Haines’ Chilkat Challenge Triathlon is back for the second year.
The July 1 race (registration closes June 15) features a 7.5-mile paddle, 22-mile bike and 9.5-mile run along the Chilkat and Klehini River.
Race organizer Gershon Cohen is the project director of Alaska Clean Water Advocacy. He advocates for the protection of Alaska waters from pollutants and saw the race as an opportunity to celebrate the economic and recreation benefits of the river.
“I just got the idea a few years ago of let’s create something that will get people out on the river and reinforce this understanding that the river is really important to the community,” Cohen said.
The race starts in Mosquito Lake, moves to a slough and then into the Chilkat. Once entering the Chilkat, the paddlers make their way eight miles downstream to Klukwan, where the race transitions to land. Contestants cycle 22 miles down the Haines Highway to Fort Seward before finishing up with a nine-mile run to the Chilkat State Park south of Haines.
Cohen says at least twice as many contestants will participating this year. As of last Friday, according to Cohen, there were 80 registrants, up from 45 last year.
Participants can race solo or on two- or three-person teams. Prizes will be awarded to the first-place finishers in the male solo, female solo, one-paddler and two-paddler categories.
Single kayaks, double kayaks, canoes, pack rafts and paddleboards are accepted watercraft. The race will be capped at 100 boats.
Cohen said he hasn’t been able to find other paddle-bike-run triathlons in the country. He thinks that’s part of the reason both last year and this year people travel from out of state to attend.
“I don’t know of any others — there may be others — I don’t know of any other triathlons that include a paddle with a bike and a run,” Cohen said. “Certainly there’s no other ones in Alaska and I would venture to say this has to got be the most beautiful setting for a triathlon on the planet.”
Juneau’s Alisha Falberg, 33, and Adam Moser, 39, won first-place in the team category last season. Falberg and Moser finished the race in 3 hours, 5 minutes, 41 seconds. Haines’ Ross Ellingwood, who competed in the male solo division, had the fastest overall time (3:03.01).
“Some friends were putting together a team; we didn’t join their team but thought it might be to do our own,” Falberg said. “It was just the two of us, I think all the other teams were three people. But we asked if we could do a team of two and they said, ‘Sure,’”
Moser did the paddling and running and Falberg did the biking.
“We didn’t have any expectations going in,” Moser said of winning his division. “It was quite a surprise. We had a bit of a boondoggle getting up there, missing a ferry initially and we thought we might have to scrap the whole thing. … The prize money was helpful in paying for extra flight.”
The couple’s advice to new racers?
“As with any activity up here, always be aware for wildlife and be prepared for any weather,” Moser said.
The race is $75 per person and includes a post-race dinner at the Fort Seward Parade Grounds.
• Contact sports reporter Nolin Ainsworth at 523-2272 or nainsworth@juneauempire.com.
