Verlen Kruger (June 30, 1922 in
Pulaski County, Indiana – August 2, 2004) was a
canoe
A canoe is a lightweight narrow water vessel, typically pointed at both ends and open on top, propelled by one or more seated or kneeling paddlers facing the direction of travel and using a single-bladed paddle.
In British English, the term ...
enthusiast who paddled over in his lifetime.
Paddling
Over the course of his life, Verlen Kruger paddled the most miles (over 100,000 miles) of any single competitor in the sport.
According to the
Guinness Book of World Records
''Guinness World Records'', known from its inception in 1955 until 1999 as ''The Guinness Book of Records'' and in previous United States editions as ''The Guinness Book of World Records'', is a reference book published annually, listing world ...
, all the more remarkable because he did not start until age 41. Of particular note are the Two Continent Canoe Expedition and the Ultimate Canoe Challenge, the longest canoe journey ever.
A bronze statue of Kruger was erected on the banks of the
Grand River in
Portland, Michigan
Portland is a city in Ionia County of the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 3,883 at the 2010 census. The city is situated in the south central portion of Portland Township and is known as the "City of Two Rivers" since it is the confl ...
by family and friends in 2010.
Bibliography
Books
*
*
*
Video
Notes
External links
*
Two Continent Canoe Expedition
American male canoeists
1922 births
2004 deaths
People from Pulaski County, Indiana
People from Lansing, Michigan
{{US-canoe-bio-stub