2019 Algonquin Outfitters Muskoka River X earns its title as one of toughest marathon paddling races in the world

How far could you paddle in a day or a weekend?

Racers in the annual Algonquin Outfitters Muskoka River X, held September 13-15, tested their mettle against one of three distances: the 48-hour, 223km Coureur des Bois, the 24-hour, 133km Muskoka River X Classic, or the 58km MRX Sprint.

The epic Coureur des Bois was back this year after a two-year hiatus. Beginning to the east of Algonquin Park, paddlers raced along the heritage routes of the Algonquin Peoples with only the supplies they could carry and navigating using only a compass and map. The race included more than 30 portages and an overnight camp out at Oxtongue Lake. Racers had just 48 hours to complete the gruelling journey.

On Saturday, the MRX Classic and Sprint racers set off in the early morning from Hidden Valley Resort on Peninsula Lake for their 133km and 58km routes respectively. The Classic racers paddled through two rivers and three very choppy lakes with 20 portages. It’s considered the toughest single-day canoe race in the world, and lived up to its reputation this year.

Due to water conditions, MRX directors decided to cut the Coureur des Bois and Classic race routes short to ensure the safety of the racers, volunteers and search and rescue team. The unforeseen weather conditions made Mary Lake unexpectedly rough and the race crew had an active morning helping paddlers through that section of the race. As a result, the final leg of the route through Lake of Bays and Peninsula Lake was removed as it was too risky for the majority of the paddlers, and the finish line was changed to the checkpoint in Baysville.

MRX Race Directors Mike Varieur and Rob Horton shared their thanks for all involved at the racer banquet on Sunday. They recognized the local paddling community as well as the national and international paddling communities for their avid support. They also thanked the spectacular volunteers who persevered through long hours and inclement weather to keep the paddlers safe and to track their progress along the course. Algonquin Outfitters and the company’s owner Rich Swift were also mentioned for their support which makes the experience possible for MRX racers. They also acknowledged the District of Muskoka and its municipalities.

Racers sprint to their waiting vessels on Saturday morning

Paddlers in the canal between Pen and Fairy Lakes

Paddlers prep for yet another portage

Results of the Coureur des Bois:

Solo Stand-up Paddle Boarder (SUP)

1. Starboard – Bart de Zwart – 32 hrs

Bart de Zwart

C2 Tandem Co-ed

1. The Bickersons – Bonnie Pankiw and Christoph Weber – 23 hrs, 44 min
2. Golden Lake Crew – Jennifer Courville and Sebastian Courville – 23hrs, 59 min

C2 Tandem Male

1. Algonquin Outfitters Cache Flash – Pat and Tim Turner – 22 hrs, 46 min
2. Hog Wild – Brice Barton and Solomon Carriere – 24 hrs, 24 min
3. Hustle and Flow – Paul and Issac Adams – 31 hrs, 02 min

Team 29, Algonquin Outfitters Cache Flash (Tim and Pat Turner) placed first overall in the Coureur des Bois (Photo: Andy Zeltkalns for Muskoka River X / Facebook)

Results of the Classic Distance:

K1 Male Solo

1. Creekfreak – Shawn Urban – 12hrs, 15 min
2. Muskoka Flippin – Trevor Quinton – 14 hrs, 42 min
3. Opinicon – Brad Spooner – 16 hrs, 59 min

C1 Male

1. Upright is Alright! – Mackenzie Buis – 17 hrs, 43 min

C2 Male Tandem Marathon

1. Can You Belize – Dean Coulson and Amado Cruz – 11 hrs, 18 min

The fastest team on the water during Saturday’s Classic and Sprint distances, Team 33, Can You Belize (Dean Coulson from Ontario and Amado Cruz from Belize). (Photo courtesy of Muskoka River X / Facebook)

C2 Male Tandem Stock

1. Team Manitoba – Art Walker-Jones and Bill Briggs – 12 hrs, 12 min
2. Not Quite Cousins – Peter Ceponis and Chris Prater – 13 hrs, 18 min
3. Beaver Fever – Bill McGowan and Conor Abrahams – 13 hrs, 47 min

C2 Co-ed Tandem Stock

1. Round Side Down – David and Abby Lewis – 12 hrs, 55 min

Results of the Sprint Distance:

SUP Female

1. WhatSUP – Leila Myers – 11 hrs, 39 min

SUP Male

1. Chris Van Dyke – 10 hrs, 47 min

C1 Male Solo Sprint

1. Single Bird – Don Stoneman – 7 hrs, 59 min
2. Chuck 1 – Mark Caswell – 8 hrs, 10 min
3. Trippin’on twigs – Ed Venuk – 9 hrs, 58 min

C2 Co-ed Tandem Marathon

1. Gwyn and Bob – Bob Vincent and Gwyn Hayman – 8 hrs, 01 min

C2 Female Tandem Stock

1. Paddling Piglets – Roxanne Barton and Gloria Wesley – 6 hrs, 58 min
2. Muskoka X Women – Megan Stephenson and Jennifer Macmillan – 8 hrs, 39 min

The Muskoka X Women, Jennifer MacMillan and Megan Stephenson

C2 Male Tandem Stock

1. I am Ernesto Ramos – Tyler Pham and Richard Seto – 8 hrs, 27 min
2. Old Crow and Chippy – Stephen Tait and Ewan Spence – 8 hrs, 31 min
3. Ernesto and Kanwar – Ernesto Ramos and Kanwar Singh – 11 hrs, 09 min

C2 Co-ed Tandem Stock

1. Haliburtans – Jack Simpson and Christine Jonas-Simpson – 7 hrs, 37 min
2. Monarch – Tom Stead and Jen Nicholson – 7 hrs, 48 min
3. Dans Boot – Catherine Zacal and David Nichols – 8 hrs, 40 min

C2 Co-ed Tandem Rec

1. Fire Strong – Robert and Andrea Feuerstake – 9 hrs, 40 min

C2 Male Tandem Rec

1. D-Squared – Greg Callum and Doug Morrow – 10 hrs, 43 min

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