Racer Bios for 2017 Yukon River Quest Entrants

Do a lot of running sport since 16 years, 14 half Marathons since 2012, lot of other long distance runs. 2017 already 2 Marathons scheduled. Paddling experience since 2008, lot of dragonboat competitions, including long distance races. Yukon River tour in 2016 as Tourist from Whitehorse to Dawson City with Yukon Wide Adventures.

Want to have a good and challenging race with my Team!

Always looking for new challenges. Biggest aim for 2017 is YRQ, further I will use the training for this event to increase my paddling performance and have a successful dragonboat season with my team. Futhermore I felt in love with the Yukon River and the amazing landscape.

Some canoe tours in the Swedish wilderness with camping and some hut-to-hut Hiking tours in European mountains.
Several years a member of a dragon boat team.

To finish in Dawson with a smile.

Get to know this amazing race and have a great time with my team.
One more thing I can tick off my bucket list. ;-)

dragonboat racer since 2008;
take part (and finished ;-)) Xletix twice in 2016

to finish the race healthy and on time together with my team

I've heard about the YRQ and I can’t say no although they call me crazy

dragonboat racer since many years

to reach the goal with my team-members; That means I will to go to my personal borders and to go beyond.

I´m always looking for a new adventure. For me, the YRQ will be one of the greatest adventures.

The closeness to the water (Spreeforest) brought me already in my youth of the water.
Only swimming of the water was not enough. A rubber dinghy was necessary. It was also quickly found.
This was the beginning of the passion for paddling.
To measure themselves with other water-sports-enthusiasts I decided to enter in the located dragon boot- professional team HaiVoltage.
Through regular and hard training I could secured for myself a hard-fought seating in the regular cast of the dragon boot.
Numerous races already lie in the bones and there will be even more.

My first target for the race is to reach the goal with my team-members. That means I will to go to my personal borders and to go beyond.

It´s my first visit in Canada. So I´m so excited to delight the landscape and wilderness of the Yukon-territory. Furthermore I´m always looking for a new adventure. For me, the YRQ will be one of the greatest adventures.

dragonboat racer since 2012, including long distance races.

to finish the race healthy and on time together with my team

I like challenges.

YRQ 5 times (has it been that many?), Muskoka River X twice (awesome race by the way), multiple wilderness trips in Yukon and Ontario

To get to know my new teammates
To finish in under 50 hours
To feel a great sense of accomplishment at the end.

They added a new boat...the C4! I was curious.

La Ruta Maya 2017
MRX 2016
La Classique 2016
Mattawa river race 2016

1. Finish
2. Still be friends by Dawson
3. Finish under 50hrs
4. Don't die
5. Have fun

Challenge my self mentally and physically, but mostly for the adventure.

K2O 2015 & 2016, Big East, Great Muskoka Paddling Experience, Marsh Mash 2012-2016, Nonquon 2012-2016
Canoeing in Algonquin Park, Killarney, Quetico and Nahani
YRQ 2016

To finish with our best race, and make new paddling friends.

To experience the ultimate in Canadian wilderness canoe racing and to paddle with people from around the world.

K2O 2015 & 2016
Algonquin Park and Killarney canoe tripping.
YRQ 2016

To keep up with the pace of the team
To finish the race and do it safely

Given a surprise opportunity to participate in 2017; could not resist the Call of the Yukon!

YRQ 2014 with Paddlers Abreast - started the race with the flu and only made it to Carmacks.
YRQ 2015 - with Paddlers Abreast - finished!
YRQ 2016 - with Stix Together - finished!

Fundraising for the Yukon Cancer Care Fund. Our goal is to finish the race in 50 hours and fundraise as much $$$ as possible for the fund!

Fundraising for the Yukon ( & Atlin ) Cancer Care Fund.

YRQ finisher- 2011, 2012, 2015, 2016. Tandem whitewater, multi-day backcountry canoe and hiking trips.

Finish fast, fresh and feeling happy. And raise at least $10,000 for the Yukon Cancer Care Fund.

I am Deb and I'm a Yukon River Quest paddler. :-) Time to admit that I'm addicted to this race. I'm a big believer in supporting the community. Stix Together allows for personal/team achievement AND community support, all together! Hence our team name.

Paddled YRQ three times with Paddlers Abreast.
I have many years of wilderness whitewater paddling and camping experience.

To have a good race, enjoy the beautiful river, finish strong and with a cohesive, happy and tuckered team.
To raise money for a very important cause, helping Yukon and Atlin families dealing with cancer.

This is an amazing race, difficult but empowering. I want to have a great finish with this amazing group of women.
Also paddling for my mother, brother and so many others taken too early.

2016 Quest; before that a casual paddler

Fundraise $10K for Yukon Cancer Care Fund and arrive in Dawson ahead of last year's time

YRQ finisher 2010,2011,2012,2013,2014,2015,2016

Yukon 360 and anything under the midnight sun or the auroras.

Paddle hard, laugh loud, share a memorable journey with an amazing team and get to Dawson before the sun goes down.

Because it is an amazing way to start the summer as well as helping our Yukon families who have to deal with cancer.

2016 YRQ with Stix Together

Make it to Dawson in under 50 hours & have fun in the boat while we're at it :) Also to fundraise for the Yukon Cancer Care Fund, which supports individuals and families in Yukon and Atlin dealing with cancer.

I had so much fun last year! A challenging & empowering race with a great group of women.

none

Get to Dawson while getting to know the amazing people I'll be racing with.

I have followed the race for the last 12 years. Both my parents have done it several times, it is finally my turn.

Naig 2015

my goals is to hopefully survive

Racing for my auntie Sharon

I have limited racing experience but diverse wilderness experience. The team I am racing with is a strong group of co-adventurers, held together by common values in exploring wilderness and understanding our identity within these contexts. I have backcountry tripping experience and have a number of (now expired) certifications from Paddle Canada and Paddle Alberta on moving and still water.

To complete it within the given time. To stay hydrated, focused, and pause enough to look around and look teammates in the eye!

I remember hearing about the YRQ about 5 years ago when I first visited the Yukon. It has been in my mind and heart ever since! I love paddling, I enjoy rallying teams of people, and I am up for the challenge of a wilderness race with great folk and beautiful landscape.

Coming!

So many...details to come!

Even though my racing experience is limited, I have multiple years of river paddling experience including solo, tandem and voyageur trips. My wilderness experience has been largely based in the Alberta Rockies.

To finish with gumption and a sense of achievement!

Coming!

So many....details to come!

I have limited wilderness racing experience, but I have put in several years worth of overnights in the backcountry, including skiing, paddling, climbing, hiking and biking across the globe.

To finish strong, still wanting to talk and and smile with all those around me!

I love paddling northern rivers and the women on our team. Together they make the best combo ever!!

Details to come

So many! Details to come.

This will be my first wilderness race, but love spending time in the backcountry.

Give it my all / strengthen my paddling skills / soak in the landscape / laugh & cry / sleep very little / support my team

I wanted a big challenge to work toward in 2017. Being invited to do the race with this crew of amazing women was an opportunity I couldn't pass up.

I have limited canoe racing experience but have spent many hours/days canoeing, hiking, backpacking and biking with friends.

To finish the race with a smile on my face, a happy heart and a very tired body.

I live for grand outdoor adventures, and this race seemed like a good fit.

Some YRQs

To slip more quickly downstream to Dawson and look more deeply while enjoying the passing.

To revisit old places and gain better understanding.

A few YRQs

Have a grand race with a grand team cuz it could very well be the last one...really!! This run is for our whole paddling family and a special tip of the hat to Bill.

Gotta try our new boat and see how it and I get along. Reconnect with all the amazing places, auras and critters, both real and not along the way and feel the energy.

I've worked as a whitewater rafting guide for 9 years in Southern Alberta and have recreationally paddled (rafting/kayaking) rivers throughout BC/AB. Developed and taught wilderness programs for youth, worked at an outdoor experiential learning camp for at risk youth (Enviros)... Have been lucky to have spent most of my life working and playing outside !

To paddle a beautiful river, support and be a part of an amazing team.

So many reasons... I love being outside, paddling.. feeling the sun and the rain and the wind on my face! I've been in the Yukon just over a year and haven't yet been to Dawson City - travelling by river is an amazing way to see the land! I want to seize the opportunity to experience an incredible and challenging adventure. To remember and love those who have gone too soon and who will be there with us in spirit, and to live this adventure for them.

YRQ 2015, 2016

Paddle hard!

One handful

I am only a speck and a humble paddler on this mighty river...just shut up and paddle with gratitude :)

1.To honor the team “Paddlers Abreast” and embrace cancer.
2.To honor P&J for their dedication to the YRQ and gentleness to wild nature.
3.To "live it up” with amazing paddlers!

One "peace" hand

Did it once without thinking too much and think I can do that again but don't want to think too much about it.

Still LOVE IT!

Some years canoeing experience in a few canoe Slalom & White water competitions. 2014, 2015, 2016 YRQ finisher

I'm proud to be the captain of the Team. I will do my very best to find the fastest current and channel on the way to Dawson. I'm honored to be part of that team and race with former compeditors which become my friends over the years. Thank you guys!

YRQ 2011,2012,2013,2015
California 100 2013,2014,2015

Get to Dawson before dinner

Previous YRQ's, Texas Water Safari, Adventure Racing. Blah Blah Blah

Friday night Happy Hour in Dawson!

It's in my backyard. I love being on water

YRQ, MR340, SDKC, Muskoka X

Try to survive taking 6 solo paddlers and putting them together in a Voyageur team.

Love this race.

Life long canoe/kayak racer: flatwater, outrigger, marathon, ice boat, voyageur.

Enjoy the Yukon River at its best in the company of a new team.

Several but mainly because I can't easily say no to a paddling adventure.

YRQ - 2008, 2014, 2015, 2016
MR340 - 2015
South Dakota Kayak Challenge - 2016

Go faster

It's the best race by far!!! and the volunteers are GREAT!

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15 years paddling stroke with the Nanaimo Dragonslayers . I also like to go outrigging, hiking and biking.

To finish intact

To experience the longest river race on the planet with some of my wonderful teammates.

14 years of dragon boating with two teams, the Nanaimo Dragonslayers and the Mid Island Masters. I also enjoy Outrigging, biking and hiking.

I'd like to complete this adventure with my teammates with a respectable time.

To see what I'm made of...lol

9 years of Dragonboat racing
7 years of Outrigger canoe racing
I have been both a steersperson and a paddler in both sports over the years.

My aim is to get to the finish line safely and hopefully within the required time.

I like a good challenge to push myself.

Dragon boater since 2006, All season Outrigger from 2010

Race to the midnight Sun and celebrate Canada's 150 years with my Team Mates:)

An amazing race that will challenge my body, mind and spirit! A great way of discovering all that The Yukon has to offer.

Dragonboat competitor for 9 yrs, outrigger canoe competitor for 5 yrs.

To finish in fine form with all our friendships intact! Also to get it done in less than 54 hours.

First heard about it two years ago and became obsessed with the idea...on my bucket list and am so proud of my fellow paddlers for all the encouragement!

8th time YRQ finisher; multiple extended wilderness paddling trips in northern Canada

To finally see purple martians.

A few RiverQuest's, including Arctic Ultra's, all inspired by Patti and Shelley, both in this boat..

have a lot of fun with these crazy girls

I would like to know, if I can wear make up leaving Whitehorse, and still wear it perfectly when arriving in Dawson..

2 YRQ, YAU and a bunch of ultra trail runs (not sure that helps with paddling though)

Happy/healthy thru-out.

TBA

TBA

TBA

TBA

Guided for 10 years in Ontario and Yukon.

To have fun.

Over 28 years of backcountry experience by dogteam, horseback, snowshoes, skis, hiking, and paddling. More wilderness experience than you can shake a carbon paddle at...
A few local races under the belt......
6 years involvement with the YRQ as volunteer...unfortunately, I know what to expect.

Race and be able to keep paddling and racing

Why race solo when you can join a fun bunch of women who want to get to Dawson as badly as you do?

tba

tba

General Clinton 70 miler - X30 yrs. Adirondack 90 miler - X29 yrs.
Yukon 1000 miler - 2 yrs.
YRQ - 1yr.
30 years of other various length canoe races in upstate New York.

Finish in knowing that I have given my all, proud of my performance, ALWAYS keeping bottom side down, and cherishing the wonderful opportunity to paddle the YRQ with previous teammates.

The internal challenge, an opportunity to paddle with such special canoe friends, and of course to return back to the WONDERFUL beauty and hospitality of the YUKON !

ADIRONDACK 90-MILER x20 veteran
Adirondack Cannonball-90 x8
General Clinton 70 mile x4
Adirondack licensed guide
YRQ 2008, Y1K 2009, Y1K 2011,
YRQ 2013

Always to improve on previous runs, ever more enjoyment of the Yukon and its surprises for me and crew.

“And the rivers all run God knows where;
There are lives that are erring and aimless,
And deaths that just hang by a hair;
There are hardships that nobody reckons;
There are valleys unpeopled and still;
There's a land — oh, it beckons and beckons,
And I want to go back — and I will.”
Spell of the Yukon, by Robert Service

Adirondack Canoe Classic 90 miler x 8
General Clinton 70 miler x 1

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YRQ 2012, 2014, 2016
Channel Crossing between UK and France in tandem canoe.
Different canoe trips in the Peel River Watershed.

Finish under the 50 hours.

To paddle for the first time in a C4-team and make new friends.
Every reason is good enough to go to the Yukon.

Yukon 1000 2009
YRQ 2013
17 General Clinton 70 miler
12 Adirondack 90 miler

Finish the YRQ again in my C-4 enjoying the company of good friends.

I love paddling and the Yukon.

YRQ '13, Yukon1000 '11, General Clinton70x7, Adirondack 90x10 and ADK Cannonball90X7

Finish strong!

"I'm for mystery, not interpretive answers. … The answer is never the answer. What's really interesting is the mystery. If you seek the mystery instead of the answer, you'll always be seeking. I've never seen anybody really find the answer, but they think they have. So they stop thinking. But the job is to seek mystery, evoke mystery, plant a garden in which strange plants grow and mysteries bloom. The need for mystery is greater than the need for an answer."
-Ken Kesey

Yukon 1000 2011, YRQ 2013, multiple General Clinton 70 milers, multiple Adirondack Canoe Classic 90 milers, multiple Canonballs

Win.

Multiple Ausable Canoe Marathons, General Clinton 70 milers, ADK 90milers and more

Win :P and finish the race with an awesome fun group of paddlers, not to mention meet more paddlers and just enjoy the event.

Done some stuff. Had fun

Get a Lil faster .

Cause it's fun. And always a learning experience

Canoe Guide 2005
Wilderness Tourism Program Yukon College
2015 YRQ
2016 YRQ
Bach Arts in Recreation Sport Tourism program 1st year University of Alberta

Looking for Number ONE THIS YEAR BOYYYYYYYYYYY

Because apparently we all crazy up in here....but also to bring awareness that we are paddling to KEEP OUR WATERS CLEAN FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS...WATER IS LIFE!

lots of rec canoeing

finish

2016 YRQ
Vuntut and Tingit Enough said!!

To have fun with my crazy team and do our best to stay inside the boat and win!!!!! ;)

To live life on a crazy journey with some great people, and to paddle for our waters .. like my crazy cousin Donna said "WATER IS LIFE"

YRQ 2015, YRQ 2016 and tons of river and outdoor experience...the Yukon wilderness is my playground...been that way all my life!

i wanna do it in 50 hours this year and anything else is a blessing

personal pride

stuff

finish

lots of recreational paddling

finish

lots of varied distance events

finish

Paddled in YRQ with Paddlers Abreast x 4

To finish the race within 50 hours paddling time and to enjoy every moment of being on the water with my very wonderful and amazing team members

12 years paddling in the Yukon River Quest

To have fun, and to get to Dawson in under 55 hours.

I love being on the water, to support other breast cancer survivors and to get the Paddlers Abreast boat to Dawson!

Paddled in YRQ 2016

To cross the finish line before our steers person
Have fun with a new team.

This is YRQ #14 with Paddlers Abreast.

Enjoy the river, make good time, stay healthy, encourage others.

Continue supporting breast cancer initiatives, model active post-treatment lifestyle for breast cancer survivors, honor those who did not survive.

YRQ 2013, 2014, 2016 with PA. Kayaking, hiking, skiing.

Reach Dawson with this group of strong and inspiring women.

Support breast cancer survivors of Paddlers Abreast and their legacy boat. Challenge myself and have fun.

Yukon River Quest 2016

get to Dawson!

For Judy, my mother, her sisters Jill and Joanne, and their mother Norma. They all died of breast cancer, a gene that I an my cousins carry. It's for all the Eves women.

YRQ and many other expeditions in the wilderness.

Challenge myself physically and mentally to plan for, start and finish the race while enjoying the river and the many analogies it provides for the struggle against breast cancer and the joy of life.

Raise awareness of breast cancer and that breast cancer survivors can lead full, active and healthy lives.
Continue the goal of Paddlers Abreast to participate in the race every year.

15 completed YRQ

To help get the team to Dawson in under 55 hrs. smiling! And having fun.

It's addictive and it would't be a Yukon summer without paddling the YRQ.

YRQ - 2015, 2016.

Finish in 52-54 hours.

I love being on the Yukon River late at night!

Molokai 6 man '13,'16
Molokai surfski '14
US Surfski Champs '14
Maui Nui '16
Many Hawaiian Outrigger canoe/Surfski races from 13-17

Complete with a happy well connected team!

To push myself as a paddler in whatever mother nature has to offer!

Yukon River Quest 2016
Grandmas Marathon 2016
Other previous running races

Finish strong with my team and enjoy the race start to finish

Love the challenge-the Yukon is a great place and the River Quest is such an unbelievable experience.

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Wilderness Guide

Finish around 50 hrs

YRQ X 5
MRX Classic (130km) X 2
MRX CdB (220km) X 2
Texas Winter 100

Reunite with great friends & paddlers

YRQ X 5
MRX Classic (130km) X 2
MRX CdB (220km) X 2

Finish

YRQ 2012 2013
MR340 2015
CR100 x2
Texas Winter 100 x1
The Pas OCN x4
Cooks Creek Canoe Classic x4

Have a good steady smooth boat. Finish Strong.

I enjoy training and preparing for the race. The YRQ attracts great people who challenge and inspire me.

York Boat Racing
The Pas OCN x3

Finish and have a lot of laughs in the process.

Helping a group of friends out as one of their teammates got injured. Always wanted to do something like this. Should be a great experience.

9 River Quests.

Get to Dawson as friends.

Just can't have enough of the quest.
Addictive!!!

Competed in many wilderness adventure races & Yukon River Quests.

To win! Oh yah and to have fun while doing it!

I Have Completed in a Previous Yukon Qwest on a Voyageur Team and Possess an Outdoor Adventurous Spirit

Be Able to Put my Best Paddle Forward, Complete the Race, Laugh, Enjoy Great Company and Have Some Great Stories to Share at the End!!!!

Did the river quest 10 years ago, 2 adventure races in Yukon

Have a good time with good friends

It's the longest canoe race in the world

Frequent Wilderness Adventure Racer, Many hikes and extended paddling trips in Yukon and BC

Head in the right direction

Tunde asked me to

Dragon boat 12 yrs
Outrigger canoe 7 yrs
Back country canoeing 8 yrs

Fun make new friends respectable finish

Visit Yukon

I did a few local canoe races in the past here in the Yukon. I was a flat water kayak racer in Hungary a few decades back :-)

Have a lot of fun with my adventurous teammates and still smile at the end.

I've been waiting for this time since 2002.

3 river Quest

Have fun

Have fun

YRQ 2012, multiple paddling and adventure races.

finish with a smile on my face.

It was a great experience in 2012 . . . I wanted to come back to do it with a women's crew.

Everglades 300, 1st outrigger to ever finish. 20+ Catalina Crossings, 15+ Molokai Crossing

Been racing for 40 years.

Be fully prepared and no mishaps.

A new challenge and great teammates!

outrigger paddling in California and Hawaii.

Enjoy the Yukon wilderness.

marathon and outrigger paddling. Races all over North America and Hawaii.

Enjoy the experience.

outrigger racing - many Catalina and Molokai crossings

Enjoy the time on the river.

marathon canoe , 6-man outrigger,
2,130 mile solo trip (a very long time ago when i was 20)

to finish- to have a great experience with my team.

paddling the yukon river has been on the list forever- this is a fantastic opportunity for me to be with this team, in this event

Wilderness

Team building

Racing: none
Paddling: occasionally
Wilderness: I watched Wild once...!?

Complete race in allotted time and to survive.

To enjoy a fun new challenge in a beautiful environment.

Wilderness

Team Building

Wilderness

Team Building

Racing: none
Paddling: sure
Wilderness: the wild one

Fun!

Great challenge in a beautiful environment.

Mountain goat

Push the limit of the limit!