Victor Neirinck of Bangor clings to his canoe after spilling at Six Mile Falls on Saturday during the Kenduskeag Stream Canoe Race. Credit: Terry Farren
Editor’s note: This story was originally published on April 21, 2019. It is being repromoted ahead of the 2021 Kenduskeag Stream Canoe Race.
More than 800 paddlers in 430 boats set off down the stream from Kenduskeag to Bangor about 8:30 a.m., and it didn’t take long before the first boats were capsized. The most famous craft in the race — the boat featuring an inflatable Gumby figure — capsized about 10 minutes before the race even began.
The race typically gets rocky around Six Mile Falls, where canoeists have been known to take a swim. That was certainly the case on Saturday, when the high water capsized a number of boats and gave others a good soaking.
Here’s a look at the action as this year’s competitors gave the falls all they had.
Tyler Carl of Augusta holds on to his paddle after an unfriendly ride down Six Mile Falls on Saturday during the Kenduskeag Stream Canoe Race. Credit: Terry Farren
Olivia Plaisted and Clayton Forrest of Durham hang on at Six Mile Falls while No. 147 Keith Blanchard of Dedham follows Saturday during the 53rd Kenduskeag Stream Canoe Race. Credit: Terry Farren
Bernie Levy of Sackville, Nova Scotia, finds the ride down Six Mile Falls unfriendly on Saturday during the Kenduskeag Stream Canoe Race. Credit: Terry Farren
Erin Curren of Westbrook watches the Kenduskeag Stream Canoe Race at Six Mile Falls on Saturday. Credit: Terry Farren
Dominic Pagnezzi of Veazie and Paige Seymour of Eddington navigate the Shopping Cart rapids on Saturday during the Kenduskeag Stream Canoe Race. Credit: Terry Farren
Wearing an orange coat, Camden LaBree (left) and his mom, Candi Labree, watch canoes come through Six Mile Falls during the Kenduskeag Stream Canoe Race on Saturday. Credit: Terry Farren
Rick Ames of Corinth empties his canoe after coming through Six Mile Falls on Saturday during the Kenduskeag Stream Canoe Race. Credit: Terry Farren
Kenduskeag Stream Canoe Race action seen through the bridge guard rail at Six Mile Falls. Credit: Terry Farren
Kevin Kotredes of Dedham gets rid of excess water at the finish of the Kenduskeag Stream Canoe Race on Saturday. Credit: Terry Farren
Canoes line the banks of the Kenduskeag Stream Race finish Saturday in Bangor. Credit: Terry Farren
Maureen Cassidy (left) of Lebanon, New Hampshire, and David Cassidy of Portland hang on for the ride after tipping at Six Mile Falls during the Kenduskeag Stream Canoe Race on Saturday. Credit: Terry Farren
