The father and son team of Jeffrey and Judson Steinback bested all other competitors in the inaugural Log Jam Paddle Race over the weekend, taking home the title as well as a brand new Old Town tandem kayak courtesy of Rhinelander Toyota and Wildwood Outdoor Adventures.

Nearly 30 paddlers took on the approximately 5-mile course along the Wisconsin River Flowage and Boom Lake in Rhinelander on Sunday, June 21. Canoes, kayaks, and stand-up paddleboards (SUPs) all competed to see who could complete the course the fastest for the chance to take home the grand prize. The Steinbacks, competing under team name “Steinback and Father,” churned through the water at a blistering pace in their 2-man canoe and finished in a time of 43 min 6 sec.  Keith and Dan Snyder, also in a 2-man canoe, took home second at 46 min 5 sec, and Jeff Schnelle reeled in third on his SUP with a time of 47 min 44 sec.

The course started in the northern stretches of the Wisconsin River Flowage near River Road and snaked its way down to finish at the Hodag Park beach on Boom Lake. Paddlers ranged in age from 7 years old to 73 years old. All entrants were able to complete the course.

The Log Jam Paddle Race presented by Rhinelander Toyota was a part of the festivities at the second-annual Boom Lake Log Jam held on the shores of Boom Lake in Hodag Park. Other activities included All-American Lumberjack shows, forestry equipment displays and simulators, citizen logger competitions, chainsaw art demonstrations, a scavenger hunt, arts & craft fair, pancake breakfast, Best Bloody Mary competition, 5k run, live music, and much more.

The Rhinelander Area Chamber of Commerce plans to expand the Paddle Race portion of the event by offering multiple course lengths and categories in future years to challenge all levels of competitors.