2 KENDUSKEAG STREAM CANOE RACE 50th ANNIVERSARY • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • April 8, 2016 50th Anniversary Kenduskeag Stream Canoe Race BY AIMEE THIBODEAU school, and then encountered each other Emergency Medical Institute, Pine State In addition to the record setters, there are a SPECIAL SECTIONS EDITOR again through the Air National Guard. Radio Amateur Club, and students from United few fan favorites each year. Zip Kellog of Fifty years after paddlers first took to the In the late 1960s, the duo came up with the Technology Center’s Public Safety Program. Bangor stands in his canoe as he maneuvers Kenduskeag Stream for the inaugural canoe idea for the canoe race and eventually found That first year of the race, in April 1967, one the course each year. Kellog is always dressed race, the event is still going strong and has a sponsor with Bangor Parks and Recreation. report notes that seven of the 32 canoes that for success in a suit and tie, the bow of his become the most popular whitewater race The first canoe committee members attempted to maneuver the stream failed to canoe decorated with flowers. Gumby — yes, in Maine. were: Tony Trafton, Ed McKeon, Braley complete the course. Another says there were like the cartoon character — is another crowd Bangor’s iconic canoe race attracts about Gray Jr. from Old Town Canoe, Earl 34 canoes that raced that first year. favorite that’s been part of the race since the 1,000 participants each year, with thousands Baldwin, Lynn, Colburn, and Gilman. After No matter how many took part that first early 90s. The green team even was featured of spectators — lovingly dubbed river Wendell Easler of Old Town Canoe spoke to year, it’s known that more than 28,000 paddlers once in Sports Illustrated magazine. vultures — lining the stream banks to watch the group about water safety, there were have participated in the race since 1967. And while the participants are the focus as paddlers tackle the rapids. some concerns, according to a 1991 Bangor Numerous records have been set over the of the race, it’s the spectators that create the The original race was the brainchild of Daily News story. years, but the current course completion atmosphere year after year. Lew Gilman, who died in 2011, and Edwin “I think the spectators are what makes “Sonny” Colburn. The current course record of 1:50:08 is held by Robert Langof the race so much fun,” Gilman said in a 1991 The actual conversation is reported in interview. He mentioned how many people “Tales of the Kenduskeag” by Jim Smith Renforth, New Brunswick, who set the record in 1997. arrive hours early to claim a favorite rock and Fern Stearns, to have been a phone call He has a total of 11 race wins. for viewing. “We’ve seen them there year that went like this: after year. They make the race special.” Ed: “Lew, what do you think about having In recent years, Lincoln Search and record of 1:50:08, set in 1997, is held by a canoe race on the Kenduskeag?” Rescue and Dirigo Search and Rescue have Robert Lang of Renforth, New Brunswick. Lew: “It sounds like a helluva good idea to been the go-to safety crews for paddlers Lang is a well-known name among me. Let’s meet tonight — get started right off.” navigating the stream. Kenduskeag Stream Canoe Race paddlers, As a co-owner of Rivers & Gilman Molded Lincoln is stationed at Six Mile Falls, a having won a total of 11 times. Products in Hampden, Gilman once made tricky whitewater area where paddlers simulated birchbark canoes that bore the often tip their canoes and kayaks. Dirigo, a tradename “Indian.” He later worked for larger operation from the Bangor area, the Old Town Canoe Co. patrols rapids below the falls, focusing on a A lifelong Bangor resident, Colburn grew up series of rapids known as The Shopping in a large house near Six Mile Falls on Outer Cart. And each year, a number of smaller Broadway along the Kenduskeag Stream. search and rescue teams also are on hand to Gilman and Colburn first met in high help, including members of Down East Zip Kellog makes his way down river at Six Mile Falls on April 17, 2010. PHOTO CREDIT: BDN FILE KENDUSKEAG STREAM CANOE RACE 50th ANNIVERSARY • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • April 8, 2016 3 PHOTO COURTESY OF JULIE DAWSON WILLIAMS Robinson and Eliabeth Speirs, lifelong Bangor PHOTO CREDIT: BDN FILE DRAWING BY TOM HENNESSEY residents, participate in the first Kenduskeag Stream The Gumby group is another crowd favorite that’s Lew Gilman (rear) and Ed “Sonny” Colburn, Canoe Race. According to family lore, Elizabeth been participating since the early 90s and once founders of the Kenduskeag Stream Canoe Race. Speirs was the only woman in the field. was featured in Sports Illustrated magazine. 4 KENDUSKEAG STREAM CANOE RACE 50th ANNIVERSARY • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • April 8, 2016 Stream Race Records 1967 1979 Overall Winner: Overall Winner: Did you know? Sam Stoddard / Jim Robbins Reinhard Zollitsch Overall Runner Up: Overall Runner Up: The name “Kenduskeag” is attributed to the Michael Crosby / Bruce Smith Glen Green Penobscot Indians, who called the stream “the place 1968 1980 Overall Winner: Overall Winner: where eels gather,” “the eel catching place,” or “the Austin Hodgkins / Ray Titcomb Jeff Wren place where eels are speared.” Overall Runner Up: Overall Runner Up: Don Fletcher / Don McKay Reinhard Zollitsch 1969 1981 Overall Winner: Overall Winner: The Kenduskeag Stream Canoe Race has Eysman Hasey / Eldridge Clark Jr. Jeff Wren Overall Runner Up: Overall Runner Up: never relied on corporate sponsorship. Bill Hodgkins / Scott Adams Reinhard Zollitsch 1970 1982 Overall Winner: Overall Winner: Some paddlers have noted that the di erent colors Bill Hodgkins / Scott Adams Robert Lang Overall Runner Up: Overall Runner Up: of the many kayaks and canoes can be seen “painted” Warren Heath / Jim Robbins Jeff Wren on the rocks just below the surface in certain 1971 1983 Overall Winner: Overall Winner: shallow parts of the stream, which can take on the John Holland Robert Lang appearance of brightly colored aquarium pebbles. Overall Runner Up: Overall Runner Up: Jim Martin / Don Daigle Eric Jackson 1972 1984 Overall Winner: Overall Winner: There are Class IV rapids on the Scott Adams / Buzz Adams Robert Lang Overall Runner Up: Overall Runner Up: Kenduskeag depending on conditions, Bob Waddle / Matt Waddle Mark Zollitsch 1973 1985 but paddlers avoid them with Overall Winner: Overall Winner: Bob Waddle / Matt Waddle Robert Lang mandatory portages. Overall Runner Up: Overall Runner Up: Scott Adams / Buzz Adams Jeff Wren 1 974 1986 Overall Winner: Overall Winner: The “Shopping Cart” section of rapids on the Bob Waddle / Mike Waddle Robert Lang Kenduskeag Stream, close to Bangor, got its name Overall Runner Up: Overall Runner Up: from a large number of shopping carts inexplicably Gordon Berry / Allen York Mark Zollitsch dumped there years ago. To this day, the site is 1975 1987 Overall Winner: Overall Winner: known to many locals as the “Shopping Cart Hole.” Mike Waddle / Randy Hamilton Robert Lang Overall Runner Up: Overall Runner Up: Allen York / Colin Bates Hal Jordan 1976 1988 2016 Race T-shirt Overall Winner: Overall Winner: designed by Debbie Mike Waddle / Bob Waddle Lee Martin / John Mathieu Gendreau, Bangor Overall Runner Up: Overall Runner Up: Parks and Rec assistant Jeff Wren Steve McAllister / Al Paradise director who has served 1977 1989 Overall Winner: Overall Winner: as the Kenduskeag Jeff Wren Robert Lang Stream Race Director Overall Runner Up: Overall Runner Up: for the last nine years. Reinhard Zollitsch Jeff Wren 1978 1990 Overall Winner: Overall Winner: Jeff Wren Robert Lang Overall Runner Up: Overall Runner Up: Reinhard Zollitsch Bob Morris / Eric McNett KENDUSKEAG STREAM CANOE RACE 50th ANNIVERSARY • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • April 8, 2016 5 1991 2004 Overall Winner: Overall Winner: Robert Lang Fred Ludwig / Kenny Cushman Overall Runner Up: Overall Runner Up: Fred Ludwig / Rick Swan Trevor MacLean 1992 2005 Overall Winner: Overall Winner: Fred Ludwig / Rick Swan Trevor MacLean Overall Runner Up: Overall Runner Up: Troy Francis / Scott Phillips Kenny Cushman 1993 2006 Overall Winner: Overall Winner: Robert Lang Kenny Cushman / Jeff Sands Overall Runner Up: Overall Runner Up: Fred Ludwig / Rick Swan Trevor MacLean 1994 2007 Overall Winner: Overall Winner: Steve Moser Jeff Owen / Steve Woodard Overall Runner Up: Overall Runner Up: PHOTO CREDIT: BDN FILE Fred Ludwig / Kenny Cushman Trevor MacLean 1995 2008 Overall Winner: Overall Winner: Fred Ludwig / Kenny Cushman Trevor MacLean / Christian Hall Trevor MacLean of Halifax, Nova Scotia, paddles his way to his seventh victory in 2015. He finished with a time of 1:59:35. Overall Runner Up: Overall Runner Up: Robert Lang Robert Lang 1996 2009 Overall Winner: Overall Winner: Fred Ludwig / Steve Moser Trevor MacLean Overall Runner Up: Overall Runner Up: Kenny Cushman Robert Lang 1997 2010 Overall Winner: Overall Winner: Robert Lang Trevor MacLean Overall Runner Up: Overall Runner Up: Fred Ludwig / Steve Moser Robert Lang 1998 2011 Overall Winner: Overall Winner: Fred Ludwig / Steve Moser Trevor MacLean PHOTO CREDIT: JIM EVANS | SPECIAL TO THE BANGOR DAILY NEWS Waves of racers leave the shores of Kenduskeag and Overall Runner Up: Overall Runner Up: Kenny Cushman Robert Lang pass under a bridge in 2014. 1999 2012 Overall Winner: Overall Winner: Fred Ludwig / Robert Lang Trevor MacLean Overall Runner Up: Overall Runner Up: Barry Fifield / Shane Oliver Doug Archibald / Gary Stellpflug 2000 2013 Overall Winner: Overall Winner: Kenny Cushman Trevor MacLean Overall Runner Up: Overall Runner Up: Barry Fifield / John Mathieu Jeff Owen / Steve Woodard 2001 2014 Overall Winner: Overall Winner: Fred Ludwig / Steve Moser Trevor MacLean Overall Runner Up: Overall Runner Up: Jeff Sands / Brian McCarthy Rick O’Donald / Chip Loring / Bill Anderson / Bronwen Pierson / Paul Brown / Justin 2002 Wardwell / Rod McClain Overall Winner: Trevor MacLean 2015 PHOTO CREDIT: BDN FILE Overall Winner: Overall Runner Up: Trevor MacLean Robert Lang Overall Runner Up: 2003 Chris Francis / Mark Ranco About 800 racers in more than 400 boats raced in 2014.