with another similar class (ie: Men and Women could be combined) to produce enough people for a trophy in that class. We will inform you if your class will be combined.
What can you do about it? Tell your friends to register and help build up your class!
Description (Kayaks, SUP, OPEN)
(12) K1 Man Recreational Kayak
Craft: any recreational kayak up to 15 feet in length, not including rudder. Excluded, any short kayak clearly designed for racing, for example, USCA specified downriver kayaks; such "racing" kayaks must compete in the K1 Unlimited Class or Open Racing class.
***Exception is Epic V5 plastic surfski, it is now allowed in the Rec Kayak Class***
Ages: any
Gender: man
Paddlers: 1
Paddle Type: double-bladed paddle
(13) K1 Woman Recreational Kayak
Craft: same as K1 Man Recreational Kayak, see above.
Ages: any
Gender: woman
Paddlers: 1
Paddle Type: double-bladed paddle
(14) K1 Man Sea Kayak
Craft: any kayak up to 18 feet in length, not including rudder (if any). Excluded, any kayak clearly designed for racing. For example, ICF kayaks, ICF trainers, surfskis and USCA specified downriver kayaks; such "racing' kayaks must compete in the K1 Unlimited class or Open Racing class.
***Exception is Epic V7 plastic surfski, it is now allowed in the Sea Kayak Class***
Ages: any
Gender: man
Paddlers: 1
Paddle Type: double-bladed paddle
(15) K1 Woman Sea Kayak
Craft: same as K1 Man Sea Kayak, see above.
Ages: any
Gender: woman
Paddlers: 1
Paddle Type: double-bladed paddle
(16) K1 Man Unlimited Kayak
Craft: any single paddler kayak
Ages: any
Gender: man
Paddlers: 1
Paddle Type: double-bladed paddle
(17) K1 Woman Unlimited Kayak **
Craft: any single paddler kayak
Ages: woman
Gender: open
Paddlers: 1
Paddle Type: double-bladed paddle
(18) K2 Unlimited Kayak
Craft: any double paddler kayak
Ages: any
Gender: open
Paddlers: 2
Paddle Type: double-bladed paddles
(19) SUP Man Stand Up Paddleboard **
Craft: stand up paddleboard of any length Must be paddled entire length of course in a standing position.
Ages: any
Gender: man
Paddlers: 1
Paddle Type: single-bladed paddle
(20) SUP Woman Stand Up Paddleboard **
Craft: same as SUP Man, see above.
Ages: any
Gender: woman
Paddlers: 1
Paddle Type: single-bladed paddle
(21) Open Racing
Any riverworthy, paddle-powered craft with unlimited paddlers.
Up to two awards will be presented per craft finishing first, second or third.
Note: the lead paddler of any craft with more than two occupants must contact info@canoemarathon.com to arrange for registration.
Ages: any
Gender: open
Paddlers: unlimited
Paddle Type: any
(22) No Contest
No Award Given.
Any riverworthy paddle powered craft.
All paddlers and passengers must be registered and must have signed the waiver form.
Note: lead paddler of any craft with more than four occupants must contact info@canoemarathon.com to arrange for registration.
Ages: any
Gender: open
Paddlers: up to two paddlers. Two-paddler teams may have up to two passengers.
Paddle Type: any