12 SUP Paddlers Begin One of the Toughest Endurance Races in the World

Today, a small group of stand up paddlers will set off from Whitehorse, Yukon, to take on one of the most demanding endurance challenges in paddle sports.The Yukon River Quest is a 715km (444-mile) race through the Canadian wilderness, following the Yukon River from Whitehorse to Dawson City. Competitors must battle fatigue, changing weather, river conditions and sleep deprivation as they attempt to complete the course within the race's 85-hour cut-off.

Known as the “Race to the Midnight Sun”, the event attracts paddlers from around the world and is regarded as one of the toughest annual paddle races on the calendar.

While the race is traditionally dominated by canoes and kayaks, 12 stand up paddlers have entered the 2026 edition, representing Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, the United States and Estonia.

The international SUP field includes Craig Sawyer and James Matthews from the UK, Dan Oatley from Australia, Martin Reinberg from Estonia and Billy Bender from the USA, alongside a strong Canadian contingent.

In the women’s division, Canadian paddlers Sheena Bull and Alison Wood will take on the same 715km challenge as the rest of the field, facing multiple days on the water as they work their way north towards Dawson City.

To put the scale of the challenge into perspective, the race distance is roughly equivalent to paddling from London to Inverness. Unlike many endurance events, competitors are not racing in controlled conditions. River currents, weather systems, navigation decisions, wildlife encounters and sleep management all become part of the challenge.

For many participants, simply reaching Dawson City is considered an achievement in itself.

Ultra-distance SUP racing remains a niche corner of the sport, but events such as the Yukon River Quest continue to attract paddlers looking to test themselves against some of the longest and most demanding courses in the world. Alongside races such as the Yukon 1000, the 11 City Tour and the Devizes to Westminster, the Yukon River Quest has earned a reputation as one of paddlesport’s ultimate endurance challenges.

As the 2026 edition gets underway, the question is no longer who is willing to start. The question is who will still be standing when they reach Dawson City.

We’ll be following the SUP division over the coming days and will bring you the results and stories from the river once finalised.