Pickernell shakes off electrical problems to win Quiliyute Days race

After electrical issues led to a last-place finish on the first night of racing, points leader Todd Pickernell rallied to sweep both his heats and the final at the two-day Quiliyute Days La Push Power Canoe Races July 20-21.

Aboard a canoe christened Norm Sr., Pickernell placed second in both heat races and placed fifth out of five competitors on July 20.

But he righted the ship the following day, winning both his heat races and taking first place in the final to emerge from the weekend with a large point lead. Pickernell has 28 points while Pete Kalama stands firm in second with 215 followed by Freddie Kalama in third with 172.

Darren Sansom made his season debut on June 20 and won the first head of the day and the final, guiding his craft, the Ste-Wetan/Lummi Nation, to victory.

Seventy-year-old Pete Kalama won both his heat races and placed second in the first-day final, followed by Freddie Kalama, Vincent Buckle and Pickernell.

In addition to Pickernell winning both his heats in the second day of racing, Buckle and Freddie Kalama each won a heat race. For Kalama, it was his first career heat win over his father, Pete.

Sansom finished second behind Pickernell in the final, followed by Pete Kalama, Buckle and Freedie Kalama.