Kayakers race through 'gnarly' rapids in Paddlemania on Saturday

With plenty of water in the St. Louis River this year, the Fin Falls race returns to Paddlemania Saturday, said organizer Cliff Langley, calling it more of a sprint race.

Kayakers will still paddle from just below the Thomson Dam to just above the rapids upstream of the swinging lift bridge at Jay Cooke State Park. From there, they will paddle the rapids upstream of the bridge - where spectators get excellent views of the action - then pass under the bridge about 100 years to where the river turns right and there's a waterfall. That is the "fin" of Fin Falls, Langley said. From there they dip...