Sadly, and for the first time in 53 years, there will be no 2020 Kenduskeag Stream Canoe Race, but the program directors at WABI-TV5 in Bangor have figured out a nice way to provide many of us with some "rite of spring" entertainment in these crazy, socially distant shut-in times.

WABI will air an archived recording of the 2000 Kenduskeag Stream Canoe Race this Saturday, April 18th, from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM and YES, there will be a live stream at wabi.tv

“While we can’t make up for the loss of this year’s race entirely, we thought our viewers might enjoy a look at one of the past events” said Steve Hiltz, the Creative Services Director at WABI.

UPDATE: To accompany the WABI Flashback 2000 race coverage this Saturday, the 2000 race results have been pulled from the archives and posted on Mike's website as a downloadable/printable PDF file. Check it out here.

(With thanks to Bernie Levy and Brian Carle)

No need to set the VCR or Tivo this year if you are doing the race.

WABI-TV (Channel 5 in Bangor) has decided not to provide television coverage of the 2009 Kenduskeag Stream Canoe Race due to budget priorities. (Story here)

The race will be broadcast on the radio and streamed on the web, however:

"For the 13th straight year, Bangor all-sports radio station WZON (620 AM) will provide live coverage of the race on radio. It will also stream live coverage on the internet (www.zoneradio.com). Coverage will start at 8 a.m."

Some of you may recall that WABI TV5 (Bangor) canceled their coverage of the Kenduskeag Stream Canoe Race last year due to low water levels.

This year sees the return of TV coverage from the bridge overlooking the rapids of Six Mile Falls. WABI is scheduled to cover the race from 10am until 12:30pm. (You might want to set the VCR or Tivo if you are doing the race.)












Do you live outside WABI's broadcast area?
You can still catch the race if you have internet access.

Apparently, the Kenduskeag will be streamed over the internet through Watch Maine Sports as a pay-per-view event.
($9.95 per stream).

In case you missed it:

Cushman, Sands Take Kenduskeag

WABI-TV, the CBS affiliate which usually broadcasts the action from the bridge overlooking Six Mile Falls, will not be televising the race this year.

A phone call to the sports desk at WABI confirmed this; the low water levels will likely lead to many portages, resulting in dull coverage.

However, this should not be taken to mean that the Kenduskeag will be cancelled. Nor should a television producer's idea of the "excitement factor" of this race be taken as a signal that paddlers won't have an exciting afternoon. I'm betting otherwise.

Said it before, will say it again. Don't let the rumors or news get you down. The race is on!

Stay tuned (so to speak).

The Souadabscook Sprint & Canoe Race was held as planned this weekend in Hampden, ME. Nice to see that it wasn't cancelled.

Here's a news story about the race from the Bangor Daily News.

Congratulations to Jeff Sands!

Last but not least, here's a link to my 2006 Sou photo galleries.