Northland Challenge

4th Annual Northland Challenge!

Northland Area Federal Credit Union and the Thunder Bay River Center present the Fourth Annual Northland Challenge!

Join us on Saturday, August 1st, starting at 9:00 AM for fun-filled festivities.

Kayak Icon Kayak Races vendor icon Arts & Craft Show Paw Icon Duck Park Doggy Derby food truck icon Food Trucks

Kayak Races

This year, we are introducing three divisions: Women's Sport, Men's Sport, and Recreational.

location icon Alpena Duck Park - 1510 W Chisholm St. Alpena MI 49707

time icon Sport Division Race begins at 9:00 AM, Recreational Division begins at 9:15 AM

Dollar Sign Icon $25 early registration, $35 day of registration, $20 discounted registration for EMTs, First Responders, Healthcare Workers, and Veterans, and Bay Athletic Club Members.

Registration Opens Soon

Northland Partners with Bay Athletic Club

Northland is excited to partner with Bay Athletic Club for the Fourth Annual Northland Challenge Kayak Races. If you're a BAC member, you'll get a special discount on race registration. Just pick up your form at the BAC Gym or Urban Fitness, then return it to BAC to be entered for a chance to win a free kayak!

A huge thank you to Bay Athletic Club for their awesome collaboration! Northland is thrilled to bring this exciting event to our community here in Alpena, Michigan, and can't wait to see everyone out on the water!

Kayak Race Prizes

Women's Sport Division:

1st Place: $500
2nd Place: $400
3rd Place: $300
4th Place: $200
5th Place: $100

Men's Sport Division: This is a photo from 2024 picturing three winners of the Northland Challenge standing on a podium for first, second, and third place

1st Place: $500
2nd Place: $400
3rd Place: $300
4th Place: $200
5th Place: $100

Recreational Division:

1st Place: $150
2nd Place: $75
3rd Place: $50
4th Place - Prize basket
5th Place - Prize Basket

Pictured is Northland's 2024 Kayak Sprint Winners.

Race Courses

Men and Women's Sport Division racers launch into the Thunder Bay River at Duck Park and then paddle upstream toward the Alpena County Fairgrounds. Racers will turn around at Sytek Park Bagley Bridge, paddle downstream, and pass under the bridge at the Alpena Duck Park to the finish.

Recreation Divison racers launch into the Thunder Bay River at Duck Park and then paddle upstream approximatley 1.5 miles toward the Alpena County Fairgrounds. Racers will turn around at the marked red bouy, paddle downstream, and pass under the bridge at the Alpena Duck Park to the finish.