Kayak racers from across the U.S., Canada and even France battle the waters of Raquette River in Colton. Photo submitted by Ruth McWilliams.

COLTON – Nearly 100 paddles took to the water Brown’s Bridge section of the Raquette River in Colton Saturday at for whitewater kayaking.

To see more photos of the race, see slideshow.

In recent years, the Saturday of Labor Day weekend is the largest whitewater paddling day of the year in the Stone Valley section of the Raquette River when Brookfield Renewable Energy releases water for expert paddlers to do timed runs. Saturday was no exception with 96 paddlers signing in at Brookfield's stand near the put-in below the dam.

The paddlers were from 18 states, two Canadian provinces and France.

Participants plan their strategy as they overlook the river with a paddler moving down the river in the background. Photo submitted by Ruth McWilliams.

During the day the Town of Colton's Tourism & Beautification Committee staffed an information tent at the main trailhead at the end of Riverside Drive.

The final scheduled release of the year is Monday, Sept. 7, with paddlers expected to be on the river again between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

The town's Tourism & Beautification Committee will have an information tent set up again from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the main trailhead at the end of Riverside Drive on the east side of the river.