Stand up paddleboarding to debut at 2016 Yukon River Quest

A new category of elite,masochisticathletes will be allowed to participate in Yukon's grueling, 715 kilometre river race nextsummer.

The Yukon River Quest has added solo stand uppaddleboardingto its 2016 roster. It's the first time in a decade that a newcategory has been added to annual the long-distance race from Whitehorse to Dawson City.

River quest spokesperson Jeff Brady says the new category is"experimental" and will beexempt from prize money.

"We'll see how they do," he says.

Brady says river questorganizers wereapproached bypaddleboardracers whowantedto add the Yukon to their international race circuit. The popularity and the growth of the sportconvinced boardmembers to give them a chance.

"They're convincing us that they can do it and finish on time," says Brady. "If that's possible and if enough of them finish, they'll be added as aclass [in 2017], an official class."

World's longest SUP race?

It's hard to find another race on the stand up paddleboard race circuit that comes close to matchingthe mileage of theriver quest.

Brady estimatespaddleboarderswill travel at aspeed comparable to solo canoeists. Last year's fastest "C1"finished the race in about 62 hours, not including a mandatory seven-hour strop in Carmacks.

Sixty-two hours of paddling a canoe or kayak is strenuous enough.

"That would be a long time to stay standing," admits Stuart Knaack, owner ofStand Up Paddleboard Yukon.

A racer himself who recently competed in Tennessee,Knaacksays Yukon offers a "one of a kind" race venue forthe international paddleboarding community.

"Most [other races] are either way out in the middle of the ocean or you're goingdown a route that's heavily populated by people."

Beyond its beauty, the river quest is sure to challenge the hardiest competitor.

"It's going to be tougher than what you're expecting," Knaackis telling his fellow paddleboarders.

"I definitely think stand up paddleboarders can compete.Whether or not theycan do what a canoeistor kayaker can do, we're about to find out."

Same safety rules apply

Brady says, like all entrants,paddleboarderswill be accepted on a case-by-case basis, based on ability and experience. During the race, they will have to carry all of the same mandatorysafety gear as other vessels and meet all of the standard cutoff times.

Brady hopes addingpaddleboardersto the race will bolster overall interest in the event, which has seen its numbers drop recently.Last year, there were less than 60 entrants, which Brady says was a bit concerning.

Registration in the 2016 river questopened last week and so far 20 people have signed up in the various categories for kayak, canoeand voyageur canoe. The race starts on June 29.