Can Anybody Beat MacLean?
52 Aprils ago, the Red Sox were starting their 'Impossible Dream' season that took them to a World Series appearance. In Bangor, Lew Gilman and Sonny Colburn were starting this event called the Kenduskeag Stream Canoe Race.
In the years since 1967, the Sox have won three baseball titles. Nova Scotia paddler Trevor MacLean has won 13 Kenduskeag Race titles, more than any other competitor.
MacLean will be in Kenduskeag Saturday morning, ready to paddle 16.5 miles to downtown Bangor with the hope of winning race #14. He is working on a nine year winning streak.
While MacLean and others are highly competitive, the majority of paddlers run the river for fun. Many are decked out in costumes. Some even bring along a special friend on their boat.
Through the first 51 years of the event 20,161 boats have taken 36,543 paddlers from Kenduskeag to Bangor. Many of the 36,000 competitors have taken on a little water during the trip. But, no one seems to complain.
Many people in eastern Maine think Kenduskeag Race Day means the harsh Maine winter is officially over and springtime has finally arrived.
Once they reach that finish line!
NOTE: Sports Radio 92.9 The Ticket, 929theticket.com and the new Ticket App bring you live coverage coverage of the 52nd Kenduskeag Stream Canoe Race starting at 8am Saturday morning. The live coverage continues at 9am with updates through the morning.