Mid-American Canoe racers enjoy great day on the Fox River

Yes, that was a canoe fashioned to look like and old-timey steamboat floating down the Fox River. The paddle-powered relic was piloted by Martin and Thomas Cassell of St. Charles. It was one of the more interesting entries in the 55th annual Mid-American Canoe and Kayak June 5, hosted by the Fox Valley Park District.

With over 500 racers preregistered, and many more registering the morning of the race, the 2016 race easily eclipsed the 2015 entry total of 435.

The morning featured two races: a 10-mile race that departed from Mount St. Mary Park in St. Charles, and a six-mile race that launched from the Batavia VFW. Both races finished at McCullough Park near downtown Aurora.

Father-daughter duo Frank and Emily Theis entered the race for the first time this year to celebrate Emily’s 27th birthday.

“It’s our first time, we’re going to see what happens,” said Batavia resident Frank Theis. “I saw the article in the paper, and it was on her birthday, so I thought I’d surprise her with a little outing.”

“It’s my first time in a canoe,” Emily Theis, of North Aurora, said.

Other participants were a bit more seasoned and competitive, like Aurora’s Jim Rabb. The 62-year-old estimated the June 5 race to be his ninth or 10th, and is a regular on the Fox.

“I’m usually in the top three coming out of here,” Rabb said, as he prepared his kayak at the Batavia VFW. “I used to go out of St. Mary’s but it gets so crazy at the portages, and as you get older you figure a little shorter is okay.”

In North Aurora, racers must exit the river before the dam and carry their canoe or kayak before re-entering on the other side. Rabb said he worked near the North Aurora dam prior to the race, moving rocks to make it easier for the other races as they re-entered the river.

“I needed to know that I was going to be able to get in, and get out,” he said. “I do [the race] for time.”

Results of the races will be posted on foxvalleyparkdistrict.org.