CANTON – St. Lawrence Valley Paddlers’ season officially gets underway Sunday, April 17 with the annual Little River Ramble, followed closely by their Scramble Series on Wednesdays beginning April 21 and running through September.

That is all a prelude to this year’s big event during Canton Canoe Weekend in mid-May, the 50th annual Rushton Memorial Races.

The winding Little River, which snakes its way behind St. Lawrence University before emptying into the Grasse River near Miner Street, will carry several classes of paddlecraft and racers along two-mile and six-mile courses in events that start at 1 p.m. Sunday.

Registration begins at noon south of town at the boat launch next to Park Street and the Canton-Pyrites Road Bridge.

For Sunday’s events, college students may compete for free. Otherwise, regular fees apply: those in high school and younger pay $5; adults pay $20, and military vets $15, with both getting a $5 discount if they are also SLVP members. Wounded warriors can enter at no charge.

In the shorter recreational races, there will be men’s, mixed, adult/junior, unlimited open, and college classes. For the longer marathon contests, the classes are C-1 and C-2 (canoe) open and stock open, K1 (kayak) men’s and women’s, and war canoe. There are no Pro competitions in the Ramble.

More info is available from Steve Coffin at 854-0881 or jigsawsc@yahoo.com.

Event organizers want to remind participants about the new state law that requires all boaters to wear personal flotation devices (PFDs) on the water between Dec. 1 and May 1, including Sunday’s Ramble.

Other highlights of the season include the 20th annual Madrid Canoe Regatta June 11 and 12, the SLVP Duathlon Series June 16, July 14, and Aug. 18, the Remington II Canoe Race between Rensselaer Falls and Heuvelton on Labor Day weekend, and the annual Mystery Race in Madrid Sept. 18, with the annual club banquet.

There is lots more about the season at the Paddlers’ website, slvpaddlers.org, including how to become a member.