
Register now! The 12th Annual Big Island & Back 10K Paddle Event is on Saturday, August 9, 2025. Registration form below!
About the event
Tune up your canoe, kayak, or paddleboard and head to Excelsior for a friendly race out around Big Island and back. With a 9:00 a.m. start time, the paddle begins and ends at Excelsior Public Beach. Our goal is to get paddlers of all ages and skill levels out on Lake Minnetonka for a great community summer event and raise money for clean water across Minnesota and beyond.
Don't miss the after-party at Excelsior Brewing Company beginning at 11 a.m. for food, fun, and beer! Awards and door prizes will be given away by our wonderful sponsors. Make a day of it and explore beautiful Excelsior!
Proceeds from this event support Freshwater's work for water!
Congratulations to last year's top competitors:
- Mike Brumba - First place overall, kayak (45:30)
- Jose Matute and Rick Lorenzen - First place canoe (49:15)
- Jeremy Nicholson - First place paddleboard (58:50)
Cancellation Policy: Safety for all participants is our primary goal. Severe thunderstorms with the threat of lightning that are forecasted to continue throughout the day of the event may result in cancellation of the event for all participants. These conditions will be recognized as “an act of God” and will not result in the refunding of race entry fees or future race credits. If this occurs, we will let participants know via email. Assuming conditions are safe enough for car travel, we will still host the after party at the brewery for all who can attend.
Interested in sponsoring this event? Contact development@freshwater.org or learn more here!