Thirty racers will set out from Weiss Lake next month for a 650-mile race across Alabama that will test their endurance all the way to the finish line at Fort Morgan.
The eighth Great Alabama 650, known as the longest paddle race in the United States, will run Oct. 3-13. Racers have up to 10 days to complete the course, competing in male solo, female solo or two-person team divisions.
The race begins at 10 a.m. Oct. 3 at the Weiss Lake Boat Ramp before following Alabama waterways south through communities including Gadsden, Pell City, Wetumpka, Montgomery and Selma and eventually reaching Mobile Bay and Fort Morgan.
It is an endurance challenge with little room for rest. Racers have just four hours and 45 minutes of mandatory downtime during the 10-day event. Racers can switch between kayaks, canoes and stand-up paddleboards during the competition, an option organizers say helps them navigate the variety of water conditions along the route.
So what keeps someone going through 650 miles of paddling?
Several former competitors shared what motivated them in the past to keep pushing toward Fort Morgan when the race got tough.
For those who want to see the racers in person, there will be opportunities along much of the route.
The first communities to see the paddlers between Oct. 3-5 will be Centre and Cedar Bluff in the Weiss Lake area, followed by Leesburg, Gadsden, Rainbow City, Southside, Ohatchee, Ragland, Riverside and Pell City.
As the field begins to spread out, racers will move through the Lay Lake area near Coosa Pines, Childersburg, Wilsonville and Talladega Springs before crossing Jordan Dam and reaching the first checkpoint at Coosa River Adventures in Wetumpka. Racers must reach that checkpoint by 8 p.m. Oct. 6 to continue.
A watch party is scheduled from 6-9 p.m. Oct. 3 at Buffalo Wild Wings in Gadsden, hosted by Greater Gadsden Tourism.
The AL650 Basecamp at Montgomery Whitewater Center will be open around the clock Oct. 5-7, with details about an opening party still to come.
From Montgomery, racers will continue toward Robert F. Henry Dam and Selma before passing through Gees Bend and the Camden area. They must make it around Millers Ferry by 10 a.m. Oct. 9 before continuing past Lower Peach Tree and toward Claiborne.
The final section takes racers through the Stockton and Spanish Fort areas, past Fairhope and into Mobile Bay before finishing at the Fort Morgan Public Boat Launch.
The final stretch is arguably the most challenging part of the race, with paddlers navigating ferry traffic and turbulent bay waters. It can take racers two days to reach the finish line. They have until 2:45 p.m. Oct. 13 to complete the 650-mile journey.
Those who can’t make it to the riverbank can follow the competitors throughout the race on a live map at AL650.com. Race updates will also be posted on Facebook and Instagram through @GreatAlabama650 and #AL650.
The Alabama Scenic River Trail, the state’s official paddling resource, works with communities and outfitters to promote recreation, economic vitality and stewardship along more than 6,300 miles of paddling trails across Alabama.
Sherri Blevins is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You may contact her at [email protected].
