Saranac Lake launches Mayor's Cup regatta

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July 23, 2010

By KIM SMITH DEDAM Staff Writer The Press Republican Fri Jul 23, 2010, 03:23 AM EDT

SARANAC LAKE — Mayor Clyde Rabideau launched a new Mayor's Cup competition Thursday.

This one — the Mayor's Cup River Run Regatta on the Saranac River — moves with paddles and a current.

He plans to invite other area mayors, including Plattsburgh Mayor Donald Kasprzak, Tupper Lake Mayor Mickey Desmarais and Lake Placid Mayor Craig Randall to the Aug. 21 event.

CARRIED OVER

"It really started when our construction company started working on the River Walk and I became very appreciative of all it has to offer," Rabideau said after a press conference Thursday.

"It is totally natural for one who presided over Mayor's Cup in one location to bring it to another. This one's going to be a lot of fun."

Rabideau is referring, of course, to the Plattsburgh Mayor's Cup, founded many years ago by former Mayor John Ianelli. The race was a major event in the city during Rabideau's tenure as mayor.

Slipping down the Saranac River, canoe and kayak racers will start from the River Walk launch behind the village offices and can race in one of nine recreation class competitions or in racing class heats for canoe and kayak.

LINKED ACTIVITIES

Village Clerk Kareen Tyler is coordinating the competition and volunteers to register paddlers.

The date of Aug. 21, she said, will incorporate sidewalk sales on Main Street and Broadway and music and food at the Saranac Lake Saturday Farmers Market.

"I think that it's a really great event because it's in the heart of the community," Tyler said. "It's summertime in Saranac Lake, and the Farmers Market is going on, sidewalk sales are going on — people get to enjoy them and what Saranac Lake is all about."

Already the village here is fielding a team from the Public Works Department, hoping to incite a rivalry with a Lake Placid or Tupper Lake contention.

FREE EQUIPMENT

While several competitive classes are offered for experienced paddlers, Rabideau said the village really wants a lot of families to get involved.

"We'll be providing kayaks, canoes and life preservers for those who don't have any, for free.

"And you can't get any better spectator location than along the River Walk."

Steve Doxzon at Adirondack Lakes and Trails Outfitters is also working on the event, donating kayaks and life preservers.

Winners' medals will come emblazoned with the new village logo, hopefully to become a keepsake in coming years.

REGISTRATION FEE

Tyler has registration forms ready for willing and able racers.

There is $12-per-person fee to garner a spot in canoe and kayak races, which will run in age groups by gender class and also in four-person teams of mixed and family competition.

Registration on the day of the race is $15.

The different courses are designed for everyone.

A fun paddle race will launch behind the village office building down to the Pine Street Bridge and back.

The recreation and competitive class races run to the bridge at the Water Treatment plant at the village boundary and then back to the Pine Street Bridge, traversing mainly flat water along the Saranac River.

There are classes for team canoe relay and competitive racing in C2 and C1 Stock and Touring Kayaks.

Anyone wishing to volunteer with registration or provide skilled assistance on the course can contact Kareen Tyler at clerk@saranaclake.ny.gov.

E-mail Kim Smith Dedam at: kdedam@pressrepublican.com