80 paddlers, 30 teams, 3,760 kilometres: This is the Algonquin Outfitters 24 Hours of River X

How far could you paddle in 24 hours? That was the challenge facing 80 paddlers who converged on River Mill Park on June 16 and 17 for the second annual Algonquin Outfitters 24 Hours of River X.

The 80 participants—some paddling solo, some in tandem and some as part of a relay team—had 24 hours to complete as many laps of a 10km route as they could. All paddled from the Town Dock at River Mill Park, down the Muskoka River, along the shoreline of Fairy Lake, and further down the river to the turn-around just before the Brunel Locks, and then they retraced their route back to River Mill Park for a quick portage across the Rotary Bandshell stage before doing it all again. A tent city in the park provided a place for competitors to rest and relax as needed.

“It’s a unique event in the paddling world,” says Rob Horton, who organizes the event with Mike Varieur. “We wanted something a bit different, something more of a community-oriented thing. They compete against each other and cheer each other on.”

The event is modelled after 24 Hours of Adrenalin, a mountain bike race in Canmore, Alberta. “There’s nothing like that in paddling,” said Horton. “We thought it would be great to apply the same kind of concept to a paddling race.”

Horton said the paddlers love that they are passing each other and seeing each other throughout the race, “and then you’ve got this kind of camping community where they can hang out when they aren’t doing a loop and chat with people and meet each other…It’s a nice opportunity to enjoy the paddling experience together.”

Teams came from across Ontario and Quebec to compete in a variety of vessels, including high-performance canoes, recreational canoes, solo and tandem kayaks, and even two prone boards, where the paddlers use only their hands for propulsion.

Relay team Justice League Quebec—Helen Chan, Michael Creamer, Annie Lariviere, and David Reyes—were the fastest paddlers, completing 20 laps (200 km) in 24 hours. Solo kayaker Vadim Lawrence completed 19 laps (190 km). And local relay team Taking a Break from Running—Justine Brown, Deanna Levine, Melanie Mar, Jennifer MacMillan, Megan Stephenson and Jane Wolfe—were in third place and the first to complete 18 laps (180 km). Together, the 30 teams paddled a combined total of 3,760 kilometres.

For more information on the event and full results, visit muskokariverx.com.

River Mill Park became a temporary tent city for the Algonquin Outfitters 24 Hours of River X

Jen Nicholson (front) and Rebecca Francis, members of relay team Red Planet Paddlers, get ready to put in at the start of the race

Relay team Taking a Break from Running (from left) Melanie Mar, Jennifer MacMillan, Justine Brown, Megan Stephenson, Deanna Levine and Jane Wolfe

Tandem teams get ready for their first lap. In the foreground: Laura MacDermaid (left) and Rick Swinson.

Tandem teams line up (Photo: Liz Rice)

The rescue boat keeps a close eye on the start of the race

Vadim Lawrence (back) and Christina Sutcliffe at the start of the solo heat

Prone boarders Karen Zerr (front) and Kevin Farrell. They completed 100km like this.

Relay team Fenn Pals was the first to reach the turn-around point on the Muskoka River

Paddlers offered up passing words of encouragement at the turn-around point

Relay team Perpetual (Slow) Motion Paddles Again! makes their way down the Muskoka River

Solo kayaker Vadim Lawrence crosses the first portage on his way to an eventual second place finish

Relay team Justice League Quebec would place first overall

Relay team Taking a Break from Running transitions for the start of their second lap

All is quiet at the camp in the early hours of Sunday morning (Photo: Muskoka River X / Facebook)

Paddlers enjoyed a beautiful sunrise on Sunday morning (Photo: Muskoka River X / Facebook)

The best dressed team? Red Planet Paddlers runs through the portage to begin another lap in the final hours of the Algonquin Outfitters 24 Hours of River X (Photo: @muskokariverx / Twitter)

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