AuSable Canoe Marathon

Jeff Kolka of Grayling (boat 16) powers his canoe with stern partner Serge Corbin of St. Boniface Quebec past bow paddler Andy Triebold of Spring Arbor (01) and Matt Rimer of Horton in the final seconds of the 58th AuSable Canoe Marathon Sunday in Oscoda. After a furious 100-yard sprint, capping nearly 15 hours of paddling, Kolka and Corbin took first place by a split second and captured their 9th championship together, regaining the title over Triebold who won in 2004. (Photo by Mark Bialek)

7/24/10 -ALL - The 63rd annual AuSable River Canoe Marathon took place in Grayling, Michigan on July 24 and 25th, 2010. A record 94 teams began with a Lemans-style running start, portaging 6 dams and paddling 120 miles to the finish in Oscoda Sunday. Diehard fans wave to paddlers as they cross Alcona Dam at sunrise. (Photo by Mark Bialek)

7/24/10 -ALL - The 63rd annual AuSable River Canoe Marathon took place in Grayling, Michigan on July 24 and 25th, 2010. A record 94 teams began with a Lemans-style running start, portaging 6 dams and paddling 120 miles to the finish in Oscoda Sunday. Nick Walton of Grayling drags his 18.5-foot carbon fiber canoe down Cooke Dam. Nick and his partner Josh Sheldon finished 3rd with a time of 14 hours 39 minutes. (Photo by Mark Bialek)

7/24/10 -ALL - The 63rd annual AuSable River Canoe Marathon took place in Grayling, Michigan on July 24 and 25th, 2010. A record 94 teams began with a Lemans-style running start, portaging 6 dams and paddling 120 miles to the finish in Oscoda Sunday. A pack of canoes paddles across Mio Pond under the moonlight. (MARK BIALEK/Special to the Detroit News)

A seagull perches on a post near the AuSable River boat in Oscoda, MI, on a summer day in 2005. Oscoda, located in Northeast Michigan, is the official home of Paul Bunyan and sits at the mouth of the AuSable River, which is famous worldwide for its trout fishing and wildlife.

One of several vintage marathon canoe paddles on the wall at the Ausable Inn sports bar and restaurant in Oscoda. (Photo by Mark Bialek)