WHITEHORSE — The race roster is set for the 18th annual Yukon River Quest, which will begin on Wednesday, June 29, in Whitehorse. This year’s field will feature a record 94 teams with 236 paddlers from all over the world.
Fourteen countries are represented: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Germany, Ireland, Ivory Coast, Japan, the Netherlands, Poland, South Africa, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States (15 states).
There has been a significant increase in numbers this year. Registrations topped out at the limit of 100 teams in March. The previous record was 89 teams in 2008.
The 94 teams include 11 that are signed up for an experimental Stand Up Paddleboard class, which has helped boost interest in the race.
“This year we have the largest number of paddlers ever, some of whom are not taking the Yukon River Quest challenge sitting down,” said Harry Kern, president of the Yukon River Marathon Paddlers Association.
Except for two mandatory rest stops totaling 10 hours, paddlers race non-stop over the 444 miles to Dawson City. Held annually during the last week of June (around the summer solstice), it is a true “Race to the Midnight Sun.”
The race starts with introductions at Rotary Peace Park in Whitehorse, with the horn blowing at noon, and ends sometime between the afternoon of Friday, July 1 and Saturday, July 2, just before midnight, the official finish time for the race.
All teams are required to have activated SPOT devices, which allows those who can’t watch in person to follow the race on their computers or mobile devices. Follow the results at www.yukonriverquest.com and watch for updates and photos on the race’s Facebook page.
The total possible 2016 race purse will be $35,770 (CAD). There are overall cash prizes for each class — tandem canoe, tandem kayak, solos, and voyageur canoes — as well as prizes for the top three in each division. There also are cash prizes for the top all-Yukon canoe and kayak teams, and the top First Nations team. Several special awards also are donated by Yukon and Alaska sponsors. But most of the paddlers are just aiming to get to Dawson and be awarded a coveted YRQ Finisher Pin.
Complete team bios and a race schedule are online at www.yukonriverquest.com.
The race is organized by the Yukon River Marathon Paddling Association, based in Whitehorse.
