The story
The Great Canoe Race Committee (GCRC)
The Great Canoe Race Committee resulted from a lively discussion in the Soap Lake Businessmen's Club. These 12 members made the commitment to organize a canoe race along 5 sequential lakes in the lower grand coulee, though most had no experience with event planning or canoeing. Even with setbacks as big as Mount St. Helen's erupting in 1980 (literally), they pulled it off and started an event that would continue annually for over 25 years!
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The Course
Just south of the spectacular Dry Falls, Sun Lakes State Park marks the start of the Great Canoe Race. The first lake, Park Lake, provided an energetic start with a shotgun blast setting off the racers. In the congestion of canoes, one would tip over once in a while. After the first portage through scrub lands, Blue Lake was next. The biggest obstacle here often being the wake from power boats of viewers interested in watching. After another portage through farm land typically dotted with cattle is Alkali Lake. In later years the water weeds here would attempt to wrap themselves around paddles. After a controlled crossing at highway 17 is Lake Lenore, the longest of the lakes with a mid way checkpoint for rehydrating. With tired arms, the big 2 1/2 mile portage to Soap Lake follows. With the sun higher in the sky at this time, the shadeless sage lands were unforgiving. Finally, the 5th lake, Soap Lake was where the final sprint happened. Said to be the hardest part of the Great Canoe Race because you just wanted to finish! This race was a grueling challenge in a beautiful land that attracted thousands to the area.
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Trial Runs: The GCRC held two trial runs to test the course in April and June before the inaugural event. With minimal experience, they timed the course at about 4 hours.
Highway Control: With relay teams and spectators scrambling to follow the canoeists, thousands of people had to carefully navigate Highway 17 from Park Lake to Soap Lake. A small army of volunteers from the Sheriff's Dept. , Dept. of Transportation, and State Highway Patrol made this possible.
Portages: Participants of the GCR had to portage between lakes, which included highway crossing and distances up to 2 1/2 miles long.
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The Participants
Since 1980, participation meant signing up as a two person marathon team or a ten person relay team, and all women teams competed in their own division. Then in 1985, an Iron Man division was added for solo runs and a light (under 50lbs) and heavy (over 50lbs) class were also created because of extreme weight difference between canoes (24lbs - 90lbs). In 1988 a Money Class was added to included a prize pot.
Have any team photos to contribute to this gallery, contact us and we'll be happy to oblige!
Have any team photos to contribute to this gallery, contact us and we'll be happy to oblige!
The Crowds
It's been said up to 6,000 people would crowd the lower grand coulee during the Great Canoe Race and end up in Soap Lake to cheer participants past the finish line. With as many as 75 registered teams, from solo, to doubles, to ten person teams, the parks lawns would overflow with canoes. Seeing is believing so check out these photos below!
The Celebrations
The GCRC knew how to host and treat all of those that came to be a part of the Great Canoe Race. Loud cheering finish lines, giant trophies, 'I FINISHED' T-shirts. But the hospitality stretched beyond the committee as the community of Soap Lake and beyond embraced all of the visitors. In those days Soap Lake had 5 open establishments to quench the exhausted participants thirst and connect strangers in camaraderie. The Del Red Tavern, Soap Lake Businessmen's Club, James Tavern, Pastime Tavern, and Jumbos Tavern. Throughout the area over 100 businesses sponsored and advertised with the Great Canoe Race!