20th annual Yukon River Quest • June 27-July 1, 2018
Pre-Race Schedule
Friday-Saturday, May 11-12
Marathon Paddling Clinic with Mike Vincent – $30 per 3-hour session, an extra $10 if you want a seat in a YRQ Jensen Canoe for training. Call Jim Boyd to reserve spot at 867-633-6034.
PADDLING CLINIC SCHEDULE
Friday May 11 – 6 to 9 pm on Yukon River south of Whitehorse: put-in downriver of Marsh Lake Dam (turnoff left before blue bridge on Alaska Highway south of Whitehorse).
Saturday May 12 – Two sessions: 9 am to 12 noon & 1 to 4 pm on Yukon River south of Whitehorse: put-in downriver of Marsh Lake Dam (turnoff left before blue bridge on Alaska Highway south of Whitehorse).
Saturday, June 2
Ice Breaker Race: Marsh Lake dam to Schwatka Lake (28 kms)
Meet at Schwatka Lake parking lot beginning at 9:30 a.m. Up North boat and paddler shuttle leaves parking lot at 10 a.m. Race begins at approximately 11 a.m. Hosted by Flatwater Yukon and Sponsored by Up North Adventures. For more information contact info@flatwateryukon.ca or phone 867-334-8121.
Start of Race Week Schedule
Saturday, June 23 – Training run
Afternoon – Yukon River training run : Whitehorse-Burma (30 kms.)
Put-in next to Kanoe People at 1st and Strickland. Free shuttle available for registered racers at Burma Road pullout at 1, 3 and 5 p.m. to bring teams and boats back to Whitehorse. Sponsored by Kanoe People.
Sunday, June 24 – Training run
Afternoon – Yukon River training run : Whitehorse-Takhini (20 kms.)
Sign up at Up North Adventures on Strickland near river. Free shuttle available for registered racers at Takhini River pullout at 1 and 5 p.m. to bring teams and boats back to Whitehorse. Sponsored by Up North Adventures.
Monday, June 25 – Meet & Greet, final training run
Afternoon – Yukon River training run : Whitehorse-Takhini (20 kms.)
Put-in next to Kanoe People at 1st and Strickland. Free shuttle available for registered racers at Takhini River pullout at 1 and 4 p.m. to bring teams and boats back to Whitehorse. Sponsored by Kanoe People.
6-9 p.m. – YRQ 20th Anniversary Meet & Greet welcoming reception at the SS Klondike, honoring past and current racers and volunteers (all are welcome!). BBQ pork and chicken with vegetarian and gluten free options. Welcome from YRMPA officials and guests. Entertainment too! See more on our Whitehorse Meet & Greet 20th Anniversary Events page. Catered by Yukon Pigs and Rigs, Hosted by Parks Canada SS Klondike National Historic Sites, and Sponsored by Government of Yukon Community Development Fund, with assistance from Save On Foods and Northland Beverages.
Registration Day Schedule
Tuesday, June 26
10:00 am-2:30 p.m. – Registration, Boat Measuring and Gear Inspection on lawn behind Yukon Visitor Information Centre, 1st & Hanson. Hosted by Yukon Tourism & Culture.
3:00-3:45 p.m. – Mandatory pre-race briefing for All Support Crews in Yukon Visitor Information Centre theatre.
4:00-4:45 p.m. – Mandatory pre-race briefing for All Voyageur and C4 Teams in Yukon Visitor Information Centre theatre.
5:00-5:45 p.m. – Mandatory pre-race briefing for All Solo and Tandem Teams in Yukon Visitor Information Centre theatre.
Race Day Start Schedule
Wednesday, June 27
7:30-10:30 a.m. – Positioning of boats & final inspections at Rotary Park.
IMPORTANT –Volunteers will be coordinating vehicle access to avoid congestion. Voyageurs will be launched by number and moved to their starting locations on the river beginning at 7:30 a.m. Then solo and tandem boats will be lined up by groups of numbers every half hour in their shore launch positions per the schedule below. After boat/gear are in starting place and vehicle is moved, then there will be a final inspection with paddlers.
Voyageurs (by number): 7:30-8:30 am
Single and double canoes/kayaks:
#1-30 8:30-9 am
#31-60 9-9:30 am
#61-90 9:30-10 am
#91-125 10-10:30 a.m.
WHITEHORSE START EVENTS – See details on our Whitehorse Start 20th Anniversary Events page
11:15 a.m. – Special 20th Anniversary Welcome and Introduction of Teams – All teams need to be at starting line under YRQ banner in middle of Rotary Park at 11:15 a.m. Pre-start includes brief speeches by Yukon dignitaries and all teams are introduced along with their bib sponsors at the starting line. Hosted by City of Whitehorse Parks Dept. and Save On Foods, who are supplying spectators with FREE KLONDIKE BARS!!!
12 Noon – Start of 2018 Yukon River Quest – Listen for the SS Klondike whistle!
Teams run from the banner to the Canada Trail and down to their designated boat positions in the launch area. Each
team may have 1 support person assisting them for the launch from that position. Great views of teams
starting on river downtown, and further downriver at the end of Burma Road and at Policeman’s Point checkpoint (4WD vehicle recommended on Policeman’s Point Rd).
Carmacks Checkpoint Schedule
Wednesday, June 27
6-9 pm – Carmacks Volunteer Appreciation Party – For the 20th anniversary, race volunteers and support crews will gather at host Coal Mine Campground in Carmacks to get ready for racers the next day. See details on our Carmacks 20th Anniversary Events page! The checkpoint is about 2K past the bridge (for drivers), on the right just before the Campbell Hwy. intersection. Arrive early to ensure camping spot.
Thursday, June 28
2:00 a.m. – All teams off Lake Laberge – Teams must be by CP3 Lower Lake Laberge at 0200 to remain in the race. Follow their progress on our Race Tracker as they enter the Thirymile section and paddle through the night past Big Salmon and on to Little Salmon and Carmacks.
6:00 a.m. – Carmacks Checkpoint opens at Coal Mine Campground, about 2K past the bridge (for drivers), on the right just before the Campbell Hwy. intersection. Teams usually start arriving around 7 a.m. straight through until 11 p.m. (cutoff time for remaining in race).
Friday, June 29
6:00 a.m. – Carmacks Checkpoint closes. All teams in race must depart by this time. CP will break down earlier if last team has left.
On the River – watch for times on our Race Tracker as teams pass Fort Selkirk CP and take their 3-hour layover at Coffee Creek CP, hosted by GoldCorp.
Dawson City Finish Line Schedule
Friday, June 29
12 noon – Dawson City Finish Line checkpoint opens on Yukon River dike between gazebo and historic CIBC bank building. First teams may arrive as early as 2 p.m. or into the evening. After teams finish, they will be directed to docking area downstream on the right.
Dawson City Celebration Events on waterfront – see details on Dawson City 20th Anniversary page.
Saturday, June 30
Dawson City Celebration Events on waterfront – see details on Dawson City 20th Anniversary page.
All day – Welcome teams as they finish on the waterfront!
Evening – Diamond Tooth Gerties (1 drink ticket for each racer), 4th & Queen. Sponsored by Klondike Visitors Association.
11:59 p.m. (or sooner) – Dawson Checkpoint Closes. Cut-off time for official finish is 11:59 p.m. Checkpoint will shut down at midnight or earlier.
Sunday, July 1 – Happy Canada Day!
11 a.m. – Canada Day Parade in Dawson City – teams are encouraged to march with paddles high in the parade!
Following parade 11:30 a.m. (approx.) – 2 p.m. 20th Anniversary Awards Dinner & Celebration by gazebo on Waterfront. Banquet tickets added to racer packets. Extras may be purchased by support crews from YRMPA at registration. Catered by Percy De Wolfe Society with assistance form Northland Beverages. We will have the awards presentation first, and then eat and tell stories! See details on Dawson City 20th Anniversary page.