Earlier this year I was on the phone with Kokatat Global
Ambassador, Norm Hann discussing his adventure-plans for 2016. I was very
excited to hear that he had a plan to stand up paddle (SUP) the Yukon River
from Whitehorse to Dawson as part of the world-renowned, Yukon River Quest race.
The Yukon River Quest was created in 1998 as a complimentary
summertime race to the very successful Yukon Quest. For the first time in x
years, race organizers were opening up a new class and it would be SUP –
experimental only. The catch: only 11 entrants and no eligibility for prize
money and you had to stand up for 3 days.
On Tuesday, June 28th we met with Norm at our friend, Kalin
(Pallett’s) home and hammered out the details, the race was starting the next
day, June 29th at 12 noon. I was a bit nervous having never provided this level
of support at an event but Norm was very reassuring and his partner,
adventure-racer, Jen Segger told me if all we had waiting for him in Carmacks
(the first mandatory rest stop of 7 hrs) was Brussel sprouts, he would eat
them. We had a plan and our job was simple, ‘execute the plan and never let him
quit. Unless he was hurt, real bad.
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| Photo: Mark Klein |
With a 400 metre le mans - running start, Norm was greeted
by Mark on the gravel bar where the competitors SUP boards were set up for
launching. Racers would face one of the biggest challenges of the 735 km/400+
mile race at the 87 km/54 mile mark, the crossing of the Lake Laberge (made
famous by Klondike poet, Robert Service). The SUP paddlers knew this section of
the race could make or break the race for them and they had 14 hrs to reach
Lower Laberge.
Following the paddlers on the race tracker we “saw” that
they were having unbelievably good fortune on the lake. We figured they were
going at a crazy-fast pace or had a bit of a tail wind, and/or both. It turns
out it was both. Favourable winds out of the south meant no heads winds and
with the likes of long distance endurance racer, Bart deZwart (USA) and our
very own, expedition paddler, Norm Hann in the lead the pace was high for all
49 km of the lake. They were paddling side by side the last couple hours on the
lake and entered the 30 Mile section of the Yukon River in 9 hrs, 34 min.
The first mandatory rest stop was in Carmacks a mere 216.5
km away. Here we would be ready for Norm’s arrival with food, a place to sleep
(tent), big hugs and encouraging words. I knew when Norm arrived he would be
utterly exhausted from paddling 24.5 hours straight and as he forewarned me,
“pretty quiet”. The exhausted part was true but he was more talkative then I
had expected. His first words to me, “we
just paddled 300 km in 24.5 hours at race pace” followed by, “my legs are not
working properly”. As per our “plan” we got Norm’s feet elevated and gave him a
big Bacon Cheese burger and a double order of fries, Miss Vickie's Salt &
Vinegar potato chips, some apple, banana, water and hot tea. A quick call home to his family and then it was time to get him into bed (we managed all of this
in about 45 minutes, we needed to maximize his sleep/recovery time). Important
to note is that Norm crushed the 35 hour time allotment with his 24.5 hour
arrival time.
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| One tired dude eating his meal of choice after standing up and paddling for over 24 hrs. bacon cheeseburger and 2 orders of fries (with ketchup). Photo: Nikki Rekman Sales |
The earliest Norm could depart Carmacks was 19:37:52 and the
nice thing about his arrival time was that his departure time was not at an
ungodly hour, like 3 am. Thanks for that, Norm. After an almost 5 hour sleep
Norm was up and we were getting him fed and ready for the next leg. My
favourite memory of our time in Carmacks was when Norm and fellow SUP racers,
Jason Bennett and Lina Augaitis were sitting around and they were all kind of
giddy saying, “this is just stupid” – LOL!
Saying goodbye to Norm in Carmacks was tough, support crew
were not permitted at the next mandatory rest stop of 3 hours, at Coffee Creek
however his last words to me were pretty funny…”Nikki, never will I be so happy
to see you as I will be when I get to Dawson!” another epic 402 km non-stop.
We woke up at 3am on Saturday morning and I met up with my
friends to make signs to welcome in the first three SUP paddlers in Dawson –
Bart deZwart, Norm and Jason Bennett. Based on the race tracker all three SUP
paddlers were paced to arrive in Dawson under the 55 hour mark (the cut off for
prize money). Bart was 15 minutes ahead of Norm and Jason. I spotted them
through the binoculars and it took FOREVER for them to get within yelling
distance and boy, did I yell. I was so excited to see them and knowing they
were do it in under 55 hours was amazing.
Norm completed the 18th annual Yukon River Quest in 54
hours, 56 minutes and 47 seconds for a 2nd place finish making history and
along with his fellow SUP paddlers proved that SUP paddlers have a legitimate
place in this iconic race.
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| Mark and I with OUR YRQ SUP finishers. What an experience to share with them and to be a part of SUP's first year in this iconic race! Photo: Steve Knaack |
