Welcome to the15th Annual Two Harbors Kayak Festival.Featuring: Great River Energy 18-Mile Kayak Marathon and Betty's Pies Kayak and SUP 5-Mile Race NOTE: NEW THIS YEAR: The THKF will be utilizing chip timing by Chad Elder of Race Place Chip Timing. DO NOT put your chip on your boat until AFTER the mandatory racer meeting on Saturday morning. Chip timing instructions will be given at the racer meeting. 
August 3-5, 2012
We offer four separate kayak races: Youth Races, Emma Challenge Tandem Sprints, Betty's Pies 5 Mile race, and finally the Great River Energy Kayak & Canoe Marathon, all with various age groups and boat categories. In addition to the four races there are local exhibitors, kayak & outrigger equipment demos, stand up paddle boarding demos & classes, beginning level instructional tours, kids kayaking, treasure hunt and climbing wall, live music, food, fun, and more! There is something for everyone at this one of a kind paddling festival. The racing portion of the THKF has grown steadily and is the oldest and largest open water race on the Great Lakes. It is well known for its challenging course, stunning scenery and its superb organization. Some great rivalries, stories and friendships have evolved over the years. In 2007 a new 18 Mile GRE Kayak & Canoe Marathon - Men’s Unlimited Racing Class record was set by Eric Borgness, (Sequim, WA) 2:18:55, besting his prior record setting effort in 2004 of 2:19:26. The women joined the 18 Mile Marathon Unlimited Racing scene for the first time in 2004 with Megan Kleinschmidt’s, (Lakeland Shores, MN) 2:55:10 pace setting effort. 2008 was the first year an “unlimited tandem” showed up on the course, Daniel Sikora and Chris VanMeter (Des Plaines, IL) paddled their double surf ski to a 2:32:12, easily eclipsing the old tandem mark. In the Multiple Paddler Craft category (Voyaguer canoe/OC-6) the current mark was set last year, 2010, by Team Canada, Thunder Bay, Ontario in 2:45:31.
2010 saw a new 18 Mile GRE Marathon Men’s Production Sea Kayak record set by Kent Buryska (Owatonna, MN) 2:40:14, breaking the long standing mark set by Bob Kinderman (Spooner WI) 2:43:18, back in 2004. That same year (’04) the 18 Mile Marathon Women’s Production Sea Kayak class featured Gail Green (Washburn, WI) who established a new course record of 2:58:12, topping her previous personal best of 3:05:19. Everyone is looking to improve their personal best time and often times Lake Superior plays a big role in the pace of the race. It’s a great feeling when personal bests are achieved and it’s a significant accomplishment simply to finish the marathon! The best times for the 5 Mile Betty’s Pies Race are established on the course that turns around at the mouth of the Stewart River, a stones throw from the North Shore's famed Betty's Pies restaurant. In the Mens Production Sea Kayak class another long standing record was broken last year by Bob Erdman (Oconomowoc, WI) in a blistering 53:32, bettering the old mark of 55:34 set back in 2004, and for the Womens Production Sea Kayak, Cindy Little (Duluth, MN) improved her course record of 1:01:24, set in 2008, breaking the sub 1 hour mark in a fantastic effort of 59:04. How low can all these standards Go? Even if you're not on a course record pace can you still shave some time off from a previous personal record (PR)? Come and challenge yourself and these course records or your PR, we're certain you'll have a great race and a memorable weekend on the world's largest body of fresh water.
While racers primarily come from the Upper Midwest (Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan) and Ontario, Canada we have had racers come from as far as the Dakotas, Montana, Oregon, Colorado, Utah and even a few southern & eastern states. Please browse our website, you will likely find something of interest. We feel that this year's Festival has opportunities for everyone, from those who have never stepped into a kayak to seasoned paddlers. Hope to see you on the beach in Burlington Bay this August for the 14th annual Two Harbors Kayak Festival!
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