fitness paddling: exercise, train, race by kayak & canoe

In my recent post Is Ultra-Marathon Kayak and Canoe Racing Growing? I examined number of entries is some North American endurance paddling races: Texas Water Safari, WaterTribe Everglades Challenge, Colorado River 100 and Yukon River Quest. Among these events only participation in the Yukon River Quest (YRQ) showed a clear growing tendency.

Carter Johnson offered an explanation at the WaterTribe forum:

I think the YRQ is only growing because it is offering over $20,250 dollars in prize money across all categories for 1,2 and 3rd place- Makes it possible for the Tallent to recover some cost. It is the biggest bank of all kayak races in the world to my knowledge. The top racers expect to cover their cost to the Yukon with prize money.

I would bet that if the Chief put up 20k in prizes, and once the word spread for a few years, the EC attendance would go up just as fast as the YRQ. I also bet some amazing top racers from around the world would show up.

Actually, Chief planned big cash awards in 2006 Ultimate Florida Challenge, a 1200 miles race around Florida - 50% of racer entry fees in addition to sponsors dollars. Well, that long race attracted only 10 racers (all former WaterTribers racing previously just for a shark or alligator tooth award ) and no big sponsors. I also suspect that Chief underestimated actual costs of running such a big event. The idea for cash awards was dismissed and Chief plans to keep ...

... the WaterTribe Challenges relatively small and centered on the Kindred Spirit aspects of a shared adventure.

It is fine for me and, probably, for the most of WaterTribers.

It is interesting that most of the UFC racers were successful in getting some support from sponsors, in most cases, in the form of gear or supplies. See Team Sponsors for Ultimate Florida Challenge.

I am trying to support my racing by monetizing my paddling blogs, but it is a very long way to go. So, the first goal is to cover hosting expenses for megabytes of my pictures and videos, and, perhaps, a cost of a new waterproof camera.

I don't think that YQR has the biggest cash award bank among long distance kayak and canoe races. It is sufficient to visit the website of AuSable Marathon ," North America's Richest Canoe Race" with over $50,000.00 cash and prizes.

It may also be worth to look at some South African river marathons. They have participation an order of magnitude higher than what we can see in North America and it is really growing. I don't believe that 900 paddlers in the Dusi River Marathon are entering the race because of cash awards.

So, what really drives participation in those crazy long distance races? Location, challenge, promotion, cash awards?

Related posts: 75 Teams Set to Race in 2006 Yukon River Quest