Canoe race starts Friday in Cayo

They range from die-hard paddlers to weekend warriors to city slickers looking for a little action. Tonight, they’re all packing up and heading to San Ignacio for a last minute meeting before Friday morning’s start of La Ruta Maya River Challenge. The three-day canoe race begins at 6:30am at the Hawkesworth Bridge. The race ends on Monday at the Belcan Bridge in Belize City. Between start and finish, teams will not only have the chance to win overall prizes like the daily first place winners but also station prizes given by the various resorts and residents along the way as well as corporate sponsors. The event, organized by Big H and Vida Purified water, is in its third year. Last year’s canoe champions were Leonard Myers, John Moore and Albert Welch from Gales Point sponsored by Cheers restaurant.