"I've taken to calling him our number one tourism promoter," said Senator Betty Little, a North Country Republican

Shaking hands with Governor Andrew Cuomo prior to the whitewater raft race on 7/20/2014

INDIAN LAKE, N.Y. — The governors of New York and Vermont had a trash-talking splash fight before paddling the bucking waves of the Indian River as part of the second annual tourism-promoting Adirondack Challenge on Sunday.

A total of 21 six-person rafts ran the three-mile course in Indian Lake, about 80 miles north of Albany. Teams included state legislators, city mayors, regional economic development people and other community leaders from around the state. All heaped praise on Cuomo for his efforts to promote a region where there's longstanding resentment of Albany's perennial focus on downstate interests.

At a late afternoon awards banquet at Gore Mountain Ski Center in nearby North Creek, Lt. Gov. Bob Duffy declared that the friendly contest between Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Vermont Gov. Peter Shumlin, both Democrats, had ended in a 19 minute, 20-second tie.

"Imagine that, a dead tie," said Cuomo, whose raft team was declared the winner last year against a team captained by former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg. "I thought I had a world record."

"I've taken to calling him our number one one tourism promoter," said Sen. Betty Little, a North Country Republican.

"Gov. Cuomo has done more to promote the Adirondacks than anyone in memory," said Albany Assemblywoman Patricia Fahy, a Democrat. She and her family spent the day Sunday stand-up paddleboarding and taking a floatplane tour of the Indian Lake area.

“I am not talking to any reporters who don't raft. That's it for the rest of the year.” “You get all the scoops now. You're the man,” the governor joked to reporter and rookie rafter Dan Bazile. Dan helped set the pace while paddling in the front of Nate's raft in the race.

Check Channel 13 WYNT News for full article and video from my helmet camera at:

http://wnyt.com/article/stories/S3509631.shtml?cat=10114

Governor Andrew Cuomo looks hysterical while splashing competitors before the raft race.

New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo seems buoyant.

Vermont State Governor Peter Shumlin seems under pressure. 

My team consisted of six town supervisors from within the Adirondack Park:

Nate with the press at the finish line.

***  Photos taken from Governor Andrew Cuomo's website:  http://www.governor.ny.gov/adk-challenge-photos
***  If you want to get on Governor Andrew Cuomo's good side, go rafting.