Back by popular demand, RRPC veteran Samantha Page will be offering training clinics for the upcoming Red River Paddle Challenge and Red River 100!

The clinics are aimed at those already signed up for the RRPC, those thinking about it, or those just interested in becoming more efficient on the water. Samantha has run these clinics in the past with several local kayakers who went on to complete the Red River Paddle Challenge as well as other longer races.

Each clinic will take place on the Red River on weeknights from 6-8:30 pm. Each session will start with a short land lesson/discussion followed by time on the water working on the specific focus for the clinic.

Clinic 1 Monday July 21, 2025
Efficient Forward Stroke: Good stroke technique not only allows you to paddle faster, but also helps decrease fatigue and injury when paddling long distances. Learn how to use your entire body to generate power. We will work on the different parts of the stroke including the catch, torso rotation and the exit.

Clinic 2 Wednesday July 23, 2025
Reading the Water and Drafting: Learn how to choose the best line in a river for maximum speed and minimum effort. Learn what drafting is, how it can decrease your effort. Also learn about the rules and etiquette of drafting.

Clinic 3 Monday July 28, 2025
Speed Training: Learn why it is important when training for long distance, and how to build it into your training plan.

Clinic 4 Wednesday July 30, 2025
Building Your Training and Preparation Plan: Learn how to build your own training plans, learn about planning and practicing your systems including gear, nutrition and hydration.

**If there is interest, we may have a windup at an on river food location following clinic 4.

Cost: $40 per clinic. You may sign up for individual clinics, or all 4. $150 if you sign up in advance for all 4 clinics.

You will need your own boat, and all Transport Canada required gear. Spots are limited to six participants.

Please contact us if you are interested in signing up.

A little about Samantha – Paddle Canada Kayak Instructor for 20 years. She has competed in various paddle races in Canada and the United States including Red River Paddle Challenge x 4 and Red River 100, MR 48 mile race on the Mississippi River, Big Ol’ Supathon x2, and Chattajack 31 mile race on the Tennessee River. She currently holds two course records for the RRPC. She has also completed some ultra long-distance paddles including 1700km on the Mackenzie River from Hay River to Inuvik.

Are you interested in participating in long distance paddling races such as the Red River Paddle Challenge or the new Red River 100?

Join RRPC race director and endurance paddler Brad Friesen for an evening info session on long distance paddling races. Whether you’re getting ready for a single day marathon like the Red River Paddle Challenge or a multi-day paddling adventure race like the Yukon 1000, Brad will share some of his tips and tricks to ensure your success on your next paddling adventure.

Join us for this evening info session on Tuesday, May 16, 2023 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM CDT at Wilderness Supply in Winnipeg.

Topics include:

• Overview of the RRPC and RR100
• Training tips and how to prepare yourself (physically and mentally)
• Nutrition and hydration tips
• Boat types and efficiency
• Q&A with race director and past participants

Plus 10% off all in store products *except boats – plenty of time to shop.

Door prize ticket for the event draw.

Wilderness Supply staff on hand to answer any product questions.

This event will be really valuable to anyone planning on entering distance paddle challenges, but need some tips!

This is a free event but registration is required as space is limited. Please sign up on Eventbrite online.

Thanks again to everyone who joined us for the 2022 Red River Paddle Challenge! Here’s our final video from 2022. Be sure to watch right through to the end for a little sneak peak at what’s to come next year as the RRPC enters its fifth year!

Registration for 2023 will also be opening soon!

Get your canoes, kayaks, surf skis and dragon boats ready

By Katelyn Boulanger, as originally published in The Selkirk Record

The Red River Paddle Challenge is back for its fourth annual paddling event on the Red River.

“The Red River Paddle Challenge is a marathon distance, paddling race or challenge, which starts in Winnipeg at the St Vital Park and goes downstream north all the way to the Half Moon Drive In in Lockport. It’s open to any paddle crafts or human-powered boats–canoes, kayaks, paddleboards. We’ve got dragon boats, rowing boats, basically, if you can paddle it, you can race it in the event,” said Brad Friesen, Red River Paddle Challenge Race Director.

The challenge started in 2019 but COVID-19 did change the way that the race has operated for the past few years.

“Our second year, 2020, that’s when COVID was at its height and in 2021, we had to make some changes. We spread out the start time for everyone to just maintain as much distance as they can. But right now, we’re back to normal as far as COVID restrictions go with one big mass start. We’ll have all the boats, over 100 boats on the water. The start of the race is chaotic. It’ll be awesome,” he said.

Friesen says that the original idea for this event started when he, as a paddleboard racer who travelled across North America to race in distance events, wanted to be able to say that we had something like this in our own community.

“There was nothing like there here in Manitoba and even Canada doesn’t really have too many events of this type, unless you go up to say the Yukon, there’s the famous Yukon River Quest. And, people are always asking about it,” he said.

Since its inception, the race has really taken off with paddlers coming in from all over Canada from B.C. to Southern Ontario and even people from the U.S. making their way to the Red River.

Even though some of the participants that come are competitive athletes, Friesen wants to assure people that this is an event for anyone who thinks they can go the distance which is why they’ve enphasized challenge in the name instead of race.

“For some people, the challenge is to just finish themselves. Like running a marathon, if you sign up for the Manitoba Marathon, how many people sign up thinking, ‘Oh, I’m gonna win this.’? Most peoplejust sign it to complete it or have a personal goal,” said Friesen.

He says that even though getting a large event like this together is a lot of work each year, it’s all worth it on race day.

“To see the participants at the start in the morning, it can be intense for some, as well, as you know, there’s a lot of nerves, people are nervous and unsure what to expect. And then it’s complete, it’s just awesome. When you get to the finish line, you see people finish, the smiles on their faces, and how proud everyone is of themselves for completing the challenge,” said Friesen.

He invited anyone who’s interested to sign up via the Red River Paddle Challenge website and come out to the event. You can also learn more about the race and see a documentary about it on the website https://www.redriverpaddlechallenge.com/.

Well over 100 canoes, kayaks and standup paddle boards will hit the water later this month to make the journey from Winnipeg the Lockport for the Red 4th annual River Paddle Challenge. CBC morning Host Marcy Markusa speaks with Brad Friesen, Race Director, Red River Paddle Challenge who says Paddlers of all skill levels are welcomed.

The Red River Paddle Challenge is excited to welcome Maddi Leblanc back for a second year of racing! Maddi, a member of Team Canada from Welland, Ontario will be hosting a fun 2 hour SUP clinic on Thursday, September 22nd from 6-8pm! This is your chance to pick Maddi’s brain about anything SUP! This clinic is open to anyone! A range of topics include SUP racing techniques, race prep, SUP day trips, equipment, pacing, choosing appropriate gear/nutrition, Q&A, etc. So what are you waiting for?!

Sign up today! $50 per participant. Board rentals are also available for those who need one. Clinic will take place on the Red River at the Manitoba Canoe & Kayak Centre 80 Churchill Drive in Winnipeg.

Click here to register