Overview

The Red River Paddle Challenge is a 45 kilometer (~28 miles) long distance paddling race on the Red River beginning in Winnipeg, Manitoba and ending down river in Lockport, Manitoba. We welcome all types of paddling craft, including kayaks, canoes, surfskis, outrigger canoes, stand up paddleboards, voyageur canoe, or other craft. If you don’t see your preferred boat/board class listed here, please contact us.

All racers are required to attend a safety briefing at 8:30 a.m. Saturday morning, which will also offer time for questions. The race starts at 9 a.m. sharp. Racers must check in at three checkpoints on the route. The checkpoints are for supply, support and logistics and they also have cut-off times. All checkpoints are rolling: Racers need not exit their boat, but they are responsible for assuring checkpoint staff have recorded them. All competitors choose one of two classes for entry into the event:

• Adventure Class racers include first-time long distance racers and paddlers who do not regularly race competitively.
• Competitive Class is for racers who have more experience. Racers include experienced long distance paddlers and any paddlers who regularly race competitively.

These guidelines are somewhat flexible. Racers with experience who would prefer Adventure may sign up in that class. Newcomers are encouraged to enter as Adventure Class, but may sign up as Competitive if they desire. Adventure class and Competitive class racers are scored and ranked separately.

Categories include men’s and women’s singles, men’s, women’s and mixed tandems, and open class solo and teams that have three or more paddlers in one boat (not relay).

The priority of our event is safety. The unpredictable prairie weather and the river itself will provide ample challenge. Our other goals include making the race challenging but welcoming to competitors of many skill levels. Spending time on the Red River is rewarding and we hope our event reminds all who take part the true importance of this waterway. Should you have any questions, feel free to contact us.

Early bird price is $25.00 per paddler.
Early bird registration ends August 31, 2019. After that, it's $35 per paddler.

Registration closes September 7, 2019.

Rules

Personal Safety

All racers must wear personal flotation devices/life jackets while on the water for the entire duration of the event. See our mandatory gear list below for more information on PFD requirements. All racers will be issued a waterproof card with contact information for race organizers. Racers must contact organizers if they depart the event, stop racing for more than 30 minutes or if they face situations that may impact all racers safety. Racers should call 911 in the case of a life or death situation; call or text organizers in any other situation.

Racing Classes

All competitors choose one of two classes for entry into the event:

• Adventure Class racers include first-time long distance racers and paddlers who do not regularly race competitively.
• Competitive Class is for racers who have more experience. Racers include experienced long distance paddlers and any paddlers who regularly race competitively.

These guidelines are somewhat flexible. Racers with experience who would prefer Adventure may sign up in that class. Newcomers are encouraged to enter as Adventure Class, but may sign up as Competitive if they desire. Adventure class and Competitive class racers are scored and ranked separately. Categories include men’s and women’s singles, men’s, women’s and mixed tandems, and open class solo and teams that have three or more paddlers in one boat (not relay).

Racing Craft Options

The Red River Paddle Challenge is open to any paddle-powered craft including:

• Solo kayak
• Tandem kayak
• Surfski
• Tandem surfski
• OC-1
• OC-2
• Solo canoe
• Tandem canoe
• Stand up paddleboard (minimum 10' in length)
• Voyageur canoe
• Other (if you do not see your preferred boat type listed here, please contact us)

Registration and Waivers

Pre-registration is required. Deadline is September 7, 2019. You will not be able to register the week of the race. Pre-registered racers are responsible to check-in on Saturday, September 14, at the boat launch in St Vital Park. Registration begins at 6:00 a.m. and takes just a few minutes. All racers will complete race waivers before being allowed to take part in the event. NO ONE races without a waiver. Volunteers will facilitate this for all racers as they arrive. 

A “boat corral” for storage of craft will be established adjacent to the boat launch. Racers who are taking the shuttle should stage their craft there, get registered, then drive to Lockport to be ready to take the shuttle back to Winnipeg. Plan to leave St Vital Park no later than 6:30 a.m. as it’s a 45 minute drive to Lockport and the shuttle leaves Lockport at 7:30 a.m.

Mandatory Pre-Race Meeting

All participants are required to attend a pre-race meeting on Saturday morning at 8:30 a.m. at the St Vital Park boat launch.

Start

All racers must stage between 6:00-8:30 a.m. on Saturday morning. All racers will receive a final inspection as they stage. Race officials will check to confirm that you are in possession of the mandatory equipment (see list below). Please have these items organized and ready to show race officials at check-in. We strongly encourage all racers to stage as early as possible Saturday morning. Once your boat and gear have been approved, you can drop them off and leave the staging area. ALL racers begin at the sound of the air horn at 9:00 a.m. SHARP on Saturday. Racers who do not get under way by 9:30 a.m. are disqualified.

Finish

Racers must stay river right within 50m of the shore as they approach the final 500m towards the finish line. Failure to do so could result in serious consequences. A safety boat will be positioned on the water directing paddlers towards the right shore. This will be covered in the mandatory safety briefing prior to the race. Racers will cross an imaginary line on the river at the Half Moon Drive In boat ramp. Volunteers will clearly mark the finish line on the river. Racers will immediately exit the river via the small channel on the east side of the river directly after the finish line. Top finishers in each class and category will receive prizes or recognition.

Stoppage En Route

All racers must text or call Red River Paddle Challenge staff any time they take a break that is planned to last for 30 minutes or longer so that we can alert safety boats on the route. Racers who take a break that ends up going longer than 30 minutes should text organizers to let them know and provide them with your approximate location and what your next steps will be.

Mandatory equipment

All racers must physically display these items at final check-in at staging Saturday morning:

• Transport Canada Personal Flotation Device (PFD)
• One whistle per PFD
• One buoyant heaving line at least 15 m (not required for SUPs)
• Bailer or manual bilge pump
• Board leashes for SUPs (must be worn at all times during the race or you will be disqualified)
• Cellular telephone in a waterproof container
• Copy of the waterproof safety card with organizers’ phone numbers (provided to you at check-in on Friday)
• Two liters of water per person

Recommended Equipment

• Two-way communication device and/or GPS device
• Spare paddle
• Extra clothing in a waterproof bag
• Food, energy gels and other sustenance
• First-aid kit

Checkpoints

There are three checkpoints during the race (refer to race map for locations):

1. Manitoba Canoe & Kayak Center
2. North Perimeter boat launch
3. River Bank Fishing Access Parkway

Racers must reach each of the two checkpoints in a reasonable amount of time. Checkpoint one has a cutoff of 11:30 a.m. Any paddler who arrives after that time will not be allowed to proceed to checkpoint two. All racers must depart checkpoint two by 2:30 p.m. Checkpoint three does not have a cutoff time. 

Racers are required to check-in but not stop at each checkpoint. As they approach the checkpoint, checkpoint volunteers will call out for the paddler name(s). Once the volunteer confirms the paddler name(s) and shouts it back to the racer, he/she/they may continue on the route. It is the responsibility of the racer, not the volunteer, to ensure check-in. Failure to check in at any checkpoint will result in penalty or disqualification. 

Racers are welcome to stop at any checkpoint. We will provide water at each one, and support teams can meet their teams as well. Support teams cannot assist racers in entering or exiting a checkpoint, i.e., they cannot pull the boat ashore or push it back into the water.

Support Teams

Each participant is allowed unlimited race support at the checkpoints and other public-access sites on the river to exchange food, beverages and trash. Replacement paddlers or boats are forbidden. Racers may self-support using any checkpoint. Support crews may not, in any way, assist with propulsion of the boat. They may only touch the boat when the boat is in contact with the shore and the racer has entered the checkpoint. Physical contact with support can only occur when the boat is grounded. No contact on the water is allowed. No support provided from a support boat is allowed. The organizers of the race will not provide any outside support during the race other than emergency medical assistance.

Transportation and Parking

Each participant must supply their own transportation to the start and pick up from the finish. We encourage connecting with other paddlers to work out carpools and shuttles. Shuttle service is available for a fee. See website for details. Parking at the race start is limited.

Age Restrictions

Children ages 16 and younger must paddle in tandem canoes or kayaks as a team of two or more with a parent or legal guardian. Email organizers with questions on this topic.

Drafting

You may only draft (follow closely) craft that are in your class. Example: Solo paddlers can only draft behind other solo craft; they cannot draft behind tandem or open class craft.

Did Not Finish (DNF)

Racers may choose to stop at any point on the river and exit the event, but they are required to contact race officials when this occurs. Racers should text or call race officials if they are exiting. Paddlers who fail to notify race authorities after choosing to exit the race will be banned from future Red River Paddle Challenge events.

Paddlers in Distress

Any paddler witnessing another paddler in obvious distress is compelled to render all assistance possible until the situation is resolved, a safety boat arrives, or you are relieved by another team that can help.If you are unable to assist, phone or send a text message to the race officials, or phone 911. Failure to offer assistance in an emergency situation will result in a lifetime ban from future Red River Paddle Challenge events for all team members.

Sportsmanship

The Red River Paddle Challenge will not tolerate unsportsmanlike conduct on the course. Disqualification may be the result, to be determined by race officials.

Drugs and Alcohol Consumption

No participant is allowed to consume alcohol or drugs (including cannabis) during the race. Any participant suspected of consuming alcohol or drugs is subject to disqualification and being banned from any future Red River Paddle Challenge events.

Leave No Trace

Racers who discard anything into the river, or who fail to maintain gear accountability, are subject to time penalty or possible disqualification as determined by race officials. Please respect our waterways.

Aquatic Invasive Species

Aquatic invasive species (AIS), such as spiny water flea and zebra mussels, are known to occur in the Red River. To prevent the spread of AIS, Provincial regulations require decontamination, in addition to general cleaning provisions (clean, drain, dry), to ensure AIS are killed and removed before watercraft (e.g., canoes, kayaks) and water-related equipment are placed into a different water body. For more details, please refer to the Manitoba Aquatic Invasive Species website.

Revisions to Rules

The organizers of this event reserve the right to revise any prior rules or regulations as a result of a conflict, hazard or unforeseen incident.