The annual event, which took place on Saturday, featured canoes, kayaks and stand-up paddleboard races. It’s a part of the New York Paddlesports Racing Association’s points circuit and takes place on Lake Simon and the Raquette River.

The race had its largest field ever, with a total of 103 paddlers. It was the first time in the event’s history it had broken triple digits. The course record was handily broken by Jim Mallory, Royal McDonnell and Matt Skeels in a three-person surf ski kayak. The trio crossed the finish line with a blistering time of 1 hour, 28 seconds.

This comes on the heels — and nearly two minutes ahead of — last year’s then-record-setting time of 1:02:20 made by Mallory and McDonnel in an Olympic two-person kayak.

There was also a new start order this year. In the past, it had been in multiple waves, but 2025 featured a mass start. Although there was an initial worry about potential pile-ups, Lake Simon provided more than enough width at the starting line to accommodate the field of 65 boats at the start line. Self-seeding was in order to allow the high-caliber boats a competitive start.

From bow, Peter Ross, Andrew Jillings, Brian McDonnell and Bruce Johnson paddle the Tupper Lake 8-Miler on the Raquette River on Saturday. (Enterprise photo — Chris Gaige)

After the faster boats made it to the first buoy turn, it marked the start of the much narrower Raquette River, which comprised the remainder of the out-and-back course until the last half mile before the finish line back on Simon Pond.

By the time Mallory, McDonnell and Skeels passed by Kirk Gagnier’s dock, they had already opened up a wide lead. Despite only being about 1.5 miles into the 8-mile race, they had already opened up a lead of several hundred yards over Steffen Zahn in his one-person Epic V-14 surf ski kayak, who was followed in third place by Jim Philips and Eileen Visser, paddling hard in a two-person Epic V-8 surf ski kayak.

Those three boats would not relinquish their positions over the next 6.5 miles, and ultimately had the first, second and third place overall finishes for the day, respectively.

There was a halfway buoy for those who did not feel up to the full 8 miles, but nobody turned back early. The race continued up to the oxbow, opposite the Wild Center, which marked the turnaround point back to the Lake Simon start. The Raquette River was fairly low this year, making the current minimal.

Canoes made up the largest contingent in the race. Of those, the mixed four-person canoe team of Wendy Sanders, Brian Sanders, Frans Vokey and Peter Ostrum posted the fastest time of 1:15.42. It was a fight to the finish line and just a mere second behind the four were Paul Olney and Becky Sutter in a two-person amateur canoe.

Chris Neill, Gwen Neill, Etta Neill and Holli Edgley cross the finish line on Lake Simon at the Tupper Lake 8-Miler on Saturday. (Enterprise photo — Chris Gaige)

With the exception of Steffen Zahn, who was a long way out in front, the competition between the kayaks and the surf skis was also intense, with three finishing within less than a minute of each other. Of those paddlers, Dennis Moriarty had the fastest time in 1:16:32. Greg Hewlett was just behind that with a time of 1:17:06, and not far behind that was Heidi Underwood, the first woman in this class. She finished with a time of 1:17:20.

Packboats had a prize for the two fastest in that class. Those were claimed by Cory McWilliams and Russ Reyot this year.

The Tupper Lake 8-Miler is a fundraiser for the Heart Center at the Adirondack Medical Center. Once again, Dr. Anthony Tramantano, a cardiologist there, participated and finished in the commendable time of 1:36.10.

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Full results

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Three Person Kayak/Surf Ski

Men under 50

1. James Mallory, Royal McDonnell, Matt Skeels: 1:00:28

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Unlimited Kayaks/Surf Ski

Men over 50

1. Steffen Zahn: 1:05:41

2. James Fredericks: 1:18:07

3. Pete Gugel: 1:18:29

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Women over 50

1. Heidi Underwood: 1:17:20

2. Joann Harowski: 1:18:40

3. Wendy Nath: 1:21:25

4. Tracy Gugel: 1:27:25

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Men under 50

1. Anthony Tramontano: 1:36:10

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Two-Person Kayak

Mixed over 50

1. Jim Phillips and Eileen Visser: 1:10:20

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Mixed Under 50

1. Joshua King and April King: 1:16:29

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C-4 Open

Mixed over 50

1. Wendy Sanders, Brian Sanders, Frans Vokey and Peter Ostrum: 1:15:42

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C-2 Amateur

Mixed over 50

1. Paul Olney and Becky Sutter: 1:15:43

2. Cathy Lee and Bruce Lee: 1:18:55

3. Chas Billingsley and Blanch Town: 1:27:38

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Women over 50

1. Beverly Blinn-Knapp and Kim Greiner: 1:27:35

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Men under 50

1. Wendell Hale and Ethan Hale: 1:39:47

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Touring Kayak/SS20

Men over 50

1. Dennis Moriarty: 1:16:32

2. Greg Hewlett: 1:17:06

3. Dave Wiltey: 1:18:17

4. Karl Cook: 1:18:19

5. Peter Jaworski: 1:22:42

6. Loring Porter: 1:24:50

7. Steven Vogl: 1:26:04

8. Jason Amoriell: 1:40:31

9. Scott Lee: 1:50:05

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C-4 Stock

Men over 50

1. Brian McDonnell, Peter Ross, Bruce Johnson and Andrew Gillings: 1:17:59

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Mixed under 50

1. Thomas Tucker, Stacy Pagoda, Dylan Dearbon and Joseph Tranking: 1:19:13

2. Chris Neill, Gwen Neill, Etta Neill and Holli Edgley: 1:30:56

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Women over 50

1. Suzy Goodleaf, Layne Myiow, Winnie Taylor and Sondra Cross: 1:26:49

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C-1 Amateur

Men under 50

1. Max Eaton: 1:19.35

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OC-2

Mixed over 50

1. Grace McDonnell and Clyde Yarnell: 1:20:25

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C-2 Stock

Mixed over 50

1. Allan Kelly and Mary Kelly: 1:21:58

2. Helen Crouch and Cal Crouch: 1:35:36

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Men over 50

1. Rodger Dempster and Randy Young: 1:23:22

2. David Thomas and Rob Thomas: 1:26:47

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Men under 50

1. Adam Wheeler and Colden Wheeler: 1:24:04

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Mixed under 50

1. Will Siegfried and Grace Hiltenen: 1:28:04

2. Melissa Whyman and Morgen Remillard: 1:37:56

3. Jason Mackay and Jody Nesbesnik: 1:45:52

4. Carey Fehler and Annie Bellerose: 1:54:47

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C-2 Family

1. Ethan Townsend and Calvin Townsend: 1:29:30

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Women under 50

1. Rebekah Mills and Sarah Carney: 1:30:21

2. Emily Shaw and Jennifer Townsend: 1:34:59

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C-1 Stock

Men under 50

1. Andy Pickreign: 1:27:17

2. Jacob Tubbs: 1:40:15

3. Mathew Strickland: 1:43:16.

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Men over 50

1. Dean Keating: 1:35:00

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Women under 50

1. Kristin Eaton: 1:46:00

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Solo Rec

Men under 50

1. Brandon Devito: 1:32:41

2. Luke Vokey: Over 2:04:00

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Men over 50

1. Stephen Casavant: 1:42:29

2. James Zemanick: 1:47:47

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Women under 50

1. Sarah Kelly: 1:49:44

2. Emily Cron: 2:03:50

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Women over 50

1. Christina Hayden: 1:53:55

2. Elizabeth McLarehan: 1:55:07

3. Shannon Morris: 2:00:27

4. Fran Schiff: 2:03:34

5. Rosemary Thomas: 2:03:46

6. Linda Leichtweis: Over 2:04:00

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Packboats

Men under 50

1. Cory McWilliams: 1:35:07

2. William Adamczak: 1:36:23

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Men over 50

1. Russ Reyot: 1:45:06

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Guide Boat

Mixed under 50

1. Bridget Oleary and Trevor Symonds: 1:46:54