麻豆社区

Canoe and kayak sightings are up considerably across the city as the Yukon River Quest gets underway today.

The 15th annual race from Whitehorse to Dawson City will see 67 teams featuring 180 paddlers attempt to complete the 715-kilometre route over the next few days.

Paddlers officially hit the Yukon River at Rotary Peace Park today at noon, but the excitement of the race has had the city abuzz since the weekend.

Many of this year's out-of-town competitors arrived in Whitehorse over the weekend, in time for the race's Meet, Greet and Eat held at the MacBride Museum Monday night.

Yesterday, official registration, boat measurements and gear inspections were held on the sprawling lawn behind the Yukon Visitor Information Centre.

Today, it's finally race time.

Race president Carl Rumscheidt breathed a sigh of relief as race preparations wrapped up this morning.

"I feel really positive,鈥� he said. "It's looking like we're going to get OK weather today, and the river is strong. Today is the day and it's a really great feeling.

"For me, it's a really satisfying time, because we know that we've successfully launched this thing and now they're out on the river.鈥�

Rumscheidt and the River Quest board aren't the only ones feeling satisfied with another successful race coordination.

Chamber of Commerce president Rick Karp told the Star that any sporting event like the River Quest has quite an impact on the city, bringing tourists and media attention to the Yukon capital.

"It's all a big plus for business, hotels and Main Street,鈥� he said today. "It brings people to Whitehorse. There are a significant number of people who are here. People either come in specifically for this or extend their visit a day or two to stay and watch everyone jumping into the water and taking off.鈥�

Those who watch the race will often marvel at the spectacle of the mass race start, and unconsciously add the trip to their life bucket list, Karp added.

"That in itself promotes Yukon and our tourism,鈥� he said.

The territorial government's Department of Economic Development last crunched the River Quest's economic impact in 2006, finding the race sparked an increase of more than $214,000 during that year's race.

"The impact is considerable,鈥� Karp said. "Any event that happens 鈥� Rendezvous for example 鈥� has quite an impact.鈥�

Rumscheidt said he is looking forward to a tremendous race.

Many paddlers will look to beat personal best times, while others are aiming to break the 2008 course record of 39:32:23, set by team Kisseynew.

"We've got fast water, so that may well be a possibility,鈥� Rumscheidt said.

From Whitehorse, paddlers will be challenged first by 50-km Lake Laberge, which is the only portion of the race where there is no river current to push competitors along.

Once through the lake, and the highly-anticipated Thirty Mile portion of the river, racers will reach Carmacks, a mandatory seven-hour rest stop.

From there, it's on to Five Finger Rapids, the only whitewater stretch along the race route, past Fort Selkirk to Kirkman Creek, the second of the mandatory rest stops 鈥� this one only three hours.

Teams are expected to reach Dawson City between Friday afternoon and Saturday evening.

An awards banquet will wrap up the race on Sunday.