Grayling Visitors Bureau

60 teams have entered the 65^th AuSable River International Canoe Marathon for 2012. Teams have entered from as far away as Canada and England.

 Among the number of teams racing are 13 Mixed Teams (man and woman), and 8 Senior Teams (both 50 years and older). Additionally, there are 9 Masters Teams (both 40 years and older), one Women team, and 7 Rookie Teams (both are first time paddlers).

The AuSable River Canoe Marathon presented by Consumers Energy is the roughest, non-stop canoe race in North America and reported to be the toughest spectator sport in the world.  The racecourse runs almost the entire length of the AuSable River, 120 miles.  Paddlers begin by running LeMans style, carrying their canoes on their shoulders, on Saturday, July 28th at 9:00 p.m. near The Old AuSable Fly Shop with thousands of spectators cheering them on. Prior to the start of the marathon, the paddlers will be introduced and live entertainment will be provided. On Sunday morning, the Black Bear Bicycle Tour will depart for Oscoda in time to catch the paddlers at the end of their overnight adventure.  The race ends Sunday, July 29th in Oscoda, MI on the shore of Lake Huron.

Marathon program books and merchandise are ready for this year’s event and available in a downtown storefront as well as at the marathon office located in the Grayling Mini Mall.  The Marathon Merchandise store, located on Michigan Ave. near J.Dap and Riverland, is open Monday through Friday, July 16th-20th, 9am-5pm and Monday and Tuesday, July 23rd & 24th, 9am-5pm. Merchandise will be available at the Time Trials, located at Penrods Canoe Livery, Wednesday through Friday, July 25-27 and near Citizens Bank on Saturday, July 28th.

Additional information can be found on the marathon website, www.ausablecanoemarathon.org.

Contact: Suzanne Schlachter

Phone: 989-348-4425

Email: sschlachter@casdk12.net

Website: www.ausablecanoemarathon.org

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