Great Alabama 650 paddle race to come through the Black Belt this week

Great Alabama 650 Paddle Race started its seventh edition on Oct. 4, and racers will come through the Black Belt this week. 

This year’s race started at 10 a.m. with 23 participants who will paddle 650 miles from Weiss Lake in northeast Alabama down to Ft. Morgan in the Mobile Bay, passing through the Black Belt. The paddlers will come through Selma on the way to Roland Cooper State Park sometime mid-week during the week of Oct. 6 through 10. 

All 23 paddlers made a clean start, and crews successfully met the paddlers 9 miles downriver to portage at Weiss Dam. As of Oct. 4 at 5 p.m., leaders were Trey Reaves and John Wellens with a time of 6 hours and 52 minutes near mile 47.  

The first cutoff for racers will be at Check Point 1: Coosa River Adventures (Mile 232/650) in downtown Wetumpka. Racers must be at the first checkpoint by Tuesday, Oct. 7, at 8 p.m. to continue the race. 

Racers will have up to 10 days to finish the race and secure a first-place win in one of three divisions, which are male solo, female solo and two-person tandem team. Participants can interchangeably use kayaks, canoes or stand-up paddleboards throughout the event. Spectators can follow virtually atAL650.com, where a live map reports to-the-minute updates on the racer's progress. ASRT Race Staff will also share live race information through Facebook and Instagram posts, available on the official race accounts (@GreatAlabama650) or by searching #AL650. 

Before the race began, a dinner was hosted by Jakes on the Lake and the Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce and featured Alabama Legislators, volunteers, crew, staff and racers to celebrate this year’s endurance challenge on Alabama's waterways.  

Alabama Rep. Ginny Shaver and Sen. Andrew Jones presented last year's winners with proclamations and congratulated past participants on returning to compete another year. 

The Alabama Scenic River Trail maintains and promotes the core National Water Trail, along with a network of over 6,500 miles of paddling trails throughout the state. The organization’s trail network spans from North Alabama mountain streams and whitewater rapids to South Alabama’s river deltas, making it one of the most varied water trail networks in the nation. As a nonprofit, ASRT operates through collaborations with local partners, organizations, and outfitters, serving as the state’s paddling resource for all skill levels. The Great Alabama 650, ASRT’s signature race, highlights the full scope of these waterways, promoting appreciation and recognition of the state’s exceptional water recreation opportunities. Learn more by visiting ASRT.me.