Lake Metroparks Canoe, Kayak race draws crowd of die-hard participants

Some folks will go to great lengths for a thrill, no matter if the air carries a chill.

And, although it’s a far cry from world-class whitewater, Northeast Ohio’s very own Grand River played host to such a crowd April 28 as they continued a long-standing tradition, donning daring headwear and paddling a roughly 8 1/2-mile stretch of the 102-mile stream despite temperatures in the 40s and the day’s rainy debut.

Dating back to the 1960s, the race’s origins lay within a group of paddling enthusiasts who called themselves the Painesville Madhatters Canoe and Kayak Club, according to present-day race director Brian Davidson with the Lake Metroparks.

A write-up about the event on paddling.com says it was run as the Madhatters Canoe Race between 1964 and 1988. Eventually, the club decided to pass the baton - or paddle, as it were - to Lake Metroparks, which dubbed it the Grand River Canoe & Kayak Race.

“We kind of inherited it... This is our 24th year doing it,” Davidson said, adding that, although plenty of area residents likely considered the race’s participants April 28 to be a little bit nutty for wandering off into the water on such a cold and rainy April day, its originators held it in March for many years.

“I’ve actually talked to people who participated in it back then, when they did it in March, and they’ll tell me: ‘Oh yeah - I remember being in it when there was still ice on the river in spots,” Davidson said.

It still sports a mad-hat component today, with plenty of its participants seen wearing unique hats of all shapes, sizes and accompanying adornments in hopes of scoring maddest-hat recognition.

Having heard for years about how much fun it is to take part in the race, and being an avid paddler, anyhow, this reporter decided 2018 would be the year to participate as an observer.

So, I gathered my gear, got into my drysuit and put my packraft through the paddlers’ paces as a tourist of sorts.

One thing that stands out about the event is the sheer enthusiasm of its participants, whether they’re there in a competitive capacity or they just enjoy the camaraderie inherent in such a long-standing tradition.

Whether they participated for prizes or just to enjoy the float in their boats with their friends and families, however, each of the paddlers on board April 28 seemed to be a fun-loving, communal crowd that enjoys being out on the water, even if it’s just once a year.

The contest for the maddest hat doesn’t hurt the festive mood, either.

Take Concord Township resident Rick Cutright, for example.

When asked about his favorite part of the race, he enthusiastically replied: “The hats, of course!”

Cutright said he’s participated in the race for several years and his wife normally joins him but opted to sit this one out.

“I’m going solo this year,” he said, adding that his strategy, as in years past, is pure enjoyment. “I don’t really race. We just, you know, leisurely go down the river and have fun with it.”

Unfortunately for Cutright, however, the hat he designed using a colander and some faux pasta didn’t make it to the finish line with him, as it fell off his head about half-way down the river.

Another madhatter who Plenty of thought into her headwear’s design was Geneva resident Evie Nadzan, who turned a helmet into a canoe, complete with paddling Barbie and Ken dolls.

Evie and her dad, Jason, paddled together in the race April 28 and have entered it the last three years, they said, adding that it’s a lot of fun and a good time for all.

Out on the water, it was apparent the fun lasted the length of the course, as hoots, hollers and howls could be heard along the cliff-lined corridors of this Wild and Scenic Rivers stretch of the stream.

Speaking of which, this year’s race paid tribute to the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, which dates back to Oct. 2, 1968, making 2018 its 50th anniversary year. Parts of the Grand River, itself, earned these designations on January 17, 1974.

In his own, very special way, competitive kayaker and Erie, Pa. resident Dan Merski paid homage to 50 years of wild and scenic rivers by way of his entry into the day’s maddest hat competition, for which he scored first place for the second year in a row (he took top honors in 2017 with his Earth Day Sombrero.)

Merski said he participates in numerous paddling races in his home state of Pennsylvania and likes the competitive aspect of them, often making first-place times.

He said he’s been participating in the grand River Canoe and Kayak Race four years now and got serious about his headwear entry last year.

“I like to race for time. I do other races,” he said, adding that this headwear of choice this year, while garnering first place in that category, might not have been the best accessory in terms of helping out his paddling efficiency. “Next year, I gotta make a more aerodynamic hat.”

His lid was an achievement in its own right, however, as it depicted numerous wild-and-scenic river-related ornaments, including two mini bobbleheaded paddlers in a canoe; a red, white and blue, bald-eagle-adorned “1968-2018” banner and a river running ‘round it all.

He said the fact that the race got postponed (it was originally scheduled April 21, but officials called it off until April 28 due to high water levels.)

“I was up some late nights working on it,” he said. “And (the postponement) gave me some more time to fine tune it. I had a couple different directions I was going in and it just eventually went in this direction. So I got out he glue gun and went to work.”

Yet another madhatter - Chardon Township resident Megan Pinzone - scored an honorable mention for her mad-hat contribution: A live, flowering plant in a pot full of dirt bearing a beacon about bees.

It read: “Feed the bees. Plant flowers and trees.”

She said that, seeing as how Earth Day just happened on April 22, she decided to go with an environmental theme.

“I just love nature and Earth Day was last week. So I was thinking of a theme of taking care of Planet Earth,” she said, adding that she isn’t an avid paddler but enjoys this event, in which she’s participated about 15 years. “It’s just a fun day. Everyone’s just so friendly and it’s a good day to be around a bunch of friendly people that are having a good time, too. Plus, Lake Metroparks just does such a great job and it’s a well-run event. And the river’s beautiful!”

When it was all said and done, Lake Metroparks outdoor education chief Seth Begeman said the unofficial numbers showed 151 people paddled in the race.

He said it was a great day as usual, despite the dreary weather.

“Everyone made it home safe and that’s what really matters,” he said as he worked to help other organizers dismantle the finish line and other accommodations set up a Hidden Valley Park. “People had smiles on their faces, even with the cold, wet weather and that’s always a good sign.”

The Lake Metroparks’ Davidson, likewise, said he thought the day was a big success and is thrilled to see so many dedicated participants carry on such a fun tradition.

“I would say the thing that stands out, in my mind, is that people come out on a day like this and keep this tradition going,” he said.

Davidson said he’s also pleased with the partnership Lake Metroparks and the Ashtabula County Metroparks have developed over the years holding this event.

“I really want to highlight the partnership we have with the Ashtabula County parks,” he said. “We wouldn’t be able to do it without them.

Aside from the park systems and the race’s participants, Begeman said about 30 volunteers, along with the Lake County Sheriff’s Department all go a long way toward making the Grand River Canoe and Kayak Race such a success year after year.

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