July

For a few brief moments, the Yukon River Quest stole our hearts as it began in downtown Whitehorse with a running mass start to boats awaiting their paddlers along the shore line.

For the first time in race history, more than 90 boats began the race to Dawson. The race was won by the C-2 team of Gaetan Plourde and Jeff Brainard in 46 hours, 14 minutes and 56 seconds. But the standup paddleboarders stole the show, allowed into the race for the first time as an experimental class. Of the 11 SUPs who started, nine finished and winner Bart de Zwarte completed the 715-km journey in under 55 hours.

The Company of the White Wolf held their second successful Canada Day long weekend tournament, more than doubling the participation from its first year.

Whitehorse slo-pitch team, Complete Concrete, lost its Division A co-ed Dustball crown to a visiting Juneau team, while the P&M Recycling Guns continued their eight-year winning streak in the men’s A Division. Local women’s team, Yukon Titans held on for the championship, winning its first Dustball Division A crown in three years.

Pia Blake led a team of Yukon orienteers at the junior world championships, when she was the first Canadian woman to advance to an A final since 2012. Caelan Pangman McLean and Leif Blake also participated.

Cassis Lindsay hit the podium at a B.C. AAA swim meet, placing third in the 50 free.Glacier Bears swam in six finals.

Slalom canoer Pelly Vincent-Braun was the top Canadian finisher at the junior world championships in Poland, finishing 38th overall.

Wheelchair racer Jessica Frotten picked up four medals at the national championships, but was not chosen for the Paralympic team.

David Eikelboom broke his own course record at the Mount Lorne Mis-adventure trail race, finishing the 21-km course in 1:10:51, beating his previous time set in 2014 by more than two minutes.

The Yukon Breeze Sailing Society held its first regatta since being established in 2010. Hosted at Schwatka Lake, sailors competed in a series of fun races at the Midnight Sun Regatta.

August

The Whitehorse Glacier Bears sent three swimmers to age group nationals, its largest age group nationals team under coach Malwina Bukszowana to date. Rennes Lindsay, Cassis Lindsay and Hannah Kingscote posted PBs and a few top 20 performances as well.

Cyclist Ava Irving-Staley picked up three medals at Washington’s Rapha NW Junior Stage Race: a road race gold, time trial silver and criterium bronze.

A team of nine Yukon orienteers attended the national championships in Alberta and stood on the podium a combined nine times.

Whitehorse hosted the national slo-pitch championships at the Pepsi Softball Centre. None of the Yukon teams advanced past the round-robin stage. The Miken HR Sports Orioles of Ontario took home the men’s title, while B.C.’s Adrenaline won the women’s side. Mike Arnold of Dave’s Cleaning Crew received the top defensive player award.

Trail runners battled soaring temperatures at this year’s Yukon River Trail Marathon. Defending champion David Eikelboom repeated on the marathon course, as newcomer Brendan Morphet took the win on the half marathon course. Lindsay Carson was the top half marathon female, while Denise McHale was the top female marathon finisher.

Those in the trail building and mountain biking community remembered Wayne Roberts, an “original grumpy trail builder” who passed away from cancer at the end of August.

September

Three runners went under an hour at the Claim Pre-Skagway 10 Miler to lead off September sports coverage. David Eikelboom led the way, finishing the road-dominated course in 54 minutes, 56 seconds. Brendan Morphet, in his freshman year racing, finished in 59:33, while Lindsay Carson finished in 59:43.

Kayaker Mael Pronovost turned heads at the Alberta Whitewater Association’s provincial championships held on the Kananaskis River. He threatened the podium in every event he suited up for, finishing the weekend with three medals: silver in the boatercross, and first in both the freestyle competition and C-1 category of the slalom race.

Rain threatened to make this year’s Klondike Trail of ‘98 Road Relay a soggy mess, but the extra moisture couldn’t dampen the runners’ spirits.

The top Yukon team was Running Home to Yukon Brewing (Willie Bell, Sam Lindsey, Anett Kralisch, Luke Carlos, Brittany Pearson, Shane Carlos, Jody Eikelboom, Amelia Fraser, David Eikelboom and Lindsay Carson), which finished second overall in 12 hours, 17 minutes and 17 seconds.

Erica Van Vlack was the sole entrant in the ultra marathon (70K) and finished her race in 7:23:06.

The Yukon Roller Girls announced they’re back in a rousing roller derby fashion, hosting a home bout at the Whitehorse Curling Club against the Sea to Sky Sirens, who were visiting from B.C. The Roller Girls lost the bout, but were energized by the community support.

Robb Andison was recognized by Softball Canada and was inducted into the organization’s Hall of Fame as a builder for his many years being involved in the sport.

Yukon Canoe and Kayak Club flatwater athletes attended their first regatta as a club, posting 15 top 10 finishes at the B.C. Championships and the Pacific Cup in Maple Ridge, B.C.

Cyclocross returned to the Yukon after a brief hiatus, with its first race since 2014. Former pro-cyclist Marc Lapointe secured the win.