Press Release FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Release Date: September 19, 2024, 10:30AM CST Countdown to the…
The Riverbum Blog
Information about ASRT's efforts on Alabama’s rivers, creeks, and streams.
Get Ready for the Great Alabama 650 – Flyer Inside!
We’re excited to share that the 6th edition of the Great Alabama 650 is just around the corner! The race kicks off on September 21, 2024, and we’d love for you to help us spread the word. Above is our official race flyer, which you can share with your community, display in your business, or even share with your local media!
We want you to be our top spectator for this year’s race and have included even more insider information below. Here’s the quick rundown:
The Great Alabama 650, the world’s longest annual paddle race on the nation’s longest National Water Trail, kicks off at 10 a.m. on September 21 at Weiss Lake at the Weiss Lake Boat Ramp and ends October 1st by 2pm at the Fort Morgan Public Boat Launch next to the Ferry. Remember the race is nonstop so finishers will be arriving up until the 2pm cutoff on October 1.
Event Summary Details:
- Who: 20 Competitors- 18 Individuals, 2 Tandem Teams
- What: The 6th edition of the Great Alabama 650, a 650-mile paddle race
- When: 10 a.m. September 21, 2024 – 2 p.m. October 1, 2024 (nonstop)
- Where: Starting at Weiss Lake and ending at Fort Morgan, Alabama
- Website: AL650.com
- Social Media: Follow @GreatAlabama650 on Instagram and Facebook, and use #AL650 for live updates
Cut-off Times & Locations:
- Start (Mile 0): Saturday, September 21, 10 AM
Weiss Lake Boat Ramp outside of Centre, AL & Cedar Bluff, AL - Check Point 1 (Mile 232): Tuesday, September 24, 8 PM
Coosa River Adventures in Wetumpka, AL - Check Point 2 (Mile 417): Friday, September 27, 10 AM
Millers Ferry outside of Camden, AL - Finish (Mile 650): Tuesday, October 1, 2:45 PM
Ft. Morgan Public Boat Launch in Ft. Morgan, AL
Portages & Downtimes: Total Down Time: 4 hours 45 minutes
- Weiss: No mandatory downtime (Mile 9)
- Neely Henry: 45 Minutes (Mile 87)
- Logan Martin: 45 Minutes (Mile 135)
- Lay: 30 Minutes (Mile 184)
- Mitchell: 30 Minutes (Mile 198)
- Jordan: 30 Minutes (Mile 222)
- Robert F. Henry: 30 Minutes (Mile 310)
- Millers Ferry: 30 Minutes (Mile 417)
- Claiborne: 45 Minutes (Mile 485)
You can follow the action via a live map on AL650.com and through real-time updates on ASRT’s social media (@GreatAlabama650) using the hashtag #AL650. Daily summaries of overall race progress will be shared on our ASRT Facebook & Instagram pages each evening. If you see a racer out on the water, consider posting a photo of them with the hashtag (#AL650) or tag ASRT’s @greatalabama650 race account!
The public is also invited to a Great AL650 Watch Party happening in Gadsden at the Buffalo Wild Wings at 91 E Chestnut St, Gadsden, AL 35903, on September 21st, from 6 PM – 9 PM. This event will be put on by one of our race sponsors: Greater Gadsden Tourism. Event details can be found HERE.
A big shout out to all our 2024 race sponsors that have helped make this year’s race possible! See all our sponsors on the bottom of our race website HERE.
We hope you’ll join us in cheering on the racers and encourage others to follow along as the race unfold. Thank you again for your ongoing support of ASRT and the Great Alabama 650 – we look forward to sharing race updates with you on social media soon!
Best regards,
Martha Grace Mize
Development and Outreach Coordinator
Alabama Scenic River Trail, Inc.
All media, race, and sponsorship inquiries should be directed to Martha Grace Mize at [email protected]
Further Event Details (Back of Flyer shown above):