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State-wide river race returns to Alabama in October

2022-09-13

ALABAMA — Around twenty of the most fierce paddlers in the world will converge on Alabama this month for a state-wide race that tests the will of even the most extreme
athletes. Racers face whitewater, battle tidewater currents, and hike around a dozen dams in this 650-mile, adventure-style paddle race called the Great Alabama 650. It kicks off in Northeast Alabama on October 1, and spectators can cheer for racers on river banks in Gadsden, Pell City, Wetumpka, Montgomery, Selma, Fairhope, and more.

The racecourse is the core section of the Alabama Scenic River Trail, a 6,500-plus mile mapped river trail system. The 650-mile core section of the river trail extends from the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains in Northeast Alabama through. alligator country to the Gulf of Mexico. Racers will have up to 10 days to finish the race and vie for a first-place win in one of three divisions– male solo, female solo, and two-person team.

Participants will be allowed to use kayaks, canoes, or stand-up paddle boards interchangeably throughout the event.

Spectators can follow the event virtually at AL650.com where race organizers will post a live map that will report up-to-the-minute updates on each boats’ whereabouts. The map will be augmented with Facebook and Instagram posts from the field, which spectators can find by following official race accounts or by using the hashtag #AL650.

About: The Alabama Scenic River Trail is the longest single-state river trail in the United States. The River Trail was originally comprised of one 650-mile stretch of waterways, the
same 650-mile aquatic pathway that forms the racecourse for the AL650. Today the River Trail includes more than 6,500 miles of mapped waterways, which brings tourists to all corners of the state. Lean more: AlabamaScenicRiverTrail.com

Media Contact:

Contact: Laura Gaddy
Phone: 205-240-4551
Email: laurabeth.lj@gmail.com