Page 83 - 2022-08-01 Paddling Magazine

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Betcha Didn’t Know About…
The World’s Biggest Paddle

CROSS-CONTINENT CANOEIST Mike Ranta is known for dreaming big, and his 110.5-foot-long paddle is the latest proof of the paddler’s larger-
than-life mindset. Affectionately called the Big Dipper, Ranta’s mammoth bent-shaft blade was confirmed in 2021 by Guinness World Records as the
world’s largest paddle, ousting from the record books a 60-footer in Golden, British Columbia.

• The Big Dipper resides on • Known for crossing Canada • With his canine companion, Spitzii, • “It’s not just the biggest paddle
the shores of Georgian Bay at two-and-a-half times on solo by his side, Ranta will put the in the world; it’s going to be the
the Killarney Mountain Lodge expeditions, Ranta didn’t let a finishing touches on the paddle in prettiest too,” says Ranta. “I want
in Killarney, Ontario, where it little thing like inexperience with a summer 2022 and seal a 200-year to add a table in the shade next to
celebrates the rich voyageur spokeshave deter him. “I’ve built time capsule into a hollowed out it, so those who visit can sit and
history of the area and is also a a few paddles and done a few portion of the paddle shaft. honor who they’re thinking about.”
tribute to veterans, Ranta says. woodworking projects, but never
anything on this scale. I learned a
lot about woodworking,” he says.

THE BIG DIPPER
LENGTH 110.5 feet
WIDTH OF BLADE 17 feet
WEIGHT 22,000+ pounds
TIME TO MAKE 2.5+ years
CONSTRUCTED WITH Eastern white cedar
WORLD RECORD Recognized in 2021 as world’s largest paddle/oar

MIKE RANTA
LENGTH 5 feet, 8 inches
WEIGHT 220 pounds
TIME TO MAKE 50 years
CONSTRUCTED WITH Pasta, especially lasagna
WORLD RECORD Made unofficially in 2016, for the longest single-season solo canoe trip (4,660 miles)

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