Kokatat Global Ambassador and SUP Paddler, Norm Hann Finishes the Iconic Yukon River Quest Race

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.

Mark and I knew we were going to be up in the Yukon around the time of the race as we had business with some of our Yukon Dealers (KanoePeople and Up North Adventures) so I promptly offered our support crew services to Norm (and fellow SUP Paddler, Lina Augaitis – Werner Paddles).

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.

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.

Photo Nikki Rekman Sales

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.

Photo by Elise Giordano

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.

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.

Photo: Nikki Rekman Sales

Norm departing Carmacks right behind SUP category leader, Bart deZwart. Photo: Nikki Rekman Sales

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.

Photo by Elise Giordano

Feet up and Miss Vickies Potato Chips in the van shortly after finishing. So proud of this guy! Photo: Nikki Rekman Sales

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.

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

Columbia Gorge SUP Challenge by Eli Fischbuch

Last month, was the Columbia Gorge SUP Challenge in Hood River.  This two day weekend event was packed full of excitement and races.  All the pro paddlers were at this race – like Connor Baxter, Kai Lenny, Danny Ching and it was very cool to be at the same event as them and to see them race.

 

Down-winder start photo: Taine Fischbuch

We arrived in Hood River a couple of days early and when we first drove into town the wind was HOWLING. There were big waves on the river – this is why this race is so popular but I have never seen anything like that before. I really wanted to get on the river to practice paddling in those waves but we realized that I couldn't just jump on this river by myself.  Luckily for me some paddlers from Vancouver that I have met at other racers were there and took the time to take me down the river a couple of times and give me some tips. I am really grateful to them for taking the time – thanks to Jason Lexa, Yannick Michaud, Tim, Dave, James and co.

Day one started out with the technical course race.  This was supposed to be the downwind race day but the wind had totally died down so they moved the downwind race to Sunday. This race was four laps with one lap being a mile long and had a lot of buoy turns.  It was a very long race for a course race! Even though there was a lot buoy turns, a lot of people were on 14 foot long boards.  I was on my 12’6 Naish javelin LE and was using my Werner Grand Prix S1000.

Eli rounding the buoy photo: Taine Fiscbuch

The groms went before every body else and they did two laps. There were tons of kids in this race which was neat to see.  After them it was the open women and the junior girls, they did four laps also.  After they finished it was the open and junior men. There was probably about 60 plus people in this race.

At the start I was really close to the people beside me so when the horn blew and I tried to get my first stroke I immediately hit the rail of the board beside me. I barley even got my blade in the water.  I went to try to paddle on my other and that was no better.  It was like this for a few more seconds and then I finally got a solid stroke.  By this time I was in the tail end of the middle pack. 

By the time I made it to the first buoy I almost came to a stand still because there was about 25 people trying to turn to go to the next buoy.  When I finally made it around the first buoy I actually passed a couple of people.  It was still a full out sprint to the second buoy even though there was a lot more paddling to come.  When I did the 180 degree turn around the second buoy I got into a nice pace for the longest stretch of the race.

When I started my fourth and final lap I started to get really hot and a little tired but I knew I had a little more gas in me to finish the longest course race that I have ever done. I was pretty tired at the end but felt good to have been a part of this race. 

The elite paddlers raced after the open races and it very exciting to watch them. All the pros were introduced before they went down to the beach. We got to watch Werner Paddles team member Lina Augaitis take second in her race – exciting!

Lina Augaitis going around the buoy with Annabel Anderson and Candice Appleby photo: Taine Fischbuch

The second day of this event was the down winder.  I woke up in the morning hoping for wind but sadly there was not even a breeze in the air.  I went down to the event site and there was still no wind.  After the skippers meeting there was still no wind.  But when we were driving to the start of the race the wind start to pick up and you could start to see little bumps in the water.  This was awesome because that is all you need. 

By the time the race was supposed to start the wind was really picking up – it wasn't as strong as when we did our practice runs but still much better than Saturday.  The start line was even more packed full of people because they had the men and women go at the same time.  I started to think that I might have an even worse start than the first race.  The horn went off and I jumped onto my board and started to paddle. To my surprise there was no body right beside me and I could get a good stroke in.  With this great start I headed to the middle of the river because you have to go around a buoy plus the wind is stronger in the middle of the river.  After I made it to the middle of the river I start to get into a nice rhythm and I started to surf a couple of little bumps.  I was having a lot of fun doing this, for a moment I forget that I was even in a race. 

About half way through the race the wind started to pick up a little more and made some bigger waves.  With bigger waves I had to focus a little more on not falling off my board.  While I was doing this I was keeping my head down and a huge sailboat just came up behead me.  This surprised so much that I almost fell off my board.  The good news is that this made me realize that I had to make way back to the south side of the river. When I finally got where I wanted to be I was basically towards the finish of the race. I just had to paddle around an island and then to the beach, so I started to paddle a little harder.  Then I made it to the last buoy I almost fell in turning around it but luckily I did not.  Then I made my final sprint into the finish line and sprinted up the beach to the finish line where I managed to finish second out of the junior men.