There are a lot of reasons. But really, it's more than a race. It's a community event a regional event.

When you say that you are a race man, it means that you embrace the entire black community regardless of the hue, whether somebody is very light and could pass for possibly white or someone is very dark.

That's why it's worked. Over the years, we've tweaked it and changed it. We tried to change it so that what was good for the Iron Horse was good for the community.

Not only is it still going, but it's very healthy and well-situated for 35 more.

It's exciting about everything going on with the race coming back and how the community is showing such an outpouring of support. People are already signing up.

In Hilo last year, we proved to race organizers and the international paddling community that it could be done,