The specific Les Voyageurs Challenge details outlined on this page apply to day one of the event. In addition, all Les Voyageurs Challenge participants are required to follow the Red River Paddle Challenge rules for day two of the event as there are some differences in logistics, cutoff times, etc.
Race Format and Ranking
Les Voyageurs Challengee is a two-day staged race where participants paddle from Ste Agathe to The Forks Historic Port in Winnipeg on day one (~66 km) and then on day two participants join in with the Red River Paddle Challenge participants and paddle to Lockport (~44 km). The total distance is approximately 110 km.
As a stage race, racers must start and complete each stage in the allotted time to move on to the next. Overall classification or ranking is done by adding times for each stage of the race. The participant(s) with the lowest cumulative time to complete both stages is declared the overall winner of their respective class/category.
The stage winner is the first paddler(s) to cross the finish line that day with the lowest time on the course. The overall winner of the stage race is the paddler(s) who takes the lowest aggregate time to complete both stages. Accordingly, a paddler(s) does not have to win both or any of the individual stages to win overall.
All paddlers who finish both stages will receive a Les Voyageurs Challenge finisher medal upon completion of the race. Top three finishers in each class/category with more than five participants/teams will receive prizes or recognition at the awards ceremony on day two of the event. All participants are eligible to win prizes from our event sponsors.
Race Day Check-In
All participants are responsible to check-in on Saturday, September 19, at the Ste. Agathe Boat Launch.
Check-in begins at 7:00 a.m. and closes at 8:00 a.m.
All boats must be staged (see below) by 8:15 a.m. so please allow plenty of time.
When you arrive at the Ste Agathe boat launch area, please proceed to the registration tent. If there’s a lineup of cars when you arrive, please be courteous and allow vehicles that are towing motorboats access to the boat launch. Vehicles can also be parked on Pembina Trail if the boat launch loop is busy.
Our volunteers at the registration tent (see map) will need your name as well as your partners if applicable. Each participant will receive a swag bag containing their racer bib, safety card, Les Voyageurs Challenge t-shirt, as well as some other goodies from our event sponsors.
Boat Staging
Once you and partner have received your racer packages, carry your boat and your gear to the Boat Staging Area (see map above). Here you will stage your boat and all of your paddling gear that you will be bringing with you for the day. If you’re unsure where to go, ask a volunteer. They will direct you to the appropriate staging spot for your boat.
Once you have your boat and gear setup, a race official will check to confirm that you are in possession of the mandatory equipment (see list below). Please have these items organized and ready to show race officials. If you do not display these items, you will not be permitted to participate in the race.
Once your boat and gear have been approved, a specialized strip of tape will be placed on your boat to indicate that your boat has been inspected. You may now leave the boat staging area. This is a good time to move your vehicle from the boat launch area. If you‘re planning to leave a vehicle parked in Ste. Agathe for the day, parking is available along Pembina Trail (watch for no parking zones).
Note: For those dropping off a vehicle at The Forks the morning of the race, be sure to plan your timing accordingly as the approximate travel time to the starting area in Ste. Agathe is approximately 45 minutes. A shuttle service is available for both days for a fee.
Mandatory Pre-Race Meeting
All participants are required to attend a pre-race meeting on Saturday morning at 8:20 a.m. at the Ste. Agathe boat launch. Immediately following the pre-race meeting participants can launch their boats and wait on the water for the race to begin.
Day 1 Start
All paddlers will begin at the sound of the air horn at 9:00 a.m. SHARP. Paddlers who do not get under way by 9:30 a.m. are disqualified from the Red River 100. Rowing boats will begin at the sound of the air horn at 10:00 a.m. SHARP.
Day 1 Finish
The Forks in Winnipeg is the official finish line area for day 1 of the Les Voyageurs Challenge. Participants will make a left turn and paddle up the Assiniboine River for approximately 50m where they will pass under The Forks Historic Rail Bridge. The bridge will serve as the marker for the finish line that racers will cross. Finishing times will be recorded by official event timers as participants cross the finish line. Racers will immediately exit the river via the available docks located in The Forks Historic Port.
Please refer to the official course maps to view the official course route.
Day 2 Start and Finish
Les Voyageurs Challenge procedures for day 2 are the exact same as the Red River Paddle Challenge. Racers are required to check in and register the morning on day 2 of the event. Please refer to the RRPC Rules page for complete day 2 details.
Checkpoints
Les Voyageurs Challenge has fewer checkpoints compared to the Red River Paddle Challenge (day 2) and they are spread further apart. It is intended that racers are more prepared and self-sufficient for day one of this event.
There are two checkpoints during day 1 of the Les Voyageurs Challenge (refer to race map for locations):
Due to the remoteness of these checkpoints, both locations do not have dock access. Care should be taken if exiting your boat as the shoreline is muddy, rocky, and steep.
Racers are required to check in at each checkpoint. As each racer approaches the checkpoint, they must shout out their bib number. Once the volunteer confirms the bib number and shouts it back to the racer, the racer(s) may continue on the route. It is the responsibility of the racer, not the volunteer, to ensure check in. Failure to check in at any checkpoint will result in penalty or disqualification.
Racers are welcome to stop at any checkpoint. Bottled water and snacks will be available for racers. Support teams can meet their teams as well, but they cannot assist racers in entering or exiting a checkpoint, i.e., they cannot pull the boat ashore or push it back into the water.
Day 2 of the Les Voyageurs Challenge uses the same checkpoints as the Red River Paddle Challenge.
Cutoff Times
Racers must reach each checkpoint in a reasonable amount of time. Any paddler who arrives after the cutoff time will not be allowed to proceed to the next checkpoint. Cutoff times are determined by the race clock and will be adjusted accordingly if the race start is delayed. Assuming a 9:00 a.m. race start, checkpoint cutoff times are as follows:
- Checkpoint 1 St. Adolphe Bridge – 12:30 p.m. (3.5 hours from start time ~17.75km)
- Checkpoint 2 Duff Roblin Provincial Park – 3:30 p.m. (6.5 hours from start time ~35km)
If you are concerned about not making a cutoff time at any checkpoint, please have your own transportation organized in advance. Shuttles will not be provided from any checkpoints.
Day 1 overall course cutoff – Each racer has until 7:00 p.m. (10 hours from the official race start time ~66km) to complete the course and arrive at The Forks.
Our volunteers have full authority to revoke the option to continue paddling past the cutoff times for both checkpoints and the overall course, and insist that a racer exit the race if they deem the racer unfit to continue. This may be due to extreme fatigue, poor nutrition, injury, etc. If the racer does not appear coherent, appears confused, losing coordination/motor skills etc., our team has the authority to insist the racer stop paddling. Please accept this with grace. These cutoff times are for your safety.
Cutoff times for day 2 of the Les Voyageurs Challenge are the same as the Red River Paddle Challenge.
Hazards on the River
The Red River is often considered a flat water river. However, depending on the time of year and the amount of recent precipitation, the water levels and characteristics of the river can change. This can result in sections where the current increases and even small rapids appearing.
Red River Floodway Gates
The Red River Floodway control gates control the amount of water that’s allowed to enter the city of Winnipeg by diverting excess water into the Red River Floodway. In September when the Les Voyageurs Challenge takes place, the Red River levels are low enough that the gates are lowered and the Floodway is not in use. In fact, the Red River Floodway has been used once in the fall time since its completion in 1968. Now having said that, in the extremely rare event that fall flooding occurs resulting in the floodway gates being raised, the Les Voyageurs Challenge course may need to be altered, including the addition of a portage if deemed safe, or even cancelled.
To navigate the floodway gates, center your boat in either the left or right channel while keeping a good distance from the bridge piles and side walls. As you pass the bridge the current might pick up. If you are paddling with other teams, go through one at a time, allowing plenty of space between teams so everyone has room to maneuver.
Checkpoint 2 is located approximately 800m past the floodway gates on the right (east) side of the river.
Transportation and Parking
Each participant must supply their own transportation to the start and pick up from the finish. We encourage connecting with other paddlers to work out carpools and shuttles. Shuttle service is available for day one of the Les Voyageurs Challenge and also for day two during the Red River Paddle Challenge for a fee when registering for the race.
If you‘re planning to leave a vehicle parked in Ste. Agathe for the day, parking is available along Pembina Trail. If you are planning to leave a vehicle parked at The Forks for the day, paid parking is available throughout The Forks. Please ensure you pay for parking for the duration of the day to ensure you don’t get a parking ticket.
Overnight Accommodations
Overnight accommodations are the responsibility of the participants. Day one of Les Voyageurs Challenge ends in the city of Winnipeg where there are plenty of nearby hotels. Camping is also available for participants at the Cheyenne Park Campground in Ste. Agathe.