麻豆社区

The Yukon Quest's 30th anniversary race held in February helped pull the famous race back from the brink.

While still in debt, the organization is in a "much better financial position鈥� than last year, according to numbers presented to the public last week.

Twelve people attended the race's annual general meeting held at the Whitehorse Public Library on Thursday night.

Yukon board president Joost van der Putten lauded the successes of the 30th anniversary race, which was run on one of the smallest budgets in Quest history.

"We are in much better financial position,鈥� van der Putten said in his report. "We have to bend to the availability of funds, accept lack of cash sponsorship despite huge efforts to find it, and as a result sometimes have to make hard, not popular decisions to lower the purse. We cannot pay out what we don't have.鈥�

While the organization remains more than $17,000 in the red, that number is a far cry from last year's debt total, which came in at $67,630.

The organization was in a dire financial position following the 2012 race, said outgoing board treasurer Clarke LaPrairie. He was happy to report a $125,000 turnaround in revenue funds over expenses this year, thanks in large part to $82,000 raised in anniversary revenue.

A major lack of sponsorship resulted in ballooning debt for the 2012 race, partially due to competition for sponsorship dollars from the Arctic Winter Games, which were held in the Yukon capital a month after the Quest.

Approximately 10 percent of the race budget was slashed for this year's race to help pay off the accumulated debt.

"There were a lot of tough decisions made,鈥� LaPrairie said, including a purse cut from $150,000 to $100,000. "Every expense was looked at.鈥�

While money will always remain a critical issue for the 1,600-kilometre race 鈥� which functions through community funding and private sponsorship 鈥� the board will continue to look at innovative ideas to secure funding.

Yukon executive director Marie Belanger announced that the Quest is looking to hire a contractor to "bring the sexy鈥� of the race to major corporations in the south.

"We don't know if it's going to work, but we have to try this,鈥� Belanger said. "Sponsorship is a challenge every year.鈥�

Belanger said the 30th anniversary race team took the race to another level 鈥� including pre-race festivities and on the trail itself.

"The Quest is not just about snow and dogs in February,鈥� she said. "It's an all-year-long tourism driver. We tried to excite everybody and to make our events funnier and more pleasant.鈥�

The Quest will look to retain the same public relations team 鈥� Outside the Cube 鈥� for next year's race.

"We like the continuity, especially with the changeover on the Alaska side,鈥� Belanger said.

"That's the key to a successful Yukon Quest.鈥�

Marti Steury, Alaska's executive director, stepped down following the 2013 race.

Following reports from van der Putten, LaPrairie and Belanger, Quest operations manager Fabian Schmitz led the assembled membership through the election of new directors.

Four new faces were elected to serve on the Yukon board, while three others were re-elected.

New members include: Rob Cooke, a finisher from the 2013 race who is well known for his team of Siberian Huskies; Barbara Ward, a volunteer with experience in bookkeeping and accounting; Lee Kirkpatrick, a lawyer and kennel owner with previous board experience; and Brian Wilmshurst, a Dawson City musher who was appointed by the Finishers Club as Yukon mushers' representative.

Longtime race volunteers 鈥� Bev Regier, Pamela Brown and Michael Pederson 鈥� were all re-elected to the board for a two-year term. Regier recently received the volunteer of the year award from the Tourism Industry Association of the Yukon.

Van der Putten returns as Yukon president, while Rolf Schmitt remains vice-president. Brown will continue to serve as secretary, while Ward will replace LaPrairie as treasurer.

Harry Kern and Mieke Evers will also continue to serve on the 11-member board, while outgoing members include LaPrairie, Tamra Reynolds and musher Normand Casavant.

The Alaska board also held its AGM last week, electing three new board members and re-electing another.

New members include: Stephanie Knaebel, assistant executive director of the 2011 race; Nicolle Hendricks, a physical therapist with five years volunteering experience with the Iditarod; and Judy Courier, a four-time Iditarod finisher.

Bill McDonald, a retired military officer was re-elected, while Brent Sass returns as the Alaska mushers' representative.

The 2014 Yukon Quest will begin Saturday, Feb. 1 in Fairbanks, Alaska.