Video Footage by: Grant Christianson

Beaver Bay Beach Bash!

Watch the Minnesota Paddling Championships

September 6th & 7th, 2025

Watch two days of canoe racing on the upper Mississippi and beach party with your neighbors! Starting at 10 a.m. both days, enjoy the Headwaters Mississippi MN State Canoe Championship. Arrive early for boat parking in the Beaver Bay marina or park your bike side-by-side on the driveway of 3210 Lake Ave. NE. Car parking on Lake Ave. only, please. Camping welcome. Bring your lawn chair, cooler, water shoes, and something to grill over a campfire. Chill with friends and play games at this 3rd Annual block party! 🙂

Photos from previous races!

Click on photos to enlarge view.

Live Music on the Water!

Join us on the water for live music with James "Mudkat" Grant. Music will play from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. 

James “Mudkat” Grant began listening to rock n roll, classical, and country music early. After seeing the Beatles on TV, he joined his first band in high school, extending it through college years playing hundreds and hundreds of gigs. Having the opportunity to open for the Flying Burrito Brothers in May 1970, changed their repertoire and musical direction. The band, now called North Country, moved to Denver, where they opened for the comedian Steve Martin, but within a year the band had broken up, so Grant moved into doing solo work with vocal, guitar, and harmonica.

Recording his first CD in ’95, “Not the Only World”, which was nominated for a Minnesota Music Award, James continued writing and performing in the upper midwest with occasional forays with other musicians. “This Town”,  an EP, with This Town, the title cut, Southern View, Distant Light, and Something New, was recorded in 2013, with other songs waiting for studio production. 
 
James Grant has been heavily influenced in his writing style by Sting, Neil Young, Dylan, James Taylor, and others, along with environmental and social justice issues. His passion for writing and performing, with guitar and vocal study, has continued to this day.

www.mudkatmusic.com

Beaver Paddle Battle!

Trophy artwork designed and painted by Nina Lubarski

Join in the racing fun on your own paddle-powered craft. It is a free, fun, amateur beer boat race where participants paddle while enjoying some friendly competition and, of course, beer. This social and entertaining event is open to anyone who wants to join, regardless of skill level.

The ultimate prize for the victorious team in the Beaver Paddle Battle is the Coveted Annual Paddle Trophy. This trophy is not just a symbol of victory but is also a living record of the event’s history, signed by each year’s champions. Along with the trophy, winners earn the ultimate bragging rights, celebrated by all participants and spectators. They become part of the event’s storied history, joining the ranks of past champions. 

If you would like to participate, but do not have a canoe, there will be 2 aluminum canoes you can use to race.

Details & Location

3210 Lake Ave, Bemidji.

Boat parking in the bay, car parking on Lake Ave.

(Bike & side-by-side parking allowed on the island in the driveway.)

Minnesota Paddling Championships

Two-Day event in Bemidji, MN 
September 6 & 7, 2025

All racing participants must register online or on-site 1 hour before race times. There will be a fee of $40 per person for the competitive races for the entire race weekend – pay on-site.

Weekend schedule – All awards on site after races

Saturday 12:00 pm – Tandem Canoe; Men’s and Women’s Races

  • Standard Category (45 Minutes)
  • Pro Category (1.5 hours)

 

Saturday 2:30 pm – Beaver Paddle Battle! Tour de Course

It is a fun, free amateur event. If you can use a paddle to power it, you can enter and race it!

  •  Aluminum, etc…Category

 

Saturday 3:30 pm – Solo C1/Kayak/Paddleboard; Men’s and Women’s Events

  •  Standard and Pro Categories (45 mins)

Saturday 5 pm – 8 pm – Live Music on the Water

James “Mudkat” Grant

Sunday 11:00 am –Tandem Canoe; Mixed Races

  • Standard Category (45 Minutes)
  • Pro Category (1.5 hours)

 

Minnesota Paddling Championships Online Registration Form

Racer #1 Name
Event
Race Level
Racer #2 Name
Waiver
I understand that canoeing, kayaking, stand-up paddle boarding and/or any water sport is potentially hazardous, and knowingly, at my own risk, enter this/these event(s). I, my heirs, and my estates, waive any claims for damages or injuries that I may incur as a result of my participation in this event, against any sponsor, volunteer, employee, or officials. As a participant I will wear the required life jacket (PFD) in this/these event(s).

For race information contact Brett Arenz @ 651-269-4433

Everyone participating in the race must be an MCA member and sign a separate online waiver for the MCA. Most of the “regulars” already are. A one-year individual membership is $20, and you can sign up online. If you don’t want to pay that, though, you can get a “one-day” membership for $5 on the day of the race.

You can sign up to be member ahead of time at www.mncanoe.org, and the link to the online waiver is: https://form.jotform.com/JLAagency/minnesota-canoe-association

Website Sponsored by

broh_logo

Race Sponsors

This is a Minnesota Canoe Association Event

Copyright br/oh! Creative LLC. All Rights Reserved.