Outdoors, Inc. Canoe and Kayak Race

Before you head off to day two of this weekend's Beale Street Music Fest, there will be time to participate in or watch the Outdoors, Inc. Canoe and Kayak Race Saturday morning. This will be the 28th annual race and it's a lot of fun, though I've only ever been a spectator. The race begins at the north end of Greenbelt Park and ends in the harbor just at Jefferson Davis Park. Post-race music performed by Amy Lavere. Here are the race particulars from their website:
OUTDOORS, INC. CANOE AND KAYAK RACE
On the Mississippi River, Memphis

SATURDAY, May 2, 2009 @ 10:00 a.m.
For information, call race director, Joe Royer at
901.527.6028 (office); 901.482.5998 (cell) or JoeRoyer@OutdoorsInc.com
Race information website: http://www.outdoorsinc.com/

This is the largest canoe and kayak race in the southeastern United States. Over 500 recreational to expert canoe and kayak paddlers participate.

*Registration at 4 Outdoors, Inc. locations by 6 p.m. Friday, May 1st
*Check-in Sat., 5/2 at 7 a.m. at race start site, north end of Green Belt Park
*All barge traffic on the Mississippi River stops by order of the US Coast Guard
*Memphis police and harbor patrol will be on duty
*Tennessee State Wildlife Resources Agency will be on duty
*Park permitted and donated by Riverfront Development Corporation


View Outdoors Inc Canoe & Kayak Race in a larger map

• World class athletes who have competed in the past 5 years include:
Greg Barton of Charleston, SC- USA double Olympic Gold medallist, double Bronze medallist, 4 World Championships, and current US National surf ski champion, returning to Memphis as the 5-time winner and holder of the race course record (you know him when you see him - Intense)

Michael Herbert of Rogers, AR – Pan Am Gold medallist, 2001 winner of the Outdoors, Inc.
Canoe and Kayak Race, beating Greg Barton

Karen Lukanovich of the Canadian Olympic team and women’s holder of the race course record (2002)

Oscar Chalupsky of Durban, South Africa – 10 times World Ocean Kayak Champion in Hawaii

Herman Chalupsky of Durban, South Africa – 2004 Outdoors, Inc. Canoe and Kayak race champion and 2004 World Ocean Kayak Champion at Molokai, Hawaii

Rocky Caldwell, Dale Burris, Clifton & John Rickey of Missouri & Arkansas – national champion and world class canoe paddlers

Ekaitz Sayes of Spain – European Champion (23 and under)

Chris Hipgrave of Bryson City, NC, native of Purley, England – US Wildwater National Team member