The Yukon River Quest’s stand-up paddleboard category is full, less than one month after it was introduced.

More than 10 competitors from across the world have registered for the 2016 race, with names from the United Kingdom, Belgium, Hawaii and British Columbia.

Three Whitehorse paddlers have also put their names forward, including Michelle Eshpeter, Stephen Waterreus and Stuart Knaack.

In early November, the River Quest board voted to allow 10 stand-up paddleboarders to join the race on an experimental basis.

Two weeks later, the new race class was already full.

While 12 paddleboarders are currently listed on the race website’s bio page, only the first 10 are currently cleared to race.

“I didn’t know the demand was there at all,” said race president Harry Kern of the paddleboarders.

“We’re very excited about having them on board. I think everybody’s curious to see how they do over a long course.

“There is a really big, strong, vibrant, exciting focus on our race right now. ... It’s just nice to have a change.”

The 715-kilometre River Quest is the world’s longest annual canoe and kayak race.

Each year after the summer solstice in late June, paddlers travel from Whitehorse to Dawson City by way of the Yukon River.

The route included two mandatory rest stops at Carmacks and Kirkman Creek, totalling 10 hours.

Whitehorse’s Michelle Eshpeter first tried out a paddleboard a year and a half ago on the North Saskatchewan River in Edmonton.

“A friend peer-pressured me into it,” she said in an interview this morning. “That’s how I got started.”

Eshpeter, 33, is one of three female stand-up paddleboarders registered.

One of them – Lina Augaitis of Coldstream, B.C. – has already successfully travelled the Yukon River between Whitehorse and Dawson City before, in 2011.

For Eshpeter, the River Quest is the biggest paddling event on the Yukon calendar each year.

“It’s just so epic and iconic and amazing,” she said. “Part of it is the allure, and also that it is such a huge, huge adventure. I’m really excited for all of the challenges – nothing about it will be easy.”

One major challenge she expects to face on the race route is continuous paddling in a remote location.

“I think having that continued endurance mentally and physically to keep going for so long will be really challenging,” she said.

“The head game and the physicality of that will be challenging, but that’s what all River Quest athletes experience.”

As for standing and paddling for hours on end, Eshpeter said altering her standing position to a kneel, for example, will help keep her “fresh.”

She said she’s unsure of where paddleboarders will finish in the standings.

“There have been mixed events in the States where the paddleboarders are al mixed in with the kayaks,” she said. “It all depends on the conditions. It’s going to be really interesting to see how it goes.”

A tailwind could provide an advantage to paddleboarders who use their body as a sail, Eshpeter explained.

Whitehorse resident Stephen Waterreus is one of two stand-up paddleboarders on the waiting list.

The 50-year-old took up the sport four years ago and registered for the River Quest because it provided a “very unique challenge.”

The longtime Yukon cross-country skier and mountain biker has no paddleboard racing experience. If he gets the chance to race, he knows it will be difficult.

“I think the event will be extremely challenging,” he said in an email to the Star from Norway.

“I feel the biggest challenge will be dealing with sleep deprivation. It is one thing to be sitting in a boat and nodding off after 50 hours of paddling … but to fall asleep standing could end up in a very cold wake-up call.”

However, aside from tricky gear storage and the possibility of numbing feet, Waterreus is expecting to go through the same hardships as every other competitor.

“I think every other challenge presented by the race is no different than what people in the canoe and kayak categories will face,” he said. “The biggest challenge being that it is one hell of a long paddle.”

Knaack, 36, has been running SUP Yukon for three years, servicing a small, but growing community of local paddleboarders.

Knaack said he hopes paddleboards gain a permanent category in the race.

And by competing in the upcoming odyssey, he will be able to offer advice and knowledge to future participants.

“The sport seems to be branching out everywhere and trying out anything it can get its hands on,” he said. “I think (the River Quest) will be an excellent addition.”

Knaack said preparation and nutrition will be key for all paddleboarders.

“Once you’re on the river, it’s pretty straightforward,” he said. “You’re going to have headwind. You’re going to have tailwind, but the biggest thing about any Yukon River Quest is going to be Lake Laberge.”

While the race board originally capped the number of paddleboarders at 10, Kern said that number may yet rise.

“I’m pretty sure we’ll be taking more than 10,” he said today.

Safety and volunteer workload are the two issues that will determine if the category expands.

The 2016 Yukon River Quest will be held June 29 to July 3.

In total, 41 teams have already registered for the race.