The tradition of competition between friends and family at the Gunflint Trail Canoe Races continues on Wednesday, July 17. Attendees can look forward to great food and fun on land and on the lake. Gunnel pumping, pictured here, is probably one of the most challenging events. It’s also probably the most fun to watch! Mark your calendar for this great event, which supports the Gunflint Trail Volunteer Fire Department.
There was a sense of pride and satisfaction among those attending the Gunflint Trail Volunteer Fire Department grand opening June 12 at Fire Station 1, the A. Paul and Carol Schaap Community Center, near Poplar Lake.
Project Chair Mike Valentini recounted the many steps in the process to update all three Trail fire stations. Those celebrants from the Gunflint Trail Canoe Races knew their many years of work had yielded funds that helped to carry out the project and their donations were appreciated.
This year’s races will be July 17 at the Gunflint Lodge waterfront and the proceeds will be donated to the GTVFD. The building project is near completion but dollars will be needed for maintenance of the new buildings and equipment.
The canoe races will begin at 4 p.m. The event features an over 100- item raffle of donated items at $3 a ticket; a raffle of a Wenonah Spirit 11 Royalex canoe donated by Wenonah Canoe Company (on display at Trail Center three weekends before the races), $5 a ticket; a silent auction with handmade and donated items; and kids’ events.
Food service starts at 4:30 p.m. and the canoe races begin at 6 p.m. with the long distance race, followed by many age and gender races with gunnel pumping as the finale. Race registration is at the waterfront.
The evening is hosted by the Gunflint-Seagull-Saganaga Property Owners Associations. Canoe race chairs are Jim and Margit Jamieson of Gunflint Lake. Call Julie Henricksson at (218) 388-2246 for information.
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