Canton Canoe Weekend – Celebrating 63 Years of Canoe Racing

By Blanche Town

On Friday-Sunday, May 2-4, the annual Canton Canoe Weekend paddling event draws as many as 300 paddlers to Canton, a small village in the St. Lawrence Valley tucked in between the St. Lawrence Seaway and the foothills of the Adirondacks. 

Canton was home to John Henry Rushton and his famous boat shop, founded in 1875 along the banks of the Grasse River. Rushton, who lived between 1843 and 1906, built lightweight cedar strip canoes and rowboats that were well known throughout the world. Some of his boats weighed less than 20 pounds and yet could carry up to 150 pounds of gear easily. Rushton’s boats were popular for hunting, fishing, exploring, and leisure paddling. 

Rushton revolutionized boat building with his sturdy, lightweight canoes, one of the most famous being the Sairy Gamp, weighing 10.5 pounds. Another Rushton boat, the Rob Roy, decked out with sails, was once advertised as “the fastest canoe afloat.” Lightweight canoes made access to backcountry destinations much easier and allowed individuals to adventure on their own, without guides and guideboats to shuttle their gear, opening up new opportunities to access the outdoors. The village of Canton, located on the Grasse River, is known as the home of Rushton canoes and rowboats. In the early 1960s the local historical society honored his memory by creating the Rushton Memorial Canoe Race.

The first race took place in 1962, and became an annual race, evolving to become Canton Canoe Weekend today. The first race drew only 10 contestants and was sponsored by the Grasse River Historical Society and the Canton Junior Chamber of Commerce. Although the number of participants was small, it attracted approximately 1,000 onlookers! The following year, 47 participants took part in the race and the Rushton race tradition had begun. 

The original racecourse was 7.5 miles long, beginning at High Falls Gorge in Pyrites and continuing on to the Main Street Bridge in Canton, ending opposite what is now Willow Island Park. This course included some exciting stretches of fast water, of particular note were the very turbulent waters between the Miner Street Bridge and the finish line. Capsizes in this stretch of river were not uncommon. 

Over the next two decades, the race continued to grow in popularity, and in time, the Canton Sportsman’s Club and the Canton and St. Lawrence County chambers of commerce took over the reins, establishing it firmly as an annual celebration of Rushton and Canton’s paddling heritage. In the 1990s, under race director Chuck Bolesh, the event became known for its prestigious pro race. Although it gained notoriety for the pro race, it has always maintained its popularity with amateur and recreational paddlers. 

Over time the racecourse was altered and the somewhat treacherous rapids between the Miner Street and Main Street bridges were eliminated from the course. Currently, races vary from one to 14-miles in length and are held throughout the weekend on the Grasse and Little Rivers, with race headquarters located at Taylor Park in Canton. 

In recent years, race director Gene Newman and St. Lawrence Valley Paddlers, have continued the annual weekend event. While it is well regarded as a prestigious pro race event, amateur and recreational races remain an integral part of the weekend line up, drawing paddlers from near and far.

Men and women pro paddlers compete in the 14-mile C-1 Pro World Championship race, held annually at Canton Canoe Weekend, and also take part in the14-mile C-2 race, with men’s teams, women’s teams and mixed teams. Pro paddlers travel to Canton from across the US and Canada. The Canton Canoe Weekend pro and amateur races of 14- and 12-miles in length are official events in the sport of marathon canoe racing. New York State races conform to uniform rules set by the New York Paddlesports Racing Association. Racers are categorized by gender, age, pro, recreational or amateur status and the type of boat they paddle. Categories include C-1 – solo canoe, C-2 – tandem canoe, C-4 – four-person canoe, and Voyageur Canoe, carrying six or more paddlers. Kayaks are similarly divided into K-1 and K-2 categories. Classes are further distinguished by the type of boat. Boat types and designs may be found on the NYPRA website: nypra.org.

Canton Canoe Weekend hosts a variety of amateur and recreational races over the three-day event. Amateur and recreational paddlers of all skill levels enter a variety of competitive and “just-for-fun” races. They come from the local community, across New York and the Northeast, and paddle distances ranging from one to 12-miles on the scenic Grasse and Little rivers.

On Friday evening paddlers pay tribute to the original race, launching at Pyrites and paddling downstream 4.5 miles to Taylor Park. An alternate course is also offered, beginning and ending at Taylor Park for those wishing to avoid any fast-moving water. This is a relaxed, scenic tour on the Grasse River, rather than a race.

One of the most popular recreational races is the Joe Randi/Rushton Relay, a two-mile fun-filled event featuring relay teams made up of family members, friends, neighbors, coworkers, high school and college students. Other recreational races include the Modern Rushton Races. Paddlers taking part in this event can choose to participate in one, four, or eight-mile races. The races feature special categories including the Rushton Division and the Wounded Warrior Division.

The start and finish lines for all races are located in Taylor Park on the Grasse River. Whether you are a serious or recreational paddler there is an event for you at Canton Canoe Weekend. Paddlers of all abilities are invited to join in! Any non-motorized canoe, kayak or SUP is welcome! Taylor Park features an accessible boat launch for those with mobility impairments, as well as shoreline water access. 

Free weekend camping is available at Taylor Park, or if you prefer indoor accommodations, there are a number of hotels and bed and breakfasts in and around Canton. On Saturday, local favorite GT’s Restaurant will put on its famous chicken BBQ, and DJ Double Dutch will provide musical entertainment. There is an entry fee for race participants, but there is no charge to enter the park to observe the races or enjoy the chicken BBQ.

Paddling is a great fitness sport, providing an opportunity to engage in aerobic activity, enjoy nature, socialize and reduce stress. If you paddle, bring your favorite canoe, kayak or SUP and join us in a competitive pro or amateur race, or a less competitive recreational race. If you do not paddle, come out and watch the fun and competition and cheer on the paddlers. Join us for a day at the river!

The Grasse and Little rivers flow through the rural countryside, skirting the edge of the Village of Canton. The forested floodplains and grassy riverbanks provide a pleasant backdrop for onlookers and racers alike. In addition to viewing the races from the start and finish line at race headquarters, marathon and amateur racers can also be viewed from the Little River boat launch at the wooden bridge on Park Street, next to the campus of St. Lawrence University.

Canton Canoe Weekend Schedule of Events – Friday, May 2, 5-6pm: The Rushton Tour – a 4.5-mile one-way downstream recreational paddle from Pyrites to Taylor Park, or you may choose to launch at Taylor Park, paddle upstream and return to the park. Launch anytime between 5-6pm.

Saturday, May 3, 9:30-11:30am: Modern Rushton Races – Bring your canoe or kayak for a one-, four- or eight-mile recreational race. Special awards will be presented in the Rushton Division and the Wounded Warriors Division. 11:30am-4:30pm: Music by DJ Double Dutch. 12:30-2:30pm: International World Championship & C-1/K-1 Amateur Races – 14- and 12-miles in length on the Grasse and Little rivers. 12:30-4pm, or until sold out: GT’s Famous Chicken BBQ. 3:30-4:30pm: Joe Randi/Rushton Relay – Have fun on the water with family and friends for this two-mile easy relay race!

Sunday, May 4, 10am-12pm: C-2 Pro, C-2/K-2 Amateur, K-1 Special – 14- and 12-mile races on the Grasse and Little rivers.

For more information about the Canton Canoe Weekend, visit: cantoncanoeweekend.org. For other local and New York races, go to the St. Lawrence Valley Paddlers website: slvpaddlers.org. Or visit the New York Paddlesports Racing Association website: nypra.org. Mark your calendar for May 2-4 and we’ll see you on the water! 

Blanche Town (betown@gmail.com) is an amateur marathon canoe racer, secretary of St. Lawrence Valley Paddlers, and a member of the New York Paddlesports Racing Association. She serves on the Canton Canoe Weekend organizing committee.