Flashback Friday: Racing on the Big Sioux

Yahoo

a day ago

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) —It's beginning to feel like Summer around much of KELOLAND this week with our temperatures hitting the eighties almost daily.
The heat will have many families hitting the water this weekend in a number of ways. In this week's Flashback Friday, Bobbi Lower takes us back to 1982 for some friendly competition between boaters on the Big Sioux River.
The river proved to be a bit easier for the canoeist than those on rafts. Even the best of the bunch had to get off and push part of the way.
'Yeah there was right at the beginning and every place after that we were kind of lucky ours went over the top so we could just paddle along.'
While the participants in some regattas trained for months before the race, most of the big Sioux contestants were lucky if they got together the day before.
'Spent probably four and a half minutes at the other end and that was it.''A lot of Practice huh?''We did it last year, we thought we were still in shape.''Were ya?''Pretty fair, pretty fair.'
Although the race seems simple enough its hard work.'Well yeah it looks easier on the side of the bank, from their viewpoint I'm sure it is.''What's so hard about it?''Well mostly pace yourself and you usually pace yourself for about half a mile and it ends up to be three.'
The Egge's pacing must not have been too far off, they came in first. They say the secret is a fast raft, good crew, and a desire to win.
Bobbi Lower, KELOLAND News.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.