Spokane River Canoe Classic

The Spokane River Canoe Classic has become a Fathers Day Weekend tradition for many Inland Northwest canoeing and kayaking families. The 2010 event is scheduled for June 19, beginning at Corbin Park in Post Falls and heading down stream for 6- or 13-mile courses. Although cool weather and unusually high flows reduced the field in last year's classic, Outdoors editor Rich Landers noticed a high percentage of father-daughter teams plunging into whatever wetness the river and the weather delivered. Check out his photo story.

Section:Gallery

Tue., June 8, 2010

Boats of all descriptions are on the beach at Corbin Park in Post Falls ready for the start of Sunday's Spokane River Canoe Classic.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
Elizabeth Hauck, 19, hauls a canoe with her dad, Rob, to the Corbin Park beach for the start of the Spokane River Canoe Classic.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
A bowline is a safety requirement for the Canoe Classic, as well as flotation for the boat, a bailing device, a whistle and, of course, life jackets.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
Rick Dethman of sponsoring Mountain Gear, gives pre-start logistics to the 42 participants in the 2009 Spokane River Canoe Classic at the Corbin Park beach.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
Bill Pierce looses the first part of the race -- squeezing into the kayak -- to his wife, Debbie. They were getting ready for the start of the Spokane Canoe Classic.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
Randy Michaelis has a Fathers Day date at the Spokane River Canoe Classic with his daughter, Caitlin Packer, 26.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
Paddling groupies gather at Corbin Park to cheer on their friends and families at the start of the Spokane River Canoe Classic.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
A fisherman marvels at the start of the Spokane River Canoe Classic.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
Nick and Deb Bauer, closely followed by Alison Scott and Jim Bauer, lead the pack down the Spokane River. One canoe capsized in a strong eddy current just around the corner.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
After 42 minutes of hard paddling, averaging 9.6 mph, Nick and Deb Bauer power to the shoreline finish after passing under the Harvard Road Bridge.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
Three kayaks came to the shoreline finish of the six-mile race at virtually the same time. Deb Bauer exited their kayak to finish first. Solo kayaker Don Hicks of Cocolalla barely edged Alison Scott and Jim Bauer for second place.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
Alison Scott sprints to the shoreline finish of the Spokane River Canoe Classic a step short of second place.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
The first canoeists in the Spokane River Canoe Classic show up at the Harvard Road Bridge.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
Sarah Higgins, 21, and her dad, Mike, are the first father-child team to pull finish the six-mile race. This was the fifth time they had finished as the first mixed-tandem team in the Spokane River Canoe Classic. "This is way better than taking him out for breakfast on Father's Day," Sarah said.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
Maeve Sayres, 19, and her dad, Bill, celebrate Fathers Day paddling the Spokane River Canoe Classic. Maeve said her dad soaked her in the first rapid. She made him bail the boat by himself at the Harvard Road finish.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
Coleton Collins, 13, of Nine Mile Falls, assumed the bow position to celebrate Father's Day with his dad, Jeff, in the Spokane River Canoe Classic. "He gets to barbecue for me tonight," Jeff said.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
Elizabeth Hauck, 19, is all smiles at the finish after celebrating Father's Day with her dad, Rob, in the Spokane River Canoe Classic.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
Stan Miller looks classic in the cedar strip solo canoe he paddled in the Sunday event.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
Family members were at the take-out to help their Spokane River Canoe Classic participants haul boats to their vehicles.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
Mountain Gear staff treated Spokane River Canoe Classic participants to a barbecue, ribbon ceremony and a table full of drawing prizes at Plante's Ferry Park following Sunday's race.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review