XC skier wins two canoe races

Wed, Jul  9, 2008 - By Mike Terrell

Day one of this year's Outback Steakhouse Canoe Race went pretty much as expected with two of North America's top canoe racers, Andy Triebold of Spring Arbor and Connie Cannon of East Lansing, taking top honors in Saturday's five-lap race.

Both, considered among the top canoe racers in the world, won the five-lap sprint on the Boardman River -- in 39.16 minutes for Triebold and 42.33 minutes for Cannon, who was the only female competing for the $500 purse.

Triebold had a much closer race with Bill Torongo of Roscommon, Russ Rocker of Flint, Matt Rimer of Grayling and Tim Triebold of Spring Arbor, all finishing in under 40 minutes. All five crossed the finish line within a minute.

Triebold is also a cross-country ski racer who has won the White Pine Stampede in past years.

[Complete article in the Traverse City Record-Eagle.]

Day 2: Andy Triebold of Spring Harbor, and his tandem partner, Matt Meersman of South Bend, Ind., won the Outback Steakhouse Canoe Race Monday morning with a time of 2:32:45.

Four other teams were within four minutes of the winning time.

In all there were 42 tandem teams -- the largest field ever according to race organizers -- that competed for a $1,500 purse, split among the leading duos.

[Complete article in the Traverse City Record-Eagle.]