The team with the most championships in the event’s history – Andrew Triebold of Grayling and Steve Lajoie of Quebec – added one more Spike’s Challenge C-2 race victory to its record number on Sunday, winning the event for the 11th time. 

Going into this year, the duo of Triebold and Lajoie had 10 Spike’s Challenge victories, winning the race together in 2003 and 2004 and in 2008 through 2015. Triebold won the race in 2005, 2006, and 2007 with a different partner (Matt Rimer) and Lajoie finished first in 2017 with Guillaume Blais.

The Spike’s Challenge C-2 event started in 1991 as a shorter, daytime version of the AuSable River Canoe Marathon, a 120-mile race from Grayling to Oscoda. Many AuSable Marathon paddlers compete in the Spike’s Challenge, using it as a warm-up race. The Spike’s Challenge also offers local paddlers and others an opportunity to compete in a canoe race that takes only 2.5 to four hours in order to complete compared to 14 to 19 hours for the AuSable Marathon.

The Spike’s Challenge gives spectators, feeder teams, and paddlers a daytime look at the Marathon’s first four timing locations (Burton’s Landing, Stephan Bridge, Wakeley Bridge, and McMasters Bridge) and other areas of the river.

The Spike’s Challenge and the AuSable Marathon have a similar starting method with competitors from both events running to the water with their canoes. The Spike’s Challenge run is shorter. Both races determine starting positions for the running starts with a time trials event.

The Spike’s Challenge C-2 race starts in Grayling at the Old AuSable Fly Shop and ends at McMasters Bridge.

This year, Triebold and Lajoie, winners of the race, reached the finish line at McMasters Bridge in 2:37:06.

Mike Davis and Weston Willoughby took second place, posting a time of 2:39:40. Chris Proulx and Kyle Mynar finished third at 2:40:01.

Wes Dean and Pete Mead took fourth (2:40:07). Nick Walton and Blais finished fifth (2:43:55).

Other top 10 teams included: 6th, Colin Hunter and Rich Lauth, 2:44:57; 7th, Trevor LaFever and Shane McDowell, 2:47:35; 8th, Steve Watson and Patrick Madden, 2:47:44; 9th, Danny Medina and Matt Meersman, 2:48:18; 10th, Pierre-Olivier Quesnel and Normand Mainguy, 2:48:20.

The top mixed team during this year’s Spike’s Challenge – Jorden Wakeley and Hailey Halstead – finished 11th overall with a time of 2:48:31.

Chris Issendorf and Ian Rolls took 12th (2:49:32). Bill Torongo and Kyle Stonehouse finished 13th (2:51:18). Jason Hatfield and Mo Harwood placed 14th (2:51:41). Eric Batway and Carson Burmeister were 15th (2:57:16). Joe Leusby and Phil Millspaugh took 16th (2:59:17). Sean Casey and Mike Hale were 17th (3:00:37).

Joseph Schlimmer and Sylvie Nadeau – the second mixed team to finish – placed 18th overall with a time of 3:00:42.

Oliver McMillan and Chris Prater finished 19th (3:02:27).

Rebecca Davis and Mandy Trudgeon – the top women’s team during this year’s Spike’s Challenge C-2 race – finished 22nd overall with a time of 3:03:59.

Jon Webb and Anthony Massicotte took 21st (3:04:49).

Holly Reynolds and Gloria Wesley, second place women’s team, placed 22nd overall at 3:05:15.

Going into Sunday’s Spike’s Challenge C-2 race, only 13 different paddlers had ever finished in first place during the event. The number will stay at 13 for another year, since both paddlers on this year’s winning team are former champions. Triebold has now won the Spike’s Challenge a total of 14 times. Lajoie has 12 first place finishes in the Spike’s Challenge.

 

 

 

1991Jeff Kolka,Bill Torongo4:41:36Ray’s Canoe Livery to Camp 10 Bridge

1992Ken Kolonich,Steve Kolonich4:43:04Ray’s Canoe Livery to Camp 10 Bridge

1993Jeff Kolka,Bill Torongo5:00:41Ray’s Canoe Livery to Mio Bridge

1994Bruce Barton,Tim Triebold4:45:08Ray’s Canoe Livery to Mio Bridge

1995Calvin Hassel,Bill Torongo2:37:43Ray’s Canoe Livery to McMasters Bridge

1996Jeff Kolka, Serge Corbin2:31:40Ray’s Canoe Livery to McMasters Bridge

1997Jeff Kolka, Serge Corbin2:36:50Ray’s Canoe Livery to McMasters Bridge

1998 Jeff Kolka, Serge Corbin2:36:38Ray’s Canoe Livery to McMasters Bridge

1999Jeff Kolka, Serge Corbin2:37:28Ray’s Canoe Livery to McMasters Bridge

2000Jeff Kolka, Serge Corbin2:40:20Ray’s Canoe Livery to McMasters Bridge

2001Calvin Hassel,Jeff Kolka 2:44:09Ray’s Canoe Livery to McMasters Bridge

2002Jeff Kolka, Serge Corbin2:39:27Ray’s Canoe Livery to McMasters Bridge

2003Andrew Triebold,Steve Lajoie2:40:20Ray’s Canoe Livery to McMasters Bridge

2004Andrew Triebold,Steve Lajoie2:39:01Ray’s Canoe Livery to McMasters Bridge

2005Andrew Triebold,Matt Rimer2:35:58Ray’s Canoe Livery to McMasters Bridge

2006Andrew Triebold,Matt Rimer2:38:46Ray’s Canoe Livery to McMasters Bridge

2007Andrew Triebold,Matt Rimer2:42:43Ray’s Canoe Livery to McMasters Bridge

2008Andrew Triebold,Steve Lajoie2:34:56Old AuSable Fly Shop to McMasters Bridge

2009Andrew Triebold,Steve Lajoie2:39:06Old AuSable Fly Shop to McMasters Bridge

2010Andrew Triebold,Steve Lajoie2:39:47Old AuSable Fly Shop to McMasters Bridge

2011Andrew Triebold,Steve Lajoie2:38:26Old AuSable Fly Shop to McMasters Bridge

2012Andrew Triebold,Steve Lajoie2:40:07Old AuSable Fly Shop to McMasters Bridge

2013Andrew Triebold,Steve Lajoie2:38:11Old AuSable Fly Shop to McMasters Bridge

2014Andrew Triebold,Steve Lajoie2:36:25Old AuSable Fly Shop to McMasters Bridge

2015Andrew Triebold,Steve Lajoie2:34:53Old AuSable Fly Shop to McMasters Bridge

2016Mathieu Pellerin,Guillaume Blais2:39:51Old AuSable Fly Shop to McMasters Bridge

2017Steve Lajoie,Guillaume Blais2:38:34Old AuSable Fly Shop to McMasters Bridge

2018Andrew Triebold,Steve Lajoie2:37:06Old AuSable Fly Shop to McMasters Bridge