Lake to Lake Paddle Challenge - Why are canoes so unpredictable?

If you are ever in NW Pennsylvania for this race…decide to either not go for it, or go for it and embrace it. There is no middle ground. Love Hate Canoes Kayak Race

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Thanks for sharing with a first person view of that “obstacle course!” Congrats on the race result.

-sing

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Great video.
Yes, quite the ‘Mad Max’ scenario (at least the first few miles).
Have always admired the Westside kayaks, though I’m not a racer.

Shenango river watchers always puts on a nice event. I usually paddle thier spring and fall paddlefestspymatuning dam to greenville

I will participate in this race in 2025. The shenango river has a lot of twists and turns most people go for a swim on that bend where all the boats flipped especially when they open the dam if theres moving water that bend can be treacherous ive dumped my boat there along with alot of other people over the years
Great video and thans for sharing

In a race like that (narrow, twists and turns), you don’t start towards the back like many times in your videos. Get out in front early to avoid collisions. You know that I am sure, but you saw what can happen.

I don’t have a lot of experience in solo racing canoes, but I did have a J-200 for a while. They don’t like to turn, and they are tough if you get turned sideways in the current, as you see at about 9:45 when the guy goes sideways into the stainer. I gave my J-boat to Jack(L?) – the old p-net member who lived in FL and did a lot of racing. Haven’t seen him around here for a while

What was the guy in the tandem boat doing at 10:27 when he swings his leg out over the gunwale. It looks pretty intentional. Of course when they swing into the strainer the boat is now leaning upstream, and over they go.

When in current always lean into the obstruction. You need to keep the up-stream gunwale up which allows the current to flow under the boat rather than into the boat flipping you over. Its tough in a strainer. Even if you start off leaning into the strainer, the boat often moves downstream under you shifting your weight and tipping you over.

Those guys in those canoes were really moving.

Haha that’s my friend Teresa grabbing the hat. Part of my amazing pit team for Texas Water Safari this year and a long time paddling partner

I think the guy swinging his leg over the gunwale was anticipating that he would hop out of the boat just then, but waited when the boat remained upright for a while longer. It’s been a while since I watched the clip so I may not remember clearly, but it seemed that boat was going to flip sooner than it did and that may have been that guy’s impression as well.