Ludwig has unofficial best time in race, despite a double start

By Gloria Austin  
Staff Writer
    Houltons’ Fred Ludwig has been paddling his kayak in numerous river races over the years, but last Saturday was the first time he had ever had to start a race twice.
    Ludwig started the Passagassawakeag Stream Race in Belfast last Saturday in the first heat. But trouble hit about the two-mile mark in the first set of whitewater. His paddle shaft broke in half in the middle of a stroke.
    “I flipped and figured I was done since I didn’t have another paddle,” he said. “But, since I started in the first heat, I knew boats would be continuing to start for at least a half hour.”
    Ludwig decided to drag his kayak back to the starting line, which was about 1.5 miles, and ask the starter if it would be alright to start again if he could find another paddle. The starter agreed.
    “I drove to the finish line and asked a friend who had just finished if I could borrow his paddle,” Ludwig explained. “He said, ‘Go for it,’ so I headed back to the start line and got there just in time to hop in the water to be the last boat to start.”
    Through all of the hustle and bustle, Ludwig finished the eight-mile river race in a time of 40:40, which was the fastest time of the day.
    However, the race director spoke to Ludwig before the awards ceremony to let him know there would be controversy if he awarded any prize to Ludwig since he started the race twice.
    “I told him ‘No problem,’” said Ludwig. “But, I did tell him of my adventure.”
    With all of the jostling around, Ludwig didn’t gain any advantage and still beat the overall winner, Ryan Wirth, who crossed the finish line at 41 minutes, 22 seconds.
    The race director mentioned Ludwig’s time at the awards ceremony, but his time was listed as unofficial due to the double start.
    “It was a very good race, and apart from ruining a paddle, it was a good day,” said Ludwig.
    Also, Peter Blood of Houlton finished fourth in the Century Class of the race with a time of 48:35.
    The next Downriver Point Series races are this weekend, April 10-11.
    The Souadabscook Stream Sprint will be held at 9 a.m. at Emerson Mill Road Grange, Hampden on Saturday. The race is a whitewater 2-mile course. Registration starts at 8 a.m. Hard shell helmets are required and the race benefits a charity.
    Also on the same day, the Souadabscook Stream race will be held at 12 p.m. It is a whitewater, 8-mile point series down river event. Registration is 11 a.m.
    For more information, call Gary Brooks  at  478-8469.
    On Sunday, the Marsh Stream Sprint  will be at 11 a.m. in Frankfort at the Winterport Snowmobile Club. It is a white water one-mile course. Registration starts at 10 a.m.
    Also on the same day is the Marsh Stream Race  at 1:30 p.m. The race is a whitewater 8-mile course. Registration begins at 10 a.m.
    For more information, call Bill Deighan at 234-2510.
    Ludwig doesn’t hit every race on the MaCKRO schedule.
    “I don’t really compete in the race series,” he said. “I just have a few races I like to do and those are the ones I go to.”
    But, be assured if he can, he will paddle in the Meduxnekeag River Canoe Race which will be May 1 in Houlton.