Canoe and Kayak Race Paddles Through St. Cloud Area This Saturday

(KNSI) – Organizers Scott Miller and Todd Foster are prepping for this weekend’s MR 150.

The second annual race down the Mississippi from Brainerd to Coon Rapids begins on Friday afternoon. It will feature men, women, kayaks, canoes, tandem, and solo competitors. Over 200 people have signed up.

Foster says the event uses more than 100 volunteers as well. One of their most important jobs is to help the participants navigate around five dams, including in Sartell and St. Cloud.

“There are portage trails around each dam. So you have to pull over upstream of the dam, we have volunteers at each checkpoint, and they will help you to put in below the dam.”

There is also a go-around for the rapids. The shorefront is set to be busy. Many race through the overnight hours. They will probably begin to pass through the area at about 3:00 a.m. Saturday with stragglers into the afternoon.

Foster says he expects the second annual MR 150 to last longer than the first.

“Last year, the water levels were pretty high, so I think our first competitor made it in 19 hours. The water level is significantly lower this year, so we’re figuring it’s probably going to take around 24 hours.

Some participants will sleep for five or six hours each night and make their way down the Mississippi more gradually. A dinner is planned at the Coon Rapids Dam Regional Park on Sunday to officially wrap up the competition.

There is still time to register for this year’s race. You can learn more here.

___