Preview to Canton Canoe Weekend
The Paul Smith's College Marathon Canoe is heading to two days of racing on the Grasse River in Canton, New York this weekend. Canton Canoe Weekend is one of the most competitive racing weekends of the early spring season.
All of the races will start and finish at Taylor Park along the shore of the Grasse River in Canton. Signs will guide paddlers and spectators to the scene of the racing action.
The full complement of racing categories will again be featured, enabling the area's youth to compete as well as seasoned veterans in the highly competitive pro categories.
Paul Smith's College is annually impacted by senior Capstone presentations, final exams and/or graduation which have coincided with the dates of this racing weekend. We've had students compete at Canton, and then drive back to campus for their final exams, while other years, graduation or Capstone presentations have prevented some of our top paddlers from taking part at Canton.
Four seniors ~ Ben Jacques, Ian Haines, Justin Andrews, and Dylan Kirk will all miss canoe racing action on Saturday as they will remain on the Paul Smith's College campus but Coach Jon Santor has been working with a sizeable contingent in preparation for Saturday's C-2 recreation and stock races. It is highly likely that Paul Smith's College will have both men's and women's C-2 Recreation tandems vying for the Rushton Cups. The Rushton Cups are awarded to the top men's and women's C-2 Recreation teams who win on Saturday.
Sunday's events include the Collegiate Relay races, and frequently attract teams from the St. Lawrence Valley as well as Hamilton College. Paul Smith's College has dominated the co-ed recreation relay event at Canton Canoe Weekend in the past decade, and the team hopes to retain the award again this weekend.
