The Strawbridge Lake Beautification Committee’s seventh annual paddle board and kayak race took off despite rain on June 14, by all accounts a success in raising funds for lake care and maintenance.
“It’s a great park and I’m glad that we’ve brought attention to it,” said George Gravenstine, president and board member of the committee.
This year’s event had new features, including a 20-foot water slide and a cardboard duct tape race. The idea for that came from Gravenstine, who was excited to see what racers would build for the event.
“I wish it was already next year, so we can see how many people we’re going to get,” he enthused. “People started showing up just to watch the cardboard race. It was unbelievable. That, I really think, is going to become the biggest mainstay. The parents got into it and afterwards, the boats were lying around and there were parents looking at them and checking them out.”
This year’s race had new features, including a 20-foot water slide and a cardboard duct tape race.
Only cardboard or corrugated cardboard is used for the race and only duct tape on the cardboard. Decorations can be made of any material but cannot help in keeping a boat together or afloat, and only oars, paddles or wind can be used to propel it. Oars, paddles and sails can be made from any material and can be store-bought or homemade.
The course is a total of 20-yards, from the beach, around the buoy and back to the beach. A person can register more than one boat. In other words, one person can race in multiple boats. All races go off in four-boat heats. For examples of vessels or for more race rules and regulations, visit the Strawbridge Lake Beautification Committee’s website.
“We’ve gotten some traction with that, and I really think it’s going to be a positive thing for the whole event,” Gravenstine noted. “It’s not just a race … It turned out to be a lot of fun. We’re definitely bringing that back (next year). There’s no question. (The race and the water slide) will be back.”
This year, the committee plans to add a kayak launch to one of the docks that will offer ease and comfort in getting on and off the lake, and it hopes to continue its mission of making improvements to the lake. But as always, the committee is already looking forward to next year’s race, Gravenstine said.
“It gets hectic near the end but afterwards.” he said. “Everybody can’t wait for next year.”
