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

A record field of 75 teams with 167 paddlers are registered to start the eighth annual Yukon River Quest Canoe and Kayak Race on Wednesday, June 28. They represent five countries: 99 paddlers from Canada, followed by the United States with 44, Great Britain with 21, two from Austria, and one from Australia.

The registration period closed on May 26, but most solo and tandem slots filled back in February. The race has a limit of 70 solo and tandem teams and allows voyageur team entries above that limit.

The were several paddlers on a waiting list. Marty Sulivan known in WaterTribe as Salty Frog got into a solo kayak race after several months waiting. I see more familiar names among Yukon River Quest racers including paddlers from Texas, Richard Steppe, Erin Magee and Richard Ameen, who just a couple of weeks ago competed in Texas Water Safari.

This year a record six voyageur teams are entered, along with 28 tandem canoes, 23 solo kayaks, and 18 tandem kayaks. Winning teams in various classes receive $1,500 under a new prize structure adopted for this year. Total purse is over $20,000.

The 740-kilometer (460-mile) wilderness adventure paddling marathon is held on the Yukon River from Whitehorse to Dawson City in Canada's Yukon Territory. It is the longest annual canoe and kayak race in the world. The race is organized by the Yukon River Marathon Paddling Association, based in Whitehorse, Yukon Territory.

2006 Race Results

Related posts:

• Is Ultra-Marathon Kayak and Canoe Racing Growing?
• Why the Yukon River Quest is Growing?
• WaterTribe Cancels Ultra Marathon that Was Run Together with Everglades Challenge
• One of the Toughest Texas Water Safari due to Low, Low Water