The eighth annual running of the famed Yukon River Quest kicks off on June 28, 2006. Over five days, canoeists and kayakers head 740 kilometres downstream in the world's longest paddling race. The Yukon River Quest, which retraces the historic Klondike route from Whitehorse to Dawson City, promises to attract some of the world's elite paddlers this year.

In 2005, records were crushed like a prospector's dreams as eight out of nine category "bests" were broken. Competing among teams from six countries, local winners Stephen Mooney and Greg McHale paddled around the clock in a neck-and-neck thriller against Americans Chris Swan and Sean Brennan in the men's K2 tandem kayak class. After 42 hours and 51 minutes of relentless jockeying for the lead, the two teams crossed the finish line in a dead heat, sharing the K2 title while shaving almost 20 minutes off the previous record in this wilderness marathon. "Mooney and McHale are local heroes," says Jeff Brady, president of the Yukon River Marathon Paddling Association. "They were the first Yukoners ever to win the Yukon River Quest, and they plan to be back."

This year, paddlers in the nine classes of competition will meet again for a share of $20,250 in prizes. Registration is limited to 70 entries. As the Yukon River Quest grows in popularity, Brady encourages all teams, from solo to voyageur, to sign up well in advance of the May 26 deadline. Perhaps this is your year to race to the Klondike. Keep apace of the 2006 Yukon River Quest at www.yukonriverquest.com

— Conor Mihell

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