MR 145 Canoe and Kayak Race and Tour Rules   

1. Authority and Applicability

In formulating these rules, every effort has been made to anticipate situations that may arise. Two Paddles, LLC (“Two Paddles”) reserves the right to change or amend these rules at any time, without liability or recourse. Reasonable efforts will be made to notify participants of changes. Rules may be modified to accommodate participants with disabilities.

All decisions of event organizers are final.

All participants are required to:

Failure to follow any rule may result in a time penalty, reassignment to a non-competitive division, or disqualification.

2. Waivers, Compliance, and Media

  • All participants (or guardians, if applicable) must sign the Release of Liability prior to participating.

  • Participants must comply with all state, federal, and local health guidelines in effect at the time of the event.

  • All participants agree to appear in event-related photography, videography, and media coverage.

3. Age Requirements

Participants must meet one of the following:

  • 18 years old by the start of the event

  • 16–17 years old, if paddling in the same boat with someone 21 or older (guardian waiver required)

4. Boat Requirements and Identification

  • All boats must be registered in Minnesota unless legally exempt.

  • The original craft must be paddled from start to finish, except in relay divisions.

  • Boat changes are allowed only if the boat is damaged.

    • Teams may finish but are not eligible for divisional or overall awards.

  • Each boat must display its official four-digit event number:

    • 3–4 inches tall

    • Displayed on both sides of the bow

    • Participants supply their own numbers

5. Environmental and Conduct Rules

Participants must comply with Minnesota invasive species laws, including cleaning and draining all equipment before transport.

  • Littering is illegal; trash must remain in the boat or be disposed of properly.

  • Campfires must be fully extinguished.

  • Alcohol and mind-altering drugs are prohibited before and during the event.

6. Safety Requirements

6.1 General Safety

Participation involves inherent risks. All participants and support crew:

  • Enter at their own risk

  • Are responsible for their own judgment, pacing, and rest

  • Agree not to hold organizers, officials, or sponsors liable for injury or property damage

6.2 Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs)

  • A USCG-approved wearable PFD must be worn at all times on the water.

  • PFDs must be in serviceable condition.

  • Failure to wear a PFD may result in disqualification.

Inflatable PFDs

  • Not allowed for non-swimmers

  • Must be worn as designed and properly armed

  • Not permitted while running the Sauk Rapids

    • Must be replaced with an inherently buoyant PFD before the lower rapids or

    • Participants must portage the entire Sauk Rapids section

ISO PFD Option

  • ISO 12402-5 inherently buoyant PFDs may be worn only if:

    • Worn correctly

    • A USCG-approved PFD is also carried in the boat

  • A pealess whistle must be attached to each PFD.

7. Check-In, Meetings, and Weather

  • All participants must check in with their boat and required gear.

  • All participants must attend the entire pre-event meeting at Lum Park, Brainerd.

    • At least one support crew member must attend (virtual crews must review materials in advance).

  • Vehicles may not be left at Lum Park overnight.

Weather

  • Participants must go ashore during dangerous conditions.

  • If lightning is seen or thunder heard:

    • Get off the water immediately

    • Resume only after 30 minutes without lightning or thunder

8. Emergencies and Assistance

  • Emergencies: Call 911 first, then your support crew.

  • Non-emergencies: Contact your support crew, then event officials if needed.

  • Assistance may take hours—participants must be prepared to self-rescue.

  • Event organizers cannot provide transportation.

  • Participants are required to assist others in emergencies if it does not endanger themselves or their boat.

9. Lighting and Night Travel

All boats must carry:

  • A powerful flashlight or spotlight visible at least 2 miles

  • A rear-facing stern light, illuminated at all times at night and visible at least 1 mile (red recommended)

10. Rapids and Portages

Sauk Rapids

  • Upper rapids and main drop must be portaged

  • Lower rapids may be run at the participant’s discretion

  • Each paddler is responsible for assessing their own ability

Portages

  • All paddlers must use designated take-outs, routes, and put-ins

  • Event organizers will endeavor to have portage landings marked with signs and/or lights, however this cannot be guaranteed

  • Boats must be moved out of the way quickly at landings

  • Portage wheels are allowed

  • Support crews can meet their paddler anywhere along the route EXCEPT at the Brainerd Dam portage (it is a restricted area)

  • Required gear must remain with the boat or paddlers during portages

  • Support crews may resupply but may not carry the boat or required gear

11. Event Timing, Course, and Cutoffs

  • The event ends at 5:00 PM Sunday

  • Finish time is recorded when the bow crosses the finish line.

  • Boats still on the river after 5:00 PM continue independently.

Checkpoints and Cutoff Times

Participants must reach each checkpoint by the listed cutoff:

  1. Brainerd Dam – 6:30 PM Friday

  2. Blanchard Dam (portage) – 10:00 AM Saturday

  3. Sartell Dam (portage) – 4:00 PM Saturday

  4. St. Cloud Dam (portage) – 7:00 PM Saturday

  5. Mississippi West Regional Park – 3:30 PM Sunday

  6. Peninsula Point Park (Finish) – 5:00 PM Sunday

Courses, cutoffs, and times may be modified due to conditions.

12. Communication and Tracking

  • Each boat must carry a cell phone, in a waterproof bag or case.

  • Phones must be accessible to support crews and event officials.

  • Use of Webscorer tracking is strongly encouraged (see Paddler’s Guide)

13. Propulsion and Assistance Rules

  • Boats must be propelled only by paddle and/or pedal power.

  • No sails or kites.

  • Electric bailers, covers, decks, and spray skirts are allowed.

  • Boats may exit the river for breaks or repairs but must re-enter at the same point.

  • Skipping any portion of the course results in disqualification.

Support Crews

  • A support crew of at least one person is required.

  • Support crews may be in-person, virtual, or hybrid.

  • Crews must be available 24/7 and able to reach any point on the course within 2.5 hours.

  • Support crews may resupply from shore only.

  • One support crew may serve multiple teams.

Outside Assistance

  • No towing, wake riding, wind blocking, or rafting with non-event boats

  • Wake riding and wind blocking between event boats is allowed

  • Towing is permitted only to help a participant exit due to medical/safety issues

14. Team Changes

  • A participant may quit; remaining team members may continue.

  • Rejoining later or switching teams disqualifies the team from awards.

15. Divisions

Event organizers may combine or split divisions as needed.

  • Solo Men

  • Solo Women

  • Tandem Men

  • Tandem Women

  • Tandem Mixed

  • Team 3+

  • SUP Men

  • SUP Women

  • Recreational Tour

  • Relay Division

Recreational Tour

  • Non-competitive; finisher medals only

  • Must meet cutoffs

  • Skips first 10 miles

  • May use vehicles at select portages and to bypass Sauk Rapids

Relay Division

  • Relay teams may paddle solo boats, tandem boats, team boats or any combination thereof. All relay participants are in the same division, regardless of what kind of boat you are using or how many people are in the boat. A relay team may use different boats on different legs. Your relay team must have a minimum of 2 people. The relay course is divided into five sections. 

    You must stop at each of the official relay checkpoints. At each checkpoint you must switch out all paddlers; no paddler can paddle consecutive sections. However, a person can paddle one section, skip the next and return. You cannot change paddlers anywhere other than at the official relay checkpoints. All of your relay teammates can help you move your boat on portages.

  • Checkpoint distances and locations are listed in each Paddler’s Guide.

16. Gender Policy

Participants may register in any division consistent with their identity.
No documentation is required.

Two Paddles is committed to inclusion, fairness, and respect.
Discriminatory or hateful behavior will not be tolerated.

17. Gear Requirements

Required Gear

  • Minnesota DNR Mississippi River maps 5–9

  • Worn PFD with whistle

  • Mobile phone (waterproofed)

  • Extra phone battery or charger

  • Paddle

  • Spare warm clothes (dry bag)

  • Emergency blanket

  • Warm hat

  • Rain gear

  • Food and water

  • Garbage bag

  • Strong flashlight or spotlight

  • Stern/rear light

  • Toilet kit

Recommended Gear

  • Extra paddle

  • Portage wheels