GRAYLING -- It's official. This weekend's Weyerhauser Au Sable Canoe Marathon will have a record field. The deadline for entry passed at noon Monday with 77 two-person teams registered, breaking the record of 75 teams set last year.
"This is a new record for us and something we didn't expect," longtime committee member Joe Wakeley said on Monday from race headquarters in Grayling. "Last year was the 60th annual race and we figured that was why we had such a spike in numbers. We actually expected it would be down this year due to the economy and the gas prizes but we have even more than last year. It's been a pleasant surprise."
This will be the 61st consecutive year for the marathon race that extends more than 120 miles along the Au Sable River from Grayling to Oscoda.
There are also 41 first-time paddlers taking part in this year's event, which is another record. Last year, there were 39 first-timers.
Part of the allure is taking part in a prestigious event that is described as "the longest, richest and toughest canoe race in North America" with more than $50,000 in cash and prizes at stake.
Wakeley said the popularity of the Au Sable event can be credited to other factors as well.
"I think a lot of it is the river itself," he said. "Just the fact that the Au Sable is such a clean, pristine river is a big draw for paddlers. Another part is the uniqueness of starting at night and going all night long. A third thing that's really important, especially for the teams coming from out of state and Canada, is how the paddlers are treated. We hear comments all the time about how accommodating the other racers are and how the community makes them feel welcome."
The field features teams representing 16 states and the provinces of Saskatoon, Manitoba and Quebec in Canada. Ray Wonders and his son, Ray Wonders Jr., are making the farthest trip, coming all the way from Anchorage, Alaska. Other teams hail from as far away as Washington, Florida and Missouri. Armin Lopez of Santa Elina, Belize, is also part of this year's field.
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