Watch for the 25th Annual Lazy Beaver Race
Last Saturday in July!
Lazy Beaver Race 2024
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Lazy Beaver Race 2024 *
The weather was great, the river was low and turnout was light Saturday when the 24th annual Lazy Beaver Canoe and Kayak Race was held.
The father-son team of Brad and Steven Roosma of Lodi were the fastest paddlers, completing the 11.2 mile race from LaValle to Reedsburg in two hours, 16 minutes and 25 seconds. They were the grand champions, winning the canoe class and the adult/child division.
The Lazy Beaver had its first canine entry ever this year. Willie the dog didn’t paddle but sat patiently in the lap of David Clemens for the entire race. (see photo at top of page) Clemens took first place in the older than dirt kayak division with a time of 2:32:20.
Brian Drapes repeated as the overall kayak champion with a time of 2:30:00. Dana Johanna won the women’s kayak division in 3:15:15.
William Poole and Rory Rossman won the older than dirt canoe division in 2:24:25. Local paddlers Steve Stats and Mary Langer repeated as the mixed couple canoe champs in 2:46:50.
The Lazy Beaver, sponsored by the Reedsburg Kiwanis with assistance from the Friends of the Baraboo River, had it latest race date ever this year but will return to its traditional date, the last Saturday in July, the 26th, in 2025 for its 25th annual race
Looking Back
2023 Lazy Beaver Race
July 29, 2023
A little pre-race rain and pleasant summer weather contributed to another successful Lazy Beaver Canoe and Kayak Race on the Baraboo River from LaValle to Reedsburg last Saturday. Twenty-two boats were entered in this year’s Lazy Beaver, which was held for the 23rd straight year.
The fastest entry was a canoe paddled by Bill Poole and Rory Rossman, who completed the 11.2 mile race in two hours, 10 minutes and 35 seconds. They also won the Older than Dirt (Combined ages of over 100 yers) canoe division. Brian Drapes was the fastest kayaker for the second year in a row with a time of 2:18:40.
The race had several returning paddlers from 2022 and all of them posted faster times than a year ago. Other division winners were Steve Statz and Mary Langer for Mixed Couples Canoe, Dennis and Jack Lichte for Adult/Child Canoe, and Sharon Page for Women’s Kayak.
The Reedsburg Kiwanis extends a special thanks to the Friends of the Baraboo River for their assistance in the race, to Tom Demmin and WRDB for inviting us on News & Views prior to the race, and to the Reedsburg Parks Department, Village of La Valle and Reedsburg Chamber of Commerce for their continuing support of our race.
Photos by Lazy Beaver Race organizer, Jeff Seering.
