06/15/2026
Introducing Placid Boatworks Paddler of the Month for June: Brandon DeVito
You've probably heard of the "Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon." Around the Adirondacks, the paddling community, and the craft beer world, it's more like "Two Degrees of Brandon DeVito."
If you've spent any time paddling Adirondack waters, racing a canoe, attending a community event, or enjoying a cold beverage after a long day outdoors, chances are you've crossed paths with Brandon... or know someone who has.
Brandon has competed in the Adirondack 90-Miler Canoe Classic eight times, paddling a Placid Boatworks Shadow in every one of them. He's also the mastermind behind the legendary 91st Mile Beer Garden at the finish line, helping paddlers celebrate their accomplishments with friends old and new.
When he's not racing events like the Tupper Lake 8 Miler, Round the Mountain Canoe & Kayak Race, Long Lake Regatta, Willard Hanmer Race, or the Brandt Lake Canoe & Kayak Race, you'll often find him exploring some of the Adirondacks' most remote waters. His Placid Boatworks Spitfire has carried him through countless adventures, including pond-hopping trips in the Saint Regis Canoe Area, the Essex Chain, Little Tupper to Lake Lila and the Oswegatchie River, Madawaska, Ampersand Brook, and most recently, the Kunjamunk River. Here's a fun fact: Brandon's Spitfire turned 10 last year and has paddled over 2,430 miles!
Brandon's passion for paddling extends far beyond his own adventures. He volunteers with the Boy Scouts of America's National Camping School High Adventure Trek Leader Program, serves as the current Board Chair of the Northern Forest Canoe Trail, and is a tireless advocate for the Adirondack communities and waterways he loves.
A licensed guide turned beer salesman, Brandon now serves as Brand and Sales Supervisor for High Peaks Distributing in Saranac Lake. Whether he's helping organize an event, supporting a local cause, leading a paddle, or greeting racers at the finish line, he's always quick with a smile and eager to lend a hand.
Brandon embodies the spirit of Adirondack paddling: adventure, community, stewardship, and fun.
Thank you Brandon for being who you are. We're proud to have you in the Placid Boatworks family.
