Registration for the Petite Tour du Teche, canoe and kayak races for ages 5 to 17 to be held in Breaux Bridge Sept. 8 and 9, is $15 per paddler.

The entry fee covers any race for which the paddler is qualified.

This is the first year for this set of short races designed to encourage young paddlers who are excluded by their age from the “big” Tour du Teche, the staged marathons held on the whole length of Bayou Teche in October.

The race will be held at Parc des Ponts de Pont Breaux, which affords spectators a view of the entire race course.

The Petite TDT will be conducted under the rules of the United States Canoe Association (USCA), which will sanction this race as it does the Tour du Teche.

Age groups for the Petite TDT are:

•Fledgling I – 5 to 7, course 250 yards.

•Fledgling II – 8 to 10, course 250 yards.

•Bantam – 11 and 12, course 500 yards.

•Juvenile – 13 and 14, course one mile.

•Junior – 15 to 17, course one mile.

Additionally there are six different classes:

•Solo Double Blade – Any boat with one person that can be paddled like a kayak.

•Tandem Double Blade – Any boat with two people that can be paddled like a kayak.

•Solo Single Blade – Any boat with one person that can be paddled like a canoe.

•Tandem Single Blade – Any boat with two people that can be paddled like a canoe.

•Solo Tribe – 13.5 kayak, specifically any 13.5-foot Tribe kayak paddled by one person.

•Tandem Tribe – 13.5 kayak, specifically any 13.5-foot Tribe kayak paddled by two people.



Schedule

SATURDAY, SEPT. 8

•8 a.m. – Boat and equipment check for Fledgling I and II and Bantam divisions.

•9 a.m. – Racing begins for Fledgling I and II, Solo Single Blade and Solo Double Blade boats.

•10 a.m. – Racing begins for Bantam, Solo Single Blade and Solo Double Blade boats.

•11 a.m. – Racing begins for Fledgling I and II, Tandem Single Blade and Tandem Double Blade boats.

•12 p.m. – Racing begins for Bantam, Tandem Single Blade and Tandem Double Blade boats.

•1 p.m. – Racing begins for Fledgling I and II, Solo Tribe 13.5 kayaks.

•2 p.m. – Racing begins for Bantam, Solo Tribe 13.5 kayaks.

•3 p.m. – Racing begins for Fledgling I and II, Tandem Tribe 13.5 kayaks.

•4 p.m. – Racing begins for Bantam, Tandem 13.5 kayaks.

•5 p.m. – Awards ceremony.



SUNDAY, SEPT. 9

•8 a.m. – Boat and equipment check for Juvenile and Junior divisions.

•9 a.m. – Racing begins for Juvenile and Junior, Solo Single Blade and Solo Double Blade boats.

•11 a.m. – Racing begins for Juvenile and Junior, Tandem Single Blade and Tandem Double Blade boats.

•1 p.m. – Racing begins for Juvenile and Junior, Solo Tribe 13.5 kayaks.

•3 p.m. – Racing begins for Juvenile and Junior, Tandem Tribe 13.5 kayaks.

•5 p.m. – Awards ceremony.

Registration forms are on www.tourduteche.com, under the Petite TDT drop-down.

If you have any questions, or want to volunteer to help put on the race, please contact Tour du Teche executive director Nicole Patin at (337) 394-6232 or info@tourduteche.com.