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Calusa Blueway Paddling Festival Features Competitive Events
Oct 9, 2007 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Calusa Blueway Paddling Festival Features Competitive Events Fort Myers, FL, Oct. 9, 2007 - The Calusa Blueway Paddling Festival, a nine-day canoe-and-kayak fest with more than 40 events, includes some competitions expected to draw top paddlers and anglers from around the state and country. The festival takes place Oct. 27 through Nov. 4 in Lee County's waterfront communities from Bonita Springs to North Fort Myers and Matlacha/Pine Island to Alva. A complete list of activities and events can be found at the festival Web site: www.calusabluewaypaddlingfestival.com. Among the happenings that will draw competitors are: Midpoint Paddle Sprint. This Saturday, Oct. 27, canoe and kayak regatta kicks off the festival. It's a points race for the Florida Competition Paddlers Association. Among those expected to compete are outrigger paddlers from Miami as well as local world-class competitors, such as Amniel "Pepe" Naranjo, a Cape Coral-based world master champion and member of the USA national team for one of the racing canoe classes. Ten-mile race starts at 9 a.m. at North Shore Park, 12901 Cleveland Ave., North Fort Myers. Details and registration: www.calusabluewaypaddlingfestival.com. (239) 246-4460. Imperial River Challenge. This Saturday, Oct. 27, event is the first of its kind for Southwest Florida. The Imperial River Challenge is a staggered-start, two-mile time-trial event with $1,000 purse. Check-in begins at 9 a.m. at Riverside Park, 10451 Pennsylvania Ave., Bonita Springs (off Old U.S. 41). Racers are assigned times for an upstream location; event ends at the park. Details and registration: www.calusabluewaypaddlingfestival.com. (239) 949-6262. Calusa Pro-Am Calusa Pro-Am Kayak Fishing Tournament: A first-of-its-kind nationwide, this pro-and-amateur tournament involves one day of team fishing by kayak-industry professionals and one day of family and individual fishing by amateurs. Runs Saturday-Sunday, Nov. 3-4, at Matlacha Community Park, 4577 Pine Island Road, Matlacha, run by Angler's Outlet of Cape Coral and Capt. Greg Bowdish. Pro day on Nov. 3 includes a 3 p.m. digital picture weigh-in and cash awards for winners. Amateurs fish Nov. 4 and weigh-in at 5 p.m. that day. Proceeds benefit the Great Calusa Blueway Paddling Trail for conservation efforts. Details: www.anglers-outlet.com or www.calusabluewaypaddlingfestival.com. (239) 549-7555. Paddle of the Pass. This Sunday, Nov. 4, canoe and kayak race is a staple on the Florida Competition Paddlers Association circuit, with racers from Jacksonville and beyond converging on Matlacha. Locally based national-caliber racers are expected, such as Larry Parzynski of Cape Coral. Ten-mile race starts at 10 a.m. at Matlacha Community Park, 4577 Pine Island Road, Matlacha. Details and registration: www.calusabluewaypaddlingfestival.com. (239) 461-7445.
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