Events

It’s the toughest kayak race you’ve never heard of. With a $25,000 purse, Quebec’s 37-year-old Festirame Marathon throws down the gauntlet to the Blackburn Challenge and New York Mayor’s Cup.

The 42-kilometre Festirame Marathon, a challenging open-water race on Lac Saint-Jean in scenic south-central Quebec, started out 37 years ago as a punishing rowboat contest for police officers. In recent years it has opened up to include oceangoing rowing shells and, now, kayaks and surf skis.

It’s an event not to be underestimated. With challenging waters and a generous purse, it rivals storied U.S. races like the Blackburn Challenge and the New York Mayor’s Cup, says Serge Savard, a well-known Canadian sea kayaker who is organizing the event’s kayak class.

“It is a nice event and it might become a landmark for human-powered watercraft in Canada,” says Savard. “It is a great challenge and well organized.”

Savard has taken part in the race for the past two years, finishing in 4 hours and 10 minutes in 2009.

Last year there were 35 watercraft in the race, mostly rowing shells. This year the event will be bigger, because it’s being promoted nationwide by Rowing Canada.

“The goal is to put 50 vessels at the starting line including surf skis and sea kayaks,” said Savard.

The purse is rich, especially given the few vessels in the race: $25,000 divided among the classes. The top three finishers in each class get a significant cash prize, with lesser amounts distributed among other finishers, so many recover their $100 entry fee.

Lac Saint-Jean is a massive inland lake filling an ancient impact crater in south-central Quebec and covering an area of 1,003 square kilometers (387 sq. mi.). With wind, waves and currents affecting the 42-kilometre course, organizers say the Festirame is a race not to be taken lightly; however, safety is a priority. Each boat will be equipped with a GPS tracking chip and a means to communicate with a support vessel.

There’s a lot more happening than just kayaking and rowing to make it worth the trip to Quebec. The event coincides with the Festirame, a nine-day festival culminating in a family day with fireworks.

Race: Marathon 42-km de Festirame

When: Saturday July 17, 2010 (race info session on the evening of Friday July 16).

Where: Alma, Quebec

Price: $100