The Gunflint Canoe Races were once again a fabulous fundraiser for the Gunflint Trail Volunteer Fire Department—and they were fun for all involved. Above: It looks a little chaotic as canoes are launched! Right: Elsa Lunde of Grand Marais was the lucky winner of the grand prize, a bright red Wenonah Spirit II Royalex canoe. She is pictured here with her parents, Leif and Sissy Lunde.
Canoes, paddlers and onlookers crowded the Gunflint Lodge beach on the evening of July 16. Summer had really arrived and with it a perfect day for the historic Gunflint Trail Canoe Races.
The afternoon through evening event kept attendees busy. The food concession featured Gunflint sloppy joes. There were kid and adult activities on shore and lots of spirited racing. The fire department benefit races began with the long distance race and ended with gunnel pumping for a total of 16 age and gender contests. Arden Byers coordinated the races.
Other activities included announcement of the winners of the grand prize canoe and 100 item raffles and silent auctions.
Winner of the bright red Wenonah Spirit II Royalex canoe was Else Lunde who proudly hoisted it overhead and marched it to transportation home.
Some of the coveted live auction items were a beautifully designed quilt with a local theme, an intricately built bird feeder, and two dinners for eight. Bidding on a toboggan was fast and furious as one of the race judges bid from the judge’s boat out on the lake.
Again this year Bruce and Sue Kerfoot offered their Gunflint Lodge beach as the race site and about 100 volunteers joined in to make the evening a success.
Canoe Race Chair Chris Steele announced that $16,000 in proceeds from the races will be given to the Gunflint Trail Volunteer Fire Department to support its work.
The fire department has three stations along the trail and beyond. Its members provide fire, emergency and rescue services for over 192 square miles along the trail and over to Greenwood Lake. The department is completing a project to update facilities at its three fire halls and community centers and needs a water tanker.
The races are sponsored by the Gunflint-Seagull- Saganaga Property Owners Associations.
For the second year Bonnie Ward stitched a lovely “Up North” quilt that incorporates scenes from the north shore of Gunflint Lake plus northern icons like blueberries, fish and moose. The quilt was a top auction item and sold for $1,200. Bonnie is pictured with quilt winner John Schloot of Cross River Lodge where Bonnie stays when she’s on the Gunflint.
Gliding back to shore after the regular paddling race are Emily Jacobsen (back) and Shauna Blake.
Leave a Reply