Local Teacher Bringing Professional Canoe Race to Dexter

Dexter High School teacher and athlete David Teddy is on a mission to bring his love of canoe racing to the community.

Teddy, along with the Michigan Canoe Racing Association (MCRA) and the , will host dozens of professional racers at Dexter-Huron Metropark on May 21 for one-man and two-men competitions.

"There used to be a race in Dexter back in the 1990s, but it slowly went away," Teddy said. "My intention is to try and generate interest in professional canoeing in the community again."

Formally of Grayling, Teddy said he thought of the idea of a race in Dexter after seeing how many people travel up north every year to watch the AuSable River Canoe Marathon—one of the nation's largest professional canoe-racing events.

"If you live in the northern part of Michigan, you know that racing is huge. It's not about big aluminum canoes and plastic paddles that most people might think of," he said. "These guys are competitive and they are some awesome athletes. They train six or seven days a week for tournaments."

Teddy said planning for the Dexter race is under way and he is looking for sponsors to contribute prize money.

"We are hoping to generate local interest and get some sponsorship money. The bigger the purse, the more enticement it is for people to travel further," he said.

Abby Erickson, executive director of the DACC, said as a co-sponsor, the chamber is donating $100 to the race. 

"This event could become an annual thing and bring 100 to 200 people to town for a weekend every spring," she said. "It has the potential to grow over time."

Teddy said in the future, he hopes to include canoe and kayaking classes as part of the event and even allow nonprofessionals to race in a separate category.

"This year it's really about people coming and seeing what this could potentially become," he said. "I want to get the community involved, and I'm open to ideas on how we can expand the race if it continues."

For information about the race or about race sponsorships, contact Teddy at 734-395-3686 or davidteddy10@hotmail.com.