The Dose, a solo canoe and kayak race on Medicine Lake, Aug. 22, 2009.

Twenty two paddlers braved flat water, and perfect air temperatures to attempt the first ever solo canoe or kayak race on Medicine Lake. The course was criterion based with each lap being 1.75 miles in length. Pros did 3 laps, Sport did 2, and Rec did 1 lap.

In a surprise finish, Brett Arenz won, pulling out the win in the Pro Class, and Mike Brumbaugh graciously let Todd Ellison pass him for the coveted first place kayak prize - a pill bottle full of "Smarties" Candies. A potluck lunch with grill and meat was provided by the Minnesota Canoe Association, and pre-registered paddlers received a wicking T-shirt. All finishers received fancy swag, consisting of a pill bottle of "Smarties" candy.

There were some very tight "boat on boat" competitions within the larger field. In particular, Io edged George by a half length. Jeff Staggs was only about a length ahead of Nick McGrory. And Scott Richardson did have to work a bit to stay ahead of our youngest entrant, Alexander Matute.

Pro – Canoe 1. Brett Arenz 2. Ethan Evanson 3. Rick Lorenzen 4. Jeff Staggs 5. Nick McGrory 6. Dave Dahl 7. Io Harberts 8. George Stickler 9. Mark Larson Sport - Canoe 1. Ed Arenz 2. Phil Kramer Rec - Canoe 1. Scott Richardson 2. Alexander Matute	Pro - Kayak 1. Todd Ellison 2. Mike Brumbaugh 3. Marsh Jones 4. Allan Tims 5. Alan Gage 6. Ellen Roy Sport - Kayak 1. Jim Horan 2. Jose Matute Rec - Kayak 1. Margaret Dexter
At The Dose, Youth gains length on Age as Nick McGrory does more extreme outside lean in buoy turn against Jeff Staggs, though it was Age before Youth at the end.

A great time was had by all!

Carl Shaffer
Director of Racing, MCA