2020 canceled because of COVID-19. Check here in 2021 for 2021.
July XX: Saturday Night Special
July XX: Big 3 Challenge, Lions Club Challenge, & Citizens' Challenge Races

Spring Green, 21 miles • Lone Rock, 15 miles • Gotham, 8 miles • to Muscoda

Wisconsin River Race 2021

• CANOE

• KAYAK

• SUP

Courses map and links to start lines and finish line

for 2019 call Mark Cupp
at (608) 739 2179

Big 3 Challenge (15 and 21 miles)

Preregistration ONLY:

Online thru 6:00pm Saturday, July 13.
Onsite 3:00–3:40pm Saturday, July 13.

BIG 3 CHALLENGE: NO SUNDAY (DAY-OF-RACE) REGISTRATION.

Does your
canoe qualify?

Other Awesome Races

in WI & Nearby Places

Saturday Night Special

- bonus solo race: canoe (USCA C1), kayak, SUP free for Sunday racers

Solo races, 4 miles loop course

Start & finish Muscoda's Victora Riverside Park

July 13

04:00 pm

Campsite #1, Victora Riverside Park, Muscoda

3:00 pm - 3:40 pm A. Registration and check in for Saturday Race

B. Registration and check in for Sunday Race

3:40 pm Mandatory safety briefing

4:00 pm Race Start

FULL SCHEDULE both days, all races.

RACE REGISTRATION: click button below.

The Big 3 Challenge - No day-of-race registration

- individual & multi-state challenge races at 21 & 15 miles

Spring Green to Muscoda – 21 miles

Start: Wisconsin Riverside Resort, Shifflet Rd

Finish: Muscoda's Victora Riverside Park

July 14

10:00 am

Racing Classes for the 21 mile race (men, women, & for tandem, mixed):

C2 Marathon (3x27 and USCA cruiser specs): Any two-paddler,

non-aluminum, racing canoe recognized by USCA.

Paddle type: single-bladed paddles only.

USCA C1: Any single-paddler racing canoe recognized by USCA.

Paddle type: single-bladed paddles only.

K1 Unlimited: Any solo kayak, including surf skis, without any limitation

except paddle type: double-bladed paddles only.

Wildcard: Any paddle powered craft that do not fit into any other

class in the "Big 3" race events. So: tandem kayaks, ICF spec

canoes, outrigger canoes, boats with 3 or more paddlers, etc –

but not solo kayaks, SUPs, USCA or "pro" (3x27) racing canoes.
Any paddle type.

See FULL SCHEDULE both days, all races.

IMPORTANT: Free shuttle bus PRE-RACE. There is NO post-race shuttle. Timing is strict. Please study FULL SCHEDULE.

RACE REGISTRATION: click button below.

Lone Rock to Muscoda – 15 miles

Start: Otter Creek Landing, Hwy 130

Finish: Muscoda's Victora Riverside Park

July 14

10:30 am

Racing Classes for the 15 mile race (men, women, & for tandem, mixed):

C1 Stock: These are boats designed for tripping/touring, but suitable for
racing against similar designs. maximum length 17'2", minimum length 15',
no rudders, no gunwale concavities, minimal hull concavities. Paddle type:
single-bladed paddles only. Only boats listed here are allowed in the class*:
Current C1 Stock List

    Wenonah                           Savage River Works    Bell Canoe Works
   Advantage                         Blackwater                         Magic
       Prism              Otegan (modified)
   Encounter                      Mad River

Solitude Sawyer Independence

Summer Song

    Grasse River Boatworks          DY Special
   Classic                                 Shockwave
   Classic XL

* If you have a canoe not listed here that you think should qualify, email

its make, model, and a photo to Bill Coady and Gareth Stevens at least

two weeks before race date and we will consider it, and let you know.

Note: if it looks like a racing boat, it is.
[Thanks: NYMCRA & Muskoka River X for input.]
C2 Marathon (3x27 and USCA cruiser specs): Any two-paddler,

non-aluminum, racing canoe recognized by USCA.

Paddle type: single-bladed paddles only.

C2 Stock:

    Canoes built for tripping/touring but suitable for racing against
    similar designs. Minimal concave lines in hull, no concave lines in gunwales.
    No concavity in longitudinal axis of hull (bow to stern) no concavity in

cross section (side to side) below the 7" waterline. One of a kind canoes
not permitted.

Paddle type: single-bladed paddles only.

    Only boats listed here are allowed in the class.
       Current C2 Stock List
       Wenonah                  Grasse River Boatworks     Bell Canoe Works
   Jensen 18’                  Traveler 17’ 5"           Northstar
       Sundowner           Traveler 18’ 6"             Northwind
   Minnesota II    Traveler                        Northwoods
   Odyssey               Monarch
   Champlain                                              Savage River Works
   Escape                     Mad River                Susquehanna
       Escapade                   Lamoille

Jensen WWX Horizon

* If you have a canoe not listed here that you think should qualify, email

its make, model, and a photo to Bill Coady and Gareth Stevens at least

two weeks before race date and we will consider it, and let you know.

Note: if it looks like a racing boat, it is.
[Thanks: NYMCRA for input.]

C2 Back Over the Hill: Combined ages of team 110+ in any tandem canoe.

Single-bladed paddles.

K1 Sea Kayak: Any kayak up to 18 feet in length, not including rudder

(if any). Excluded, any kayak clearly designed for racing, for example,

ICF kayaks, ICF trainers, surfskis and USCA spec downriver kayaks;

such"racing" kayaks must compete in the K1 Unlimited class in the

21-mile race. Paddle type: double-bladed paddles only.

SUP Unlimited, solo: Any stand up paddleboard of any length, must

be paddled entire length of course in a standing position.

See FULL SCHEDULE both days, all races.

IMPORTANT: Free shuttle bus PRE-RACE. There is NO post-race shuttle. Timing is strict. Please study FULL SCHEDULE.

RACE REGISTRATION: click button below.

The Lions Club Challenge - online & day-of-race registration

- 8-mile aluminum canoe challenge for service clubs and similar groups

Gotham to Muscoda – 8 miles

Start: Pine River/Buena Vista Landing

Finish: Muscoda's Victora Riverside Park

July 14

11:00 am

At least one member of the two person team must belong to a service club, volunteer fire department, or similar group. Two-person aluminum canoes, either 2 adults (18+ years) or adult (18+)/child (10-17 years).

For aluminum canoe rental, call Mark Cupp at (608) 739 2179.

See FULL SCHEDULE both days, all races.

IMPORTANT: Free shuttle bus PRE-RACE. There is NO post-race shuttle. Timing is strict.
RACE REGISTRATION: click button to right.

Citizens' Challenge Races - online & day-of-race registration

- 8-mile races for recreational tandem boats (canoe or kayak), recreational solo kayaks,

and stand up paddleboards

Gotham to Muscoda – 8 miles

Start: Pine River/Buena Vista Landing

Finish: Muscoda's Victora Riverside Park

July 14

11:00 am

Racing Classes for the Citizens Challenge Races:

Tandem: Any recreational two person canoe or kayak (no craft designed
for racing – "If it looks like a racing canoe or kayak, it is!"). Paddle type: any.

K1 Rec: Any recreational kayak up to 15 feet in length, not including

rudder (if any). Excluded, any short kayak clearly designed for racing,

for example, ICF kayaks, ICF trainers, surfskis & USCA specified down-

river kayaks; such "racing" kayaks must compete in the K1 Unlimited

class in the 21-mile race. Paddle type: double-bladed paddles.

SUP Unlimited, solo: Any stand up paddleboard of any length, must

be paddled entire length of course in standing position. Single-bladed paddles.

See FULL SCHEDULE both days, all races.

IMPORTANT: Free shuttle bus PRE-RACE. There is NO post-race shuttle. Timing is strict. Please study FULL SCHEDULE.

RACE REGISTRATION: click button below.

Coming in 2020

Wisconsin Riverway Rumble – a high schools challenge

- online & day-of-race registration

- 8-mile races for aluminum canoes,

recreational solo kayaks & SUPs

Gotham to Muscoda – 8 miles

Start: Pine River/Buena Vista Landing

Finish: Muscoda's Victora Riverside Park

Coming in 2020

To represent their school, paddlers must attend a high school and have just completed 9th, 10th, or 11th or be a current year graduate having just completed 12th, and be aged 14-19. 14 and 15 years olds must paddle in a tandem (Aluminum) event and with an 18 or 19 year old. 16-19 year olds may paddle solo or in tandem with other 16-19 year olds. 18-19 year olds may also choose to paddle tandem with a 14 or 15 year old.

Racing Classes for the Wisconsin Riverway Rumble:

Aluminum: Any aluminum canoe other than a Minnich or Beaver "super-

aluminum" racing canoe. Paddle type: single-bladed paddles only.

Classes for men, women and mixed.

For aluminum canoe rental, call Mark Cupp at (608) 739 2179.

K1 Rec: Any recreational kayak up to 15 feet in length, not including

rudder (if any). Excluded, any short kayak clearly designed for racing.

Paddle type: double-bladed paddles. Classes for men and women.

SUP: Any stand up paddleboard. Must be paddled entire length of course in

standing position. Single-bladed paddles. Classes for men and women.

Wisconsin Riverway Rumble Points System

The Riverway Rumble Champion High School will be the school that wins the most points. Each paddler wins points for their school by coming first, second or third in their race class.

In a class with three boats or more: 1st place: 4 points per paddler

2nd place: 2 points per paddler

3rd place: 1 point per paddler

In a class with two boats competing: 1st place: 3 points per paddler

2nd place: 1 point per paddler

In a class with one boat: 1st place: 1 point per paddler

A paddler or team must complete the course to win points for their school.

Click this image

to get a flyer you can print and put on your school, club or gym notice board.

How the "Big 3"* States Points challenge works.

Every paddler in any Big 3 race class (all classes at the 21- and 15- mile distance races) may win points for their state based on where they place in their class, & how many boats are in their class. (Craft with more than two paddlers, can win a maximum of 2 points per state.)

For classes with 5 or more boats in competition:

1st place will win 6 points per paddler;

2nd place will win 4 points per paddler;

3rd place will win 3 points per paddler;

4th place will win 2 points per paddler;

5th place will win 1 point per paddler.

For classes with 4 boats in competition:

1st place will win 4 points per paddler;

2nd place will win 3 points per paddler;

3rd place will win 2 points per paddler;

4th place will win 1 point per paddler.

For classes with 3 boats in competition:

1st place will win 3 points per paddler;

2ndplace will win 2 points per paddler;

3rd place will win 1 point per paddler.

For classes with 2 boats in competition:

1st place will win 2 points per paddler;

2ndplace will win 1 point per paddler.

For classes with 1 boat in it:

Finishing will win 1 point per paddler.

* Big 3? "But, wasn't it the Big 5?" Yes, it used to be. And before that the Big 4. IL, IA, MN, WI. Then a fifth state turned up. OK, Big 5. And in many years we've had as many as 8 states represented. So, now, it's the Big 3, celebrating the "Big 3"three states that win the most points – however many states come to play.

The Champions, the state with the most points, take home the Trophy, a walnut paddle carved in 1985 by Frank Brazelton, then race director.

Will your state make it to the Big 3 in 2019? The more paddlers your state sends, the faster they paddle, and the more classes entered, the bigger your state's chances.

The Trophy is currently held (2017, 2018) by Wisconsin after 2 years in Minnesota.

Multi-state Challenge States Points: The Big 3, 2017/18

2017 2018

1. WI: 35 points 1. WI: 33 points

2. MN: 21 points 2. IA: 17 points

3. IL: 17 points 3. IL: 6 points

IA: 14 points CO: 3 points

MI: 4 points NE: 2 points

NE: 3 points KS, MN: 1 point each

Race Results – click here

Safety and rules

1. United States Coast Guard approved PFD.

All paddlers must either wear, or have in their boat within easy access, an appropriately-sized

US Coast Guard approved PFD (life jacket). All paddlers under 18 years old and adults

paddling with them must WEAR their USCG APPROVED PFDs at all times on the water.

2. Important Safety Rules re Youth.

a) 21-mile races: no solo paddlers under 18 years old. No under-16s period.
16-17 year olds must paddle with a competent adult - 18 years or older - in the boat with them.

b) 15-mile races: no paddlers under 16 years old.

c) 8-miles: no solo paddlers under 16 years old. No under-10s period.
10-15 year olds must paddle with a competent adult - 18 years or older - in the boat with them.