The 21st Yukon River Quest will begin today at noon at Rotary Park and on Tuesday behind the Yukon Visitor Information Centre for the mandatory boat measuring and gear inspection.

The race this year has 124 teams and 290 paddlers registered which will assuredly beat last year’s record for team’s starting the race at 103.

Boats were laid across the lawns surrounded by the team’s gear behind the Visitor Centre as a host of volunteers went through the extensive mandatory gear list.

Sarah Ouellette was one of the volunteers checking the racers’ gear and outlined what she and the other volunteers must look for.

“We are looking for all the mandatory gear,” said Ouellette. “So there is first aid kit stuff, extra clothing, rain gear, making sure they have adequate water and food, the right ropes for the boat, tents and sleeping bags, spare paddles, life jackets and survival things.”

From Whitehorse to Carmacks and then Carmacks to Dawson City the paddlers are very much on their own so the gear check is to assure all the participants have the necessary items to do the River Quest safely.

“They are really on their own. It is truly a wilderness race and we want to make sure everyone is safe out there and they know what they are getting into,” said Ouellette.

The gear check is done before the Quest so if the racers do not have all the necessary items they are able to acquire them before the start.

“They have the chance this afternoon to get what they need then everyone gets their gear checked tomorrow,” said Ouellette. “Also they will get their gear checked again in Carmacks. We really want to make sure everyone has the gear they need all the way from here fto Dawson.

Upon arrival at the finish line in Dawson the paddlers will have their equipment checked one last time.

“We want to make sure people aren’t pitching stuff overboard,” said Ouellette. “We want to make sure everyone gets there safely with everything they need.”

Along with the gear checkers, a group of volunteers could be seen walking around the boats holding rulers for the boat measurement.

Jim Boyde explained what the measurers were checking for.

“We have a certain number of rule and regulations for different boats in the YRQ,” said Boyde. “Whether it be voyageur, there are different sizes in voyageur. There is quite a variety of different SUPs (standup paddleboards) we are trying to make sure they are reasonably standard.”

Three-time SUP champion Bart de Zwart said the maximum length a SUP can be is 14 feet because it is the most accessible for all the paddlers.

“If it was 18 feet not as many people would register for SUP,” said de Zwart.

He also said having the boats all the same length and close in make means the race is really decided on the skill of the paddler.

Boyde said they measure the width and the length of the boat to set a standard as much as possible.

He also agreed with de Zwart that a standardized boat means the race is based on the skill of the racer and how they deal with the elements that may affect them on the river.

Once the boat is measured the calculations are kept in case of disputes that may arise during the race.

“If there is a dispute they can look at what we measured,” said Boyde. “If there is a grievance, very seldom is there is a grievance. It is there just in case.”