Experience Québec
Braving winds and tides
La Grande Traversée
From January 30th to February 1st, 2009, Québec’s top crews will take on the St. Lawrence River and its ice floes in a thrilling canoe race. La Grande Traversée is a spectacular ice canoe race between the island of Île aux Coudres and the mainland village of Saint Joseph-de-la-Rive. This annual event pays tribute to the hardy souls who, in the days before the ferry service was introduced, would brave the cold, ice and storms to deliver supplies to the island.
To witness this race is to see Québec’s top canoers at work! In fact, the salt water course (the only one of its kind in Québec), strong currents and influence of the tides combine to make the crossing extremely difficult. Departing from Île aux Coudres’s marina, each five person crew must navigate through the ice—which can reach three to four metres (10 to 13 ft.) in thickness—drop a mail bag on the wharf in Saint-Joseph-de-la-Rive, then row back to the island. This 8-km (5-mi.) obstacle-filled test is astonishing to watch.
The race will take place from January 30th to February 1st, 2009, in the magnificent Charlevoix region. The start line is at Île aux Coudres, located about 120 km (76 mi.) from Québec City.André Quenneville
Photos: La Grande Traversée Casino de Charlevoix_Pierre Rochette.
2009-01-15
