New Iberia start added for Tour du Teche V

With the Crawfish, the Acadian, the Hot Sauce, Sugar and Oil & Gas now comes the Black Bear.
A new “short” race has been added to Tour du Teche for its fifth running this October.
The Black Bear leg begins at New Iberia’s City Park at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 4, and ends at Franklin, 35 miles down Bayou Teche.
The Crawfish is from Port Barre to Breaux Bridge, 34 miles, and the Acadian is from Port Barre to St. Martinville, 49 miles. Both are on Friday, Oct. 3. The Hot Sauce, St. Martinville to New Iberia, is 24 miles, and the Sugar is from St. Martinville to Franklin, 59 miles. Both are on Saturday, same day as the new Black Bear race. Finally, the Oil & Gas on Sunday, Oct. 5, goes from Franklin to Berwick in just 27 miles – still a marathon in its own rights by canoe/kayak racing standards.
The main event, Tour du Teche, is an ultra-marathon from Port Barre to Berwick, 135 miles in stages over three days.
The one-day races are strictly for Voyageurs, adventurers racing for trophies and bragging rights. The fee is $60 per paddler.
Voyageurs may also enter the three-day Tour du Teche. The fee is $80 per paddler.
The Voyageur Division includes classes for stand-up paddle boards and traditional Cajun pirogues as well as kayaks and canoes.
Paddlers after cash prizes in the Racing Division of Tour du Teche pay $125 per paddler.
Registration closes at 5 p.m., Friday, Sept. 12.
Registration fees include one coureur des bois per boat. Meals are not included in the registration fee.

For more information, visit www.tourduteche.com, e-mail info@tourduteche.com or call (337) 394-6232 and ask for Ken.