The banks of Lake Lanier will be flooded with canoes and kayaks as paddlers race to the finish line of the Lula Bridge Race.

The event is sponsored by the Lanier Canoe and Kayak Club at the Lake Lanier Olympic venue, 3105 Clarks Bridge Road in Gainesville.

Saturday, March 17, the gates will open for registration at 8 a.m., with a brief athletes meeting at 9:30 a.m. before the race begins at 10 a.m.

The cost is $25 per person.

Participants can choose between four different race distances ranging from 2.7 to 16 miles. Racers will also have the opportunity to take advantage of bypass portages if they are not interested in competing in the International Canoe Federation category.

In addition to a signed waiver, participants will also have to provide proof of their USA Canoe/Kayak membership. If racers aren't a part of USACK, they can pay a $10 event-only membership fee.

Although this is an annual race, the course has been changed a bit this year to coincide with the course to be used this summer for the U.S. Marathon Trials. This year's race will take place in front of the finish tower at the Olympic venue.

According to the event organizers, spectators will be able to view the entire race from the venue's stands.