On October 19, New York City Sports Commissioner Kenneth J. Podziba will welcome the Mayor's Cup New York City Kayak Championships to North Cove Marina and the Hudson River. This 28-mile circumnavigation of Manhattan will feature an international field of the world's best paddlers. The first of seven flights of kayaks will launch at 10:30am from Battery Park City's North Cove Marina. The elite racers will launch in the last flight at 12:00pm and are expected to cross the finish line at approximately 3:00pm.

"In only its third year, the Mayor's Cup New York City Kayak Championships has grown into one of the world's premier paddling races," said Commissioner Podziba. "This year's field of racers promises to be our best yet, with Olympians like Greg Barton and Oscar Chalupsky competing alongside war veterans wounded in Iraq and athletes from Achilles International. I would like to welcome all of the racers who will be traveling here from overseas, as well as those traveling in from across the U.S. Best wishes for a wonderful race!"

The Mayor's Cup is New York City's largest paddling event with the biggest purse in North America. Racers will compete for $17,500 in total prize money ($5,000 for first place), $20,000 in gear, and bragging rights as New York City's fastest paddler. Nearly 150 paddlers are expected from more than 12 countries and 25 U.S. States. Elite racers expected to compete include: Hank McGregor, the world's best surf ski paddler; Oscar Chalupsky, 11-time world champion surf ski paddler; 2006 Mayor's Cup Champion Greg Barton, a 2-time Olympic Gold medalist; and US National Kayak Team member Kaitlyn McElroy. Paddlers will be available for pre- and post-race interviews at the festival area in North Cove Marina.

"Every year the race becomes more exciting," said Mayor's Cup Race Director Ray Fusco. "This year we have the largest field of top-flight paddlers of any race in the U.S., more prize money, and a world class Challenged Athletes division. I am happiest when paddlers come to the race and tell me they never imagined how beautiful New York would be -- it is a great place to paddle."

New for 2008, the Mayor's Cup will include a Challenged Athletes division. This division will launch with the first flight of kayaks at 10:30am. Each of the challenged athletes will be paired with an able-bodied kayaker in a tandem kayak. One of the challenged athletes expected to compete is a member of the Achilles Freedom Team of Wounded Veterans who was wounded while fighting in Iraq. This soldier will join additional Achilles athletes to compete alongside top paddlers from around the world. Prize money and awards will be presented to the top three disabled finishers.

"Over 40 years ago, after losing my leg, I took up kayaking and learned to do an Eskimo roll," said Dick Traum, founder of Achilles International. "It was a fantastic way to return to mainstream sports. I am very excited that Achilles will have the opportunity to participate in such a prestigious event through our partnership with the New York City Sports Commission."

Also new this year, all of the racers in the Mayor's Cup will wear the new waterproof GPS tracking system from ChampionChip, the world's leading marathon timer. The racers will be tracked live on big screens throughout the festival area.

"I am very exited to be paddling around Manhattan, been here on many occasions but never paddled around," said 11-time world champion surf ski paddler Oscar Chalupsky. "I am not fit so it is going to be very tough for me. Hank will be the man to beat along with all the other young guys."

In addition to the elite racers, the Mayor's Cup will also include a remarkable field of amateur racers. Earl Baldwin, an 84-year-old elder statesman from Maine, will be making his first appearance at the Mayor's Cup. At 84, Earl still competes in 25 races a year. There will also be a friendly inter-family competition in the Mayor's Cup as Jade Bezuidenhout, 18, will look to out paddle her father Derick, 49, both from Florida. Florida will also be represented by a husband and wife team, Rob and Karen Mirlenbrink, who will both take on the challenging course in separate divisions.

Spectators are encouraged to visit North Cove Marina to view the start and finish of the Mayor's Cup and to enjoy the free festival and music throughout the day. The New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) will be on hand to distribute NYC tap water, and there will also be food for sale in the tents. The first kayakers are expected to finish the race at approximately 3:00pm. The Mayor's Cup will conclude with an awards ceremony at 4:30pm.

"As our recent Harbor Water Quality Report indicates, New York Harbor is at its cleanest in well over a century," said DEP Commissioner Emily Lloyd. "This is reflected in the health of the Harbor's critical ecosystems, which are flourishing. A key part of Mayor Bloomberg's vision for the City's future, PlaNYC, is to make sure 90% of our waterways are available for recreational purposes. DEP is proud of the consistent improvements to aquatic health in the waterways and we look forward to continued improvements."

2008 marks the third year of this increasingly competitive race. One of the most challenging portions of the demanding course is Hell Gate where water from the Long Island Sound, the Harlem River and the East River combine to create standing waves, whirlpools and very tumultuous water. The picturesque course includes views of the Statue of Liberty from the starting line at North Cove, the Cloisters and the George Washington Bridge along the Hudson, and the Brooklyn Bridge and South Street Seaport along the East River.

North Cove Marina is located in Battery Park City and is best accessed from Liberty Street and South End Avenue. For more information about the Mayor's Cup New York City Kayak Championships, please visit www.nymayorscup.com.

The New York City Sports Commission is the mayoral agency charged with attracting, facilitating and promoting professional, amateur and scholastic sports events in New York City. In recent years, the Sports Commission has played a role in creating or developing many new sporting events, including the NFL Kickoff Live from Times Square, NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series™ Champions Week, the BMC Software NYC Cycling Championship, the AVP Brooklyn Open, the NAUTICA NYC Triathlon, the NYC Half-Marathon, the Union Square Street Sessions presented by Jeep®, the Wild Onion Urban Adventure Race and the Men's Health Urbanathlon.