Poker Runs of America has just released their 2017 poker run schedule. Ontario boaters will be pleased to see we have three events on the list for this season. I'm thrilled to see that Sault Ste. Marie is once again hosting the Cam-Am Presidents Cup on the August long weekend. I can't wait to head up to 'The Soo' to take in the festivities again this year. The 2016 Sault Ste Marie poker run was a blast.
This year is promising to be even better, with more boats, bigger crowds and plenty of activities for the whole family. Sault Ste Marie did a spectacular job with last year's event. Most racers said it was the best first-time event they've ever attended. Count on the team at Tourism Sault Ste Marie to outdo the 2016 event.
Maybe this year I'll get out on one of the race boats for a charity ride. It was the highlight of last year's event, raising over $10,000 for the local boys and girls club.
Read on to find out how this top-tier event got its start and how last seasons poker run went down...
Back in February, the folks from Poker Runs America and the team from Tourism Sault Ste Marie got together on a frigid winter day to plan what would turn out to be a fantastic event held seven months later, in the heat of August.
Imagination was key. As a Northern Ontario city, Sault Ste Marie looks a whole lot different in the middle of winter than it does in the peak of summer. But Poker Runs America had imagination, and Ian McMillian and his team had a mission to host a poker run in their city. They pulled it off in spectacular style.
Welcome to Sault Ste. Marie
We arrived in the Soo, as the city is affectionately known, just before dinner on Friday. The festivities were already in full swing. Poker run participants were enjoying a welcome reception at the Delta Hotel, which was a perfect choice to host the event. It’s located right on the waterfront and close to the Roberta Bondar Marina, where the participating offshore racing boats were moored.