Lakers’ ‘Poker Paddle’ a splashing success
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Paddlers relax after completing the course for the inaugural Flathead Laker Poker Paddle July 12.
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Cara Harrop accepts her prize for worst hand from Lakers President Greg McCormick.
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Lakers board member Steve Rosso makes his way along the course.
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Choppy seas and a wind on July 12 delayed the start of the inaugural Flathead Laker Poker Paddle, but the waves calmed by afternoon and the event went off without a hitch, according to Lakers President Greg McCormick.
“Our goal was to have 100 paddlers, and it ended up at about 108 watercraft,” he said. “It was great.”
After waiting on the weather to clear, paddlers took to a shortened course that ended up at about a mile and half of cruising from dock to dock on King’s Point through the Narrows to collect cards for a hand of poker.
With “a wide range of paddling talent” among the players, no one complained about the shorter course, McCormick noted with a chuckle.
“Everybody had a good time,” he added.
Ryan Windauer of Polson won the poker game and received a custom hand-tooled wallet with gift cards to Sportsman & Ski Haus (Kalispell) and Glacier Perks Coffeehouse (Lakeside). Polson resident Ronn Noble had the second-best hand, and the worst hand award went to Cara Harrop of Polson.
Gourmet Galley of Bigfork and Glacier Brewing catered dinner after the paddle, and “Voice of the Griz” Mick Holien emceed. Dark Horse entertained the crowd with lively tunes, and while the dancing may have trampled the grass, the 200-odd people in attendance left not a shred of other evidence behind to mar the landscape. McCormick said he and event organizers Mark and Dana Johnston were amazed to find a spotless, litter-free lawn when the crowd cleared.
“I think that’s a testament to how these people feel about the lake,” McCormick said. “This was a great event for people to be aware of this great clean lake that we enjoy.”
He and the Johnstons are already planning next year’s poker paddle.
“We are inspired to add more prize categories and to recognize the creativity of this crowd at next year’s event,” Dana said in a press release.
The Flathead Lakers was founded in 1958 to advocate for clean water and healthy ecosystems; the organization currently has 1,500 members. The poker paddle fundraiser raised more than $4,000 to benefit the Lakers’ student education program, which allows local teachers and elementary students to visit the Yellow Bay Biological Station as part of their science curriculum.
To get involved with the Flathead Lakers, contactlakers@flatheadlakers.org.
