The Most Absurd(ly Fun) Canoe Race: Rat Race 2022

Paddling with Jeff Defeo in the 2022 Rat Race from Athol to Orange, MA.
There's a few rules to the race. First, you can't use a pro boat, so it has to be within certain specs for weight, length, waterline etc. So, most "rat boats" (yep, boats that some pro racers ONLY use for this race) are 18ft or under. Many pro racer's rat boats are wood strip canoes that were made specifically for this race. Or, if you were this year's winners (Adam Gelinas and Pat Madden), you can DIY your own carbon boat specifically for this race so it meets specs.
Another rule is that you have your starting position drawn the night before. This determines how far up the riverbank you have to line up. It's a Lemans style start, so everyone pushes off the banks at once and if you're 188/188, then good luck to you!
There really aren't many other rules, other than wear a life jacket. I've done this race once before (2019-- the infamous false start year), and I had people grab the gunwale of my boat and push us back, ram into my canoe and spin us 180, etc. This year, I was paddling next to a boat that capsized and they grabbed onto our gunwale while they were in the water. I may or may not have screamed at them.... sorrrrryyyy guys!
Jeff and I drew 150, which was not great, but we paddled hard and ended up 25th overall and 4th mixed among some strong mixed teams. Not too shabby! Thanks Jeff for doing another race with me!
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[@ftircom]

Love the 360 video It’s amazing. You guys fast. .

[@Wardelllee]

10/10 video, the stern paddler is also such a beautiful person

[@unclejohnthezef]

5:50 lol

[@KTCanoe]

You mean sad 😩 I’ll bet they were cold

[@robpainting2809]

Wow! That looks like a blast!

[@KTCanoe]

Yeah it is! It’s fun to paddle in an event that so many local people participate in.

[@cindynoyes1187]

wow thats a lot of work , but oh so fun.

[@KTCanoe]

So much work and so much hard paddling for such a short race! But yes, super super fun.

[@LakeVermilionDreams]

Oh wow a 3d video did not work at all on my TV KZbin app but it's so much better on my phone!! I might make a cardboard glasses frame to hold my phone and let me turn around to see it all!

[@unclejohnthezef]

Omg i just realized this is in 3D!!! I’ve never seen such a thing before: we can flip the picture around watch both of you paddling or watch the shores! You guys are flying. The camera seems to be in the middle of the boat, but I can’t see it? I only see a tracker on your thwart. What is this magic?

[@KTCanoe]

The magic is metadata that is injected into the video file that makes it into an interactive 360 video. Pretty cool, eh?

[@aaronalto3034]

They start em in waves? Looks so fun passing all those boats. Nice boat handling for all the crazy traffic!

[@KTCanoe]

Not in waves, the boats are started all at once. You line up in order based on the number your drew, and the higher the number, the further up the river you are. So you get a big advantage if you have a lower number.

[@aaronalto3034]

@@KTCanoe That's a fun randomized way to do it. We've got a race in MN that goes off in waves and lots of casual paddlers, and fast boats leave last, so passing lots of boats like you guys did. Love your vids!

[@KTCanoe]

Thant sounds fun. Thank you! Glad you enjoy them.

[@uffeexpress707]

What race is this and where? I did the ausable last year and am looking for other races

[@KTCanoe]

Rat Race in Athol, MA. It’s short though, only about 5 mi.

[@brennanberkshire]

@@KTCanoe Oh okay thanks