OMCKRA Race Schedule
Ontario Marathon Canoe Kayak Racing Association (OMCKRA) sanctions races throughout the province all season long. Please see below for details and contact us if you need help finding more race information.
April
7 April Upper Jock River Race
Location:
Race Website:
Ottawa
Status:
sanction approved
Contact:
Gaeten Plourde jockriverrace@yahooo.com
Description:
DATE CHANGE to SUNDAY 7th. The 12.5km race through the Richmond Fen is one of the area’s great springtime adventures. Attracting over 250 participants, the race is open to all paddlers – canoes, kayaks, outriggers and SUPs
28 April Sydenham River Race
Location:
Race Website:
Alvinston
Status:
recognized approved
Contact:
Melissa Levi mlevi@scrca.on.ca
Description:
7 km, 12 km and 15 km courses, for every level of paddler. Fund raiser for the Conservation Authority. Well attended with up to 80 canoes and kayaks participating. South of Alvinston and north of Bothwell, on the Mosside Line Road, 3km west of Nauvoo Road.
May
11 May Marsh Mash Canoe Race
Location:
Race Website:
Status:
Contact:
Description:
Bradford
sanction approved
Iain Craig craigers@rogers.com
Ontario's qualifier race for Marathon Worlds. The race is on the north branch of the canal that surrounds the well-known Holland Marsh. It is well suited to new and experienced paddlers.
25 May Saugeen Bluffs Canoe Race
Location:
Race Website:
Status:
Contact:
Description:
Paisley
sanction approved
Jim Leask j.leask@svca.on.ca
NEW RACE!! GREAT LOCATION. This event has two distances. The shorter event starts at River Access point 9a and the race finishes 8.5 km downstream at Access point 11. The longer (19 km) event starts at Access point 8 and also finishes at Access Point 11, which is the Saugeen Bluffs Conservation Area.
The link above gets you to campsite, individual and group race registrations. Direct links to registration are:
Individual: https://forms.saugeenconservation.ca/Outdoors-and-Recreation/Saugeen-Bluffs-River-Run-Individual-Registration and Team: https://forms.saugeenconservation.ca/Outdoors-and-Recreation/Saugeen-Bluffs-River-Run-Group-Race-Registration
June
1 June Canoe The Nonquon
Location:
Race Website:
Status:
Contact:
Description:
Port Perry
https://www.scugog.ca/parks-recreation-culture/museums/museum-programs-and-events/canoe-the-nonquon/
sanction approved
Michelle Rahm mrahm@scugog.ca
Established in 1969 it is the longest running race in Ontario. Funds raised benefit the Scugog Shores Museums. Few kilometers on the Nonquon have many tight bends to practice your rudder turns; also some dead-end channels along the river section — when in doubt keep right! No portages but you may have to push over one or two beaver dams. Individual start; 12 & 20 km races. 12 km river & 8 km sprint on shores of Lake Scugog. A well attended race with a long-standing history in the community. Marathon C1 and C2. Various Recreational boats; Canoe, SUP and Kayak.
1 June Saugeen Paddlers Voyageur Canoe Race
Location:
Race Website:
Status:
Contact:
Description:
Paisley
sanction approved
Jack Van Dorp / Brian Beech saugeenpaddler@gmail.com
North Canoes are 26 feet long and crewed by either six or eight paddlers. They are replicas of canoes used by the North West Company, transporting furs from the interior to rendezvous points such as Fort William. At Rendezvous, their cargoes of fur were transferred to Montreal Canoes, 34 feet long, for the 54-day shipment east to Montreal. The North Canoes in turn, would take the goods from the east to the interior for trade. Teams participate in games of skill — some traditional, some with a little more modern influence, and they race in North Canoes.
8 June Mattawa River Canoe Race
Location:
Race Website:
Status:
Contact:
Description:
North Bay
sanction approved
Paula Loranger paulal@nbmca.on.ca
The Mattawa River Race starts on Trout Lake in North Bay and continues down the Mattawa valley, ending at the town of Mattawa on the Ottawa River. The course features long lake crossings, multiple portages, dams and rapids as well as twisting river sections.
15 June Manotick Round-the-Islands Paddle
Location:
Race Website:
Status:
Contact:
Description:
Manotick
sanction approved
Brian Schacht brianw.schacht@gmail.com
Father’s Weekend family fun event paddling on the Rideau Canal and the back channel around Long & Nicolls Islands. If you own a canoe, kayak or paddle board, this 10 km. adventure is for you, along with your family or friends. The paddle is clockwise around Long & Nicolls Islands Event starts and finishes at the boat launch, next to Manotick Public Pool and Library with two portages around the dams. Entry fee: $20 per person or $35 per canoe/kayak/paddle board. Members of OMCKRA: $12 per person or $20 per canoe/kayak. Medals awarded for 1st, 2nd, 3rd place in solo and pairs, plus random dissimilitudes. Judging of the latter may be sketchy and prejudicial.
July
13 July Parry Sound 50
North of Parry Sound
Location:
Race Website:
Status:
sanction approved
Contact:
Gord Cole aquacage@vianet.ca
Description:
Nine Mile Lake Beach Park. Course is deep water, few or no weeds. Sheltered from most wind directions. Little or no boat traffic. All boat classes. 50k if one paddler under 15, the other paddler must be over 18. 50k is 3 loops of Nine Mile Lake, with short portage each loop. One paddler per boat must run up beach, boats do not need to be carried, leave food and drinks on portage/beach to pick up after each loop. 17k , 5k. has 2 portages. 5k is short loop on Nine Mile Lake. All participants must meet coast guard safety requirements including PFD in boat for each person , noise maker , bailing bucket (unless exempt), throw rope. Inflatable approved PFDs are permitted but must be worn. Any non-swimmers MUST WEAR an approved PFD !!! All participants 18 and under MUST wear an approved PFD. Participants are responsible to ensure they are physically capable of undertaking this physically demanding event. Registration link: https://zone4.ca/register.asp?id=35309&lan=1&cartlevel=1
August
10 August Kingston to Ottawa (K2O)
Location:
Kingston/Ottawa
Race Website:
Status:
sanction approved
Contact:
Mike Broekhoven info@kingston2ottawa.ca
Description:
The Kingston to Ottawa 100 (K2O) Paddling Race is an ultra endurance marathon paddling race through a UNESCO World Heritage site, the Rideau Canal waterway. Starting from Rideau Ferry Bridge and ending in Kingston. There will be two distances, 90 km full event, and an approx. ½ distance event. All categories will apply to both distances.
11 August Wai Nui Why Not Race
Location:
Mississauga
Race Website:
Status:
sanction approved
Contact:
Wendy Perkins wendypaddle@gmail.com
Gillian Salter gogilliango@gmail.com
Description:
Held in picturesque Oakville at the Wai Nui club. Consistent with outrigger culture, this is a Hawaiian-themed event. After the races lunch, awards and some very cool swag will follow at the Oakville Power Boat Club. Bring your own chairs - there is lots of space on the lawn. Wai Nui Why Not is the second of the four races in the Waterway Series. Fees include racing, lunch, awards, and swag. Lunch-only tickets are available.
September
13 to 15 September Muskoka River X
Hunstville
Location:
Race Website:
sanction approved
Status:
Contact:
Mike Varieur mike@muskokariverx.ca
Description:
Since 2013 River X Racing has been Rob Horton and Mike Varieur with the ongoing support of Algonquin Outfitters. River X is a passion for ultra-distance marathon paddling + adventure. The flag-ship event is the Muskoka River X; the longest single day expedition paddling race in the world. In 2015, the Muskoka River X expanded by adding a traverse of Algonquin Park to the Classic event, and the Coureur des Bois was born. Since then, River X has hosted several ultra-distance marathon paddling events including the Big East River X, 24 Hours of River X, The OX, Battle of the Paddle, Huntsville 110 and the David Thompson Virtual Paddle Challenge. See http://muskokariverx.com/ for details. For 2024, we challenge teams along a 95km/17 portage course that starts in Whitney, east of Algonquin Park, and ends in Oxtongue to the west. This is home of the Canoe Tripper, and to celebrate them we offer the Canoe Tripper Class. Tripper Teams will paddle the quintessential canoe: Defined by its symmetrical hull with curved bow and stern, this elegant watercraft can be paddled tandem or solo in almost any condition. It is the mainstay of the Tripper. Powering the Tripper is the classic paddle, wooden with a straight shaft and blade. The Canoe Tripper Class will have several categories, all reflecting Tripper Culture. More of a Marathoner and less of a Tripper? River X has you represented with traditional categories such as C2 Stock, C1 Stock, K1 and SUP. Hold the date and join us in 2024 for our 11th season of the Algonquin Outfitters Muskoka River X as we celebrate the Canoe Tripper. Details and registration will be posted later this fall. Have a great rest of the paddling season.
21 September Toronto International Outrigger Canoe Race TIOC
Toronto
Location:
Race Website:
sanction approved
Status:
Contact:
Christopher Hebert christopherhebert007@gmail.com
Description:
Based out of the Toronto Sailing & Canoe Club (TS&CC), this popular event challenges an international field of outrigger canoe, SUP, surfski & kayak paddlers. The race courses span from 5km for newer paddlers, to a 20 km+ course around Toronto Islands. The races are followed by a luau with delicious food and drink. All are welcome, including spectators!
October
6 October Sunshine City Paddle Race
Location:
Orillia
Race Website:
Status:
sanction approved
Contact:
Yvonne Kurz yvonnekurz@ymail.com
Description:
New Race!!! The course runs from Kitchener Park into Lake Couchiching and back. Wearing of PFD is mandatory. Close to the recreation centre for access to change rooms at a small charge. Centre is open from 7am to 6pm. Parking and washrooms in the Kitchener Park. Racers must carry cell phones. Dry packs will be provided. 10AM briefing. 10:30am start, cut off time for the 25K race will be mid-point by 12:30.
19 October Nottawasaga Fall Classic
Location:
Wasaga Beach
Race Website:
Status:
sanction approved
Contact:
Peter Braul peter.braul@gmail.com
Description:
In downtown Wasaga Beach for a fun race for all sorts of paddlers! If you have a boat and want to race it but don’t see a category, we’ll find a way to make it work! This section of river includes shallows, moving water, docks, boats and other entertaining features. Any underwater objects will be clearly marked and easy to avoid. All boats racing the same distance will start together heading upstream. There are no podium prizes for this race, just pride in having done your best and recognition from your peers. Black Bellows Brewing in Collingwood has graciously donated some merchandise and gift cards to be raffled off as door prizes. See you on the river!
