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The world鈥檚 longest annual canoe and kayak race just became even more interesting.

The Yukon River Quest could see stand-up paddleboards join the race fleet in 2016, following a vote by the board yesterday to allow the vessels on an experimental basis.

Paddleboards resemble surfboards and see users maintain an upright stance, employing a long paddle to propel themselves through the water.

Race media director Jeff Brady said the River Quest has received multiple requests from interested stand-up paddleboarders in recent years.

The board agreed to allow as many as 10 stand-up paddleboards in 2016.

Paddleboard participants will be required to carry the required gear on their vessel.

鈥淚t鈥檚 kind of a new wave,鈥� Brady said this morning, noting entries in the solo category will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

Brady admitted the race is looking to boost participation numbers.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a trial run for one year. We鈥檒l be watching them closely. If it works and we see enough of them finish, then we鈥檒l talk about it again.

鈥淚鈥坱hink it鈥檚 doable for sure,鈥濃�圔rady added. 鈥淭he big concern is if there鈥檚 a headwind. It definitely will slow them down. We鈥檒l just see how it goes.鈥�

The 715-kilometre River Quest sees paddlers travel from Whitehorse to Dawson City by way of the Yukon River every year in late June 鈥� when daylight seems never-ending.

The race route includes two mandatory rest stops, totalling 10 hours.

The 2016 race is scheduled for June 29 to July 3, complete with its usual prize money purse of $36,500 鈥� based on a full roster of 100 boats.

Last summer, 57 teams from 12 countries took part in the wilderness adventure race, with international kayak duo David Hutchison of Montana and Bob Ross of Ontario earning victory in 44:51:07.

In 2013, two men completed the race route in a rowboat, paddling unassisted as their desire to enter the Yukon odyssey was vetoed by race officials.

At that time, then-race president Carl Rumscheidt said rowboats simply didn鈥檛 align with traditional travelling on frontier rivers.

Travelling long distance via paddleboard is not unheard of.

In 2014, two Americans completed the Yukon 1,000 in nine and a half days. The biannual 1,600-km race is the world鈥檚 longest paddling race.

Race president Harry Kern introduced the idea at the board meeting, and said he was 鈥渧ery surprised鈥� by the outcome.

鈥淢ost people approved it,鈥� he said.

Renegade paddlers have attempted to have River Quest rules altered before.

鈥淭here鈥檚 always the safety thing to worry about,鈥濃�圞ern said. 鈥淲e鈥檝e been careful about changing the rules to accept new vessels based on safety and also volunteers. You don鈥檛 want to overstress them. As new categories come along, we鈥檒l evaluate those requests. We鈥檙e open to any new ideas.鈥�

Kern also noted the board is considering adding a shorter 鈥渉alf marathon鈥� route to Carmacks.