It’s true.
Wild Water Derby pirates
It’s happening.
Spring is coming to the Finger Lakes. The buds are popping, the grass is now really, really green and growing and we have had our fair share of April Showers*. Looking for one more sure sign of spring? That would have to be the Shortsville/Manchester Wild Water Derby – one of the largest paddling events in the northeast.
The Wild Water Derby is a local tradition in the spring. It all takes place along the Canandaigua Outlet which flows north from the outlet of Canandaigua Lake all of the way to the Erie Canal. [get directions to the event]
The Wild Water Derby includes two days of (cold) water, racing, food, music, paddling, kayaks, rafts, some pirates and having a ton of fun. Teams can put in hours planning and constructing their rafts, because many ‘water vehicles’ at this race are home-made. The homemade raft portion of the weekend is where the teams get “extra” points for creativity and humor, and it is a spectator favorite. Although it is considered a “racing” event, the number one priority is having a good time.
* SPECIAL NOTE: The Wild Water Derby is RESCHEDULED for MAY 21 & 22, 2011 – in the interest of participant and spectator safety.
Click here to see a short video created two years ago at the Wild Water Derby. “AJ checks out Manchester and interviews some of the teams before and some after ‘the Run’.”
Tags: "Wild Water Derby", Canandaigua, Canoe, Kayak, Manchester, outlet, raft, Shortsville, spring, whitewater
