TO THE PARTICIPANTS
With year four wrapping up, Rob and Mike @ River X Racing would like to sincerely thank everyone for your continued support. What started back in 2012 as a casual conversation between adventure racing teammates about an event people told us couldn’t be done and that no one would sign up for turned into 1.5 years of planning and our first launch in 2013. Fast forward to 2016 and the Algonquin Outfitters Muskoka River X and Big East River X continues to draw an amazingly diverse mix of paddlers. This year we saw a father and his 13-year-old daughter line up beside Olympic gold medal athletes. Backcountry trippers looking for a new challenge were gunnel to gunnel with some of the best marathon paddlers in Canada. Families and friends (re)united as they faced off against the challenges that Mother Nature presented to them, and against themselves. Personal strengths were discovered…and rediscovered. We love this event for what it represents. It brings the best out of people as they dig deep; literally, physically, emotionally and spiritually. To quote one of our 2013 competitors, Allyson MacDonald, “…if you don’t keep living you end up dying”. Congratulations to everyone on your accomplishments this past padding season!
TO THE VOLUNTEERS
On behalf of everyone who participated in the Algonquin Outfitters Big East River X and Muskoka River X we wish to thank our VOLUNTEERS for all of their support. Everyone should be aware that without volunteers, these events would not happen. From CP staffing to portage crossings and even tending bonfires, the volunteers are invaluable. We can’t reinforce that enough. The next time you find yourself at an event, walk up and thank the volunteers because without them, we wouldn’t be racing.
TO OUR SPONSORS
A huge shout out to the following sponsors of River X Racings 2016 events, without whom these events would not be a reality.
THE DISTRICT OF MUSKOKA, TOWN OF HUNTSVILLE, TOWN OF BRACEBRIDGE, LAKE OF BAYS TOWNSHIP, ONTARIO POWER, BRACEBRIDGE GENERATION, ORILLIA POWER, MINISTRY OF NATURAL RESOURCES, and the HUNTSVILLE-LAKE OF BAYS CHAMBER of COMMERCE: For your continued support and helping us obtain the necessary permits to host this event.
To all THE PRIVATE LANDOWNERS through which the portage routes run.
ONTARIO MARATHON CANOE & KAYAK RACING ASSOCIATION, for your continued support, advice, and building a wonderful community of paddling enthusiasts.
ALGONQUIN OUTFITTERS for being our biggest supporter right from the start. You said YES the moment we pitched the concept and you’ve been with us ever since. Your heritage embodies everything that is the MRX. Your support with prizing, logistics, staff, and resources is central in keeping the MRX and Big East running year to year. A huge shout out to Rich and his crew. For those needing backcountry and frontcountry camping gear, road and mountain bikes, skis, snowshoes, or just about anything that gets you outside Algonquin Outfitter is your basecamp.
HAND CRAFTED CANOE: A special thanks to James at HCC for being the official canoe sponsor of River X Racing. For the last three years James has been supporting the MRX and Big East events, providing beautifully crafted prize boats to those who love to paddle really long distances, fast. This year HCC supplied a gorgeous full carbon Grand Huron C2 stock race boat, won by MIKE HAYES. We look forward to seeing more of these boats at the races in years to come. Thank you James.
KAYAK SPORT CANADA: River X was quite excited this year when Dav at Kayak Sport Canada agreed to become the official kayak sponsor of the River X events, bringing an Epic V7 surf ski to the prize table, won by LAUREN BELANGER. If you’re ever in Toronto and want to drool over racks of racing kayaks and surf skis, drop by Kayak Sport Canada. Dav and the crew will easily help you go faster on the water.
BOSHKUNG BREWING Co. Direct from Haliburton and new to the MRX this year, special thanks for supporting our event and keeping our thirsty racers hydrated during the awards banquet.
RIPPLE FX PADDLES: A shout out to Chris Prater for falling in love with carbon and producing his own line of high quality racing paddles, home-grown right here in Ontario. Thanks for your support this year Chris. The MRX prize paddle was won by AURELIA ADAMS.
SALUS: Back for their fourth year, Salus continues to fill our prize table with the best PDFs on the market. Thank You.
THE NORTH FACE: Back for their second year, TNF is also a major provider of prizes for the winning teams including back packs.
MISS NELLES and THE BURGER SHOP: For keeping our race staff fuelled and ready for action! If you’re paddling the South Muskoka River, make Miss Nelles and the Burger Shop your stop along the way.
BADGER PADDLES: For your brilliant woodcraft skills, the beautiful OUPPS trophies, and for keeping the MRX trophy paddles updated every year with the winning teams and times.
BUDGET PROPANE: For keeping the fires burning and keeping everyone warm in the hot tents.
KING WILLIAMS INN: The best down-town location to set up base-camp.
STAPLES: Helping us with all our printing needs, and making those beautiful, waterproof maps.
HIDDEN VALLEY RESORT: For hosting our event and putting on a great buffet, filling everyone’s belly with heart and tasty food.
OLIVER’S COFFEE and CLIF BAR: For supporting our race kits with great coffee samples and energy bars.
LIV OUTSIDE: For hosting CP2 in Bracebridge.
ODYSSEY EVENT MEDICAL: For keeping everyone safe on the course.
CANADIAN SKI PATROL: For supporting the health needs of racers along the course.
CAMPBELL BUS LINES: For all our transportation needs.
AXIS GEAR: For our swag.
All Big East and MRX Photos Here
SUP Racer / Bart de Zwart (article)
Steve Chrapchynski (article)
Doppler Online (article)
Jared Munch MRX Stages 2-3 (video)
Team X-Stream (video)
2016 Ontario Ultra Paddling Point Series Final Standings
Congratulations to paddling partners Mike De Abreu and Tom Phillips for being crowned Ontario’s 2016 Ultra Distance Paddlers. With four races on the schedule this year ranging from 40km to 220km, 310 paddlers participated in the series. Exciting time for Ontario as ultra-distance paddling continues to grow. Check out all the details here.
2017 SCHEDULE ANNOUNCED – HOLD YOUR DATES
JUNE 17 & 18, 2017: To celebrate our 5th year, Rob and Mike are doing something seriously different. A 24-hour marathon paddling race where solo, tandem, and relay teams race against the clock to complete as many laps of a 12km course as possible in 24 hours: 24 Hours of River X. A fantastic weekend where paddlers from all walks of life can come together in a social atmosphere of friendly competition, paddling as little or as long as they like along a spectator-friendly course. Although new to marathon paddling in North America, this racing format has proven itself to be hugely popular with land-based weekend warriors and competitive athletes alike. Open to SUP, Canoe and Kayak, River X Racing is pleased to bring this new race to the water. Details will be formally announced on November 19th, 2016. Stay tune!
SEPTEMBER 15-17, 2017: Back for a 5th year, River X Racing will again be hosting the MUSKOKA RIVER X Sprint, Classics and Coureur des Bois distances. With minor improvements being considered, the mighty MRX will continue to offer the same degree of adventure and challenge as you have come to expect.
Registration opens December 3, 2016.
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