Almost 100 people have registered for the first annual Fort to Field 50. It's a paddle race 50 miles long from just below the Fort Randall Dam to the marina in Springfield. Registrants range from South Dakota residents to visitors from the Netherlands.
Jarett Bies is the founder of the Fort to Field 50. He says he set a goal of 75 registers based off the South Dakota Kayak challenge and registration already surpasses that.
“To have almost 100 people already signed up, and to have registration continuing into next week where we probably will hit those triple figures, triple digit figures, I am very excited. It would be impossible without this support we’re receiving up and down the river," Bies says.
The race begins at 7 a.m. on July 19th. Racers have until 10 p.m. to pass through three checkpoints along the way and arrive in Springfield.
Bies says participants can expect to see tall chalk-stone cliffs and bald eagles along the route.
Information and registration for the event is available online at this link.