The mystique of the Triple Crown of canoe marathon continues by Wally Werderich In sports, the phrase “Triple Crown” invokes thoughts of prestige and athletic achievement. A thoroughbred that wins the three biggest horse races in the United States is crowned the winner of the Triple Crown (only 11 horses have ever accomplished this feat). In cycling, a bike rider earns the title of Triple Crown winner when he wins the sport’s three grand tours, the Tour de France, the Vuelta a Espana, and the Giro d’Italia (only 5 riders have ever been able to win all three). While not as well known as the Triple Crown in higher profile sports, marathon canoe racing in North America
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has its own version of the Triple Crown which invokes the same sense of amazement to paddlesports enthusiasts. Marathon canoe racing’s Triple Crown consists arguably of three of the sport’s hardest, oldest and most prestigious races. These races are The General Clinton Canoe Regatta, a 70 mile non-stop race held on the Susquehanna River in New York; The Au Sable River Canoe Marathon, a 120 mile non-stop race held in Michigan; and La Classique internationale de canots de la Mauricie, a 193 kilometer stage race held over three days on the St-Maurice river in Quebec, Canada.
Triple Crown spokesman Steve Southard extols the popularity of the three races, stating, “Marathon canoe racing on the grand scale of the Triple Crown is an action-packed spectator favorite, with the competitors maintaining a torrid pace of up to 80 paddle strokes per minute and featuring pitched competition, frenzied running portages and spills, which all take their toll on the contestants.” A Triple Crown of Canoe Racing prize was created in 1992 to recognize top performances in the three marathon races. The prize is widely recognized as one of hardest and most sought after honors in marathon canoe racing. Here