On June 16th and 17th, two paddling events will be held on the Susquehanna River in the Jersey Shore area — The Tiadaghton Elm Canoe and Kayak Classic and the Keystone Challenge.

On Saturday, June 16th, the long-running Tiadaghton Elm Canoe and Kayak Classic is held. This event is in its 54th year in 2018. The highlight of this event is the 5-mile professional two-person canoe, one-person canoe and kayak races. Racers compete for prize money and the format allows for competition in both the two-person and one-person canoe events. Categories for amateur and recreational canoes, kayaks and stand-up paddleboards (SUPs) are also offered for every experience level to participate.

The Keystone Challenge is a fast-paced, dynamic, and challenging canoe/kayak/stand-up paddleboard (SUP) event consisting of a 15-mile relay/race and a 29-mile marathon.

The Keystone Challenge 15 mile relay/race is held on Sunday, June 17th. Teams of up to six people will compete in the relay event, which is divided into 3, 8 and 6 mile legs. The first relay leg begins at the boat launch in Lock Haven, loops upstream around the island and ends after a short portage (overland run) around the dam to the river below. Your team members take over for the next leg. The last leg of the relay begins at the boat launch on Old Riverview Rd in McElhattan. Both 15-mile events end at the Jersey Shore Boat Access at the green Rt. 44 Bridge.

The 29 mile marathon event is designed for more experienced paddlers. The first day of this two-day marathon begins on Saturday, June 16th with a 12-mile course. The event begins at the conclusion of the Tiadaghton Elm events. Paddlers start upstream at the McElhattan boat access, turn around the rt. 220 bridge and finish in Jersey Shore. The 17-mile day two portion of the marathon is on Sunday, June 17th. The race starts at Lock Haven at the same location as the 15-mile race/relay event and ends at the Jersey Shore Boat Access at the green Rt. 44 Bridge. More information and the registration form can be found at lhnationals.com.

The Keystone Challenge and Tiadaghton Elm Canoe and Kayak Classic are a Host Site Event in the Wilds Cooperative of Pennsylvania (WCO), one of rural Pennsylvania’s largest networks of creative entrepreneurs and place-based events. The WCO is the main program through which small businesses, artisans, nonprofits and event organizers engage with the Pennsylvania Wilds brand, networks and platforms. To learn more, visit http://www.WildsCoPA.org.

By Joey Rankinen