Flatwater Classic
Sunday, October 3, 2010.
Who
Friends of the Chicago River, and 1,000 paddlers, volunteers and spectators. From first-time paddlers to avid racers and from families to corporate teams, Flatwater Classic participants power down the river in standard canoes and kayaks, as well as 26-foot Voyageur replica boats.
What
The Chicago River Flatwater Classic, the only canoe and kayak race on the Chicago River. The race begins with our Voyageur Challenge, in which 10 - 12 corporate and other organizational teams compete for the Voyageur trophy. The race then opens up to hundreds of individual racers and non-competitive participants.
Where
Paddlers begin the 7.25 mile course at Clark Park (3400 N. Rockwell) and paddle south the finish at Ping Tom Memorial Park in Chinatown (300 W. 19th St.). Along the way, participants enjoy all of the visual splendor that the Chicago River has to offer, including the wooded riverbanks of the north side neighborhoods, industrial corridor surrounding Goose Island, and awe-inspiring vista of downtown as seen by the river.
Why
Friends of the Chicago River founded the Flatwater Classic in 2000 to give people a chance to see the Chicago River and learn for themselves why it needs their help. Alive with activity both on and under the water, the Chicago River is home to 70 species of fish, 60 kinds of birds, and a growing diversity of mammals. Our goal is a clean, accessible river that can be shared by the people, plants, and animals that call our watershed home.
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