Whitehorse Daily Star

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Photo by Marcel Vander Wier

BRAVE SOULS – Racers hit the trail at the start of the Yukon Arctic Ultra last Thursday.

Yukon Arctic Ultra race remains popular attraction

It’s billed as the coldest and toughest ultra race in the world.

By Marcel Vander Wier on February 8, 2016

It’s billed as the coldest and toughest ultra race in the world.

But that didn’t stop 71 diehards from competing in the Yukon Arctic Ultra this year.

The annual race sees adventurers hit the Yukon Quest trail en masse in Whitehorse, each travelling a distance of their choice.

This year’s race began last Thursday morning, with marathon finishers wrapping up their 42-kilometre trek that afternoon at Rivendell Farm, near the Takhini Hot Pools.

Whitehorse runner David Eikelboom, 29, was the first to the finish line on foot.

A head-to-head matchup with fat bike rider Jacob Hegner saw the Swiss cyclist edge Eikelboom down the homestretch. The two were neck-and-neck throughout, but the final stretch along the Takhini River was relatively flat, to the fat bike’s advantage.

Hegner, 18, was attempting the race for the first time, alongside his dad, Hans-Jörg Hegner, who attempted the distance on foot.

Hegner finished in three hours, 19 minutes – six minutes ahead of Eikelboom, president of Athletics Yukon.

“It was a very difficult race,” Eikelboom conceded, noting it was his slowest marathon finish yet.

“In most of the races you do, you can at least count on having good footing for most of the race.

“Actually, the trail today was in really good shape, but there were a few parts that were pretty drifted over and snow-covered, so that made it a lot more work.”

Still, Eikelboom said the experience would be unforgettable.

“Probably the thing I’ll remember most, though, is just how beautiful the course is. ... You never get to see something like this. It’s just a beautiful 42 kms of scenery.”

This year’s race roster included a record 71 racers for a non-400-mile year, said event organizer Robert Pollhammer.

“That’s a record entry for a year where we do not go all the way to Dawson,” he told the Star. “When we do have the 400-mile distance, we have 80 to 90 people, but 71 is a really good turnout this year.”

Last year’s race was much more extreme, with temperatures dipping below -40 C and causing legitimate fear of frostbite for competitors.

The 2016 race began in temperatures of -2 C, without factoring in the brisk wind.

“It’s definitely a great year,” Pollhammer said. “Everybody’s enjoying it. The athletes are happy. The crew is happy. It’s just more pleasant.”

Warmer temperatures did cause a spike in overflow on the Yukon river systems, but Pollhammer said he didn’t foresee significant problems for longer distance athletes.

As for the dynamic race roster that includes citizens from 17 different countries, Pollhammer believes the allure of the Arctic is to thank.

“There is of course the Yukon and the adventure that implies,” he offered.

“People may have read books when they were kids or seen documentaries about the wilderness.

“Once you leave (Whitehorse), you’re on your own. And that’s very different from Europe or other places where people come from.”

Added Eikelboom: “We have this event and the trail marathon in the summer.

I think that just goes to make Whitehorse a real hot spot for running, and a destination where people can go to for running, whether it’s the winter or the summer.”

In other race categories, Michele Graglia won the 100-mile race in near-record time, finishing in 21 hours, 56 minutes.

The 32-year-old Italian completed the journey on foot.

Several racers did scratch out due to ailments over the weekend, including 39-year-old Whitehorse runner Virginia Sarrazin, who suffered frostbite in her toes on Dog Grave Lake and had to be transported back to Braeburn via snowmobile.

Meanwhile, German fat biker Florian Reiterberger, 36, is leading the 300-mile event, and was on his way to the finish line at Pelly Farm at press time today.

For more information, including current news on the race, visit http://www.arcticultra.de/en/.

Comments (2)

Up 1 Down 0

YAU ROCKS on Feb 15, 2016 at 1:44 pm

This is an awesome event that goes under reported and under recognized for it's financial contribution to the Yukon each year. I believe the event is in its 13th year and brings 50-80 racers from all over the world each year. Athletes come days/weeks early and stay days/weeks after and spend at local shops, restaurants, hotels, car rental co etc. I volunteer with the event and have personally hosted dozens of athletes who come back in the summer or at other times with their families and spend money. Tourism Yukon and local media should become more involved. I am aware YG tourism provides $5k but certain they could afford to offer more in $$ or services in kind.

Great event!!!

Up 4 Down 0

Arja Speelman on Feb 9, 2016 at 5:50 am

Love the video clip with the story!

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