Paddling race encourages people to enjoy what the Red River has to offer
By Ligia Braidottis, as originally published in The Selkirk Record
The Red River Paddle Challenge is taking place again, with paddling enthusiasts crowding the Red River to arrive in Lockport.
On Sept. 25, paddlers from all over North America will be gathering at the Red River in Winnipeg’s St. Viral Park and will race 44 kilometres to Half Moon Drive-In in Lockport.
This is the third year they are holding this event, and race director Brad Friesen said they welcome people from all skill levels – from beginners to professional athletes. According to him, this is a race to have fun and promote the sport.
“We just want to get people paddling. We have these amazing rivers here in Winnipeg, and they are underused. So it’s nice to get people out to have a good experience on the river while doing something challenging at the same time,” he added.
It takes racers anywhere from three and a half hours to eight hours to arrive at the finish line. The RRPC has been very successful over the three years it’s been running. The number of participants grows annually. They had approximately 62 paddlers in 2019; they already have more than 100 people signed up.
“What’s also cool, it’s that it’s not just local paddlers. We’re getting people from across Canada and the U.S. This year we have two Americans signed up. One is from South Dakota, and the other is from Minnesota. If they are vaccinated, they can come across the border,” Friesen explained. “But we also have people travelling from B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario, Toronto. It’s awesome. It’s an across Canada event, and with the Americans coming here, we can call it an international event.”
All competitors paddle the entire distance, either solo or in teams. There is also a relay category for those who aren’t quite ready to take on the entire course but still want to participate in the event.
For those who want to get paddling at the Red River, registration for the RRPC closes on Sept. 18. Tickets are $100 per participant and include three fully stocked aid stations, a souvenir race t-shirt, finisher medal, Half Moon Drive-In food voucher, passes to OrangeTheory Fitness, custom awards for top finishers, prize draws, medical coverage on the course, and professional photographers and videographers.
For more information or to register, go to https://www.redriverpaddlechallenge.com/