Video Footage by: Grant Christianson

Watch the Minnesota Paddling Championships

Party at the Beaver Bay Beach Bash!

September 5th & 6th, 2026

Go to Race Registration

Watch two days of canoe racing on the Upper Mississippi, party, and listen to live music with your neighbors! Starting at 11 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 4th 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 Saturday with Curt Peterson, Jack Hicks and Antonio Arce. Music will play from 5 p.m. until 10 p.m. 

Join us Sunday with Caige Jamboree 11:30 am - 2 pm.

Curt Peterson

Curt Peterson is a local musician playing a mix of folk, classic country, and a few original tunes.

Curt bought his first guitar with money from his paper route when he was thirteen years old. He learned every Johnny Cash and Hank Williams Sr. song he could. After he got married, he put his guitar away for twenty years while his kids were growing up. One day he saw his guitar sitting in the corner of his living room, picked it up, and has been playing ever since. Now, he plays a mix of country, pop, folk, and original songs. He keeps telling his wife. A man can not have too many guitars!

JackHicksClean2

Jack Hicks

Jack Hicks has been playing guitar for 62 years, starting at age eight with a Roy Rogers guitar from the Sears catalog.
Jack performed in the Twin Cities with Dare Force, Nick St Nicklaus and Jason and the Scorchers. Unlike many musicians who sing first and play guitar second, Jack is a guitarist first—singing came later. He took vocal lessons and performed with the Snowmen in Bemidji for five years before recently pursuing solo work. Now he records in his home studio.

Antonio

Antonio Arce

Antonio moved to Northern Minnesota from New Mexico eight years ago. He started to play locally at open mic night on Thursdays at Brigid’s. Later on, he played for many other private and community events. Antonio developed a deep love for American Music style referred to as “oldies”, music from the 60’s and 70’s. Today, his main repertoire consists of the music from Elvis Presley, Neil Diamond, Jim Croce, James Taylor, Tom Jones, Frank Sinatra, Billy Joel and other artists.

When he sings in Spanish MĂşsica Romantica (Romantic Music) in the genres of Boleros, Rumbas, and Trova music, he loves to explain the meaning of the songs he plays.

Caige-Jambor

Caige Jambor

Caige Jambor is a Bemidji-raised singer-songwriter whose music blends folk, rock, and Americana with an alternative edge. Caige has been writing and performing since childhood, with music that balances melodic songwriting, acoustic textures, and a distinctly Northern Minnesota character.

Caige has performed across the United States, Canada, England, Scotland, and Norway, while remaining deeply connected to the Bemidji music community. His recent work includes live sessions with KAXE/KBXE and performances at events such as the Beltrami Block Party.

With a career rooted in songwriting, collaboration, and community, Caige continues to develop a sound that bridges intimate folk storytelling with the energy and experimentation of rock.

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-only beer-boat race where participants paddle while enjoying friendly competition and, of course, beer. This social and entertaining event is open to anyone who wants to join, regardless of skill level. 

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

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. 

 

2025 Beaver Battle Paddle Winners

Shannon and Joe

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 5 & 6, 2026

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 – in between tandem and solo canoe races

  •  Tai Chi Training by Rick Lorenzen: Beginner and Stress Relief Session

 

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

  •  Standard and Pro Categories (45 mins)

 

Saturday 5 pm – 10 pm – Live Music on the Water

  •  Curt Peterson
  • Jack Hicks
  • Antonio Arce

 

Sunday 11:00 am –Tandem Canoe; Mixed Races

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

 

Sunday 11:30 am – 2 pm – Live Music on the Water

  •  Caige Jamboree

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

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This is a Minnesota Canoe Association Event

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