1208 Klondike Road Relayers set off for Whitehorse tonight

1208 runners of the 2009 Klondike Road Relay will leave from Skagway, Alaska and Carcross tonight on their way to the finish line in Whitehorse.

1208 runners of the 2009 Klondike Road Relay will leave from Skagway, Alaska and Carcross tonight on their way to the finish line in Whitehorse.

The 176.5-kilometre race sets off from Skagway at the National Park Service building starting at 7 p.m. Teams will set out at half an hour intervals. The front runners are expected to arrive in Whitehorse at the Rotary Peace Park between 1 p.m.and 3 p.m. Saturday.

This year 51 Whitehorse teams will challenge the race on one of the 10 legs ranging from 9 to 25.6 kilometres. The race follows the White Pass along the trail of the famous Gold Rush Stampeders, through British Columbia and finishing off in Whitehorse.

Teams of six to 10 racers are divided into eight different categories; open, mixed, women, junior, masters open, masters mixed, masters women and corporate.

This year the relay will have a special youth category that will start from Carcross at 4 a.m. Saturday morning to help attract younger runners to the relay. The final three legs will be split into 10 kilometres.

Walkers and Ultra are two other special categories that will set off from Carcross with the youth.

Checkpoints are at the White Pass Viewpoint, U.S./ Canada border, Canada Customs, Tutshi Lake, B.C./Yukon border, Carcross, Emerald Lake, Annie Lake Road, Carcross corner and the finish line at the Rotary Peace Park in Whitehorse.

The legs vary in difficulty. Starting at sea level in Skagway, racers climb 1,004 meters in the first two legs then descend 610 meters towards the finish line.

One hundred thirty eight teams are participating this year. The record number of teams was set in 1998 when 161 teams tackled the tough race.

An awards ceremony will follow the race at the Mt. McIntyre/Whitehorse Curling Club.

The relay is Sport Yukon’s annual fundraiser.  An army of 325 volunteers ensure the race’s success every year.

Highway patrol will be provided by the RCMP and the Gold Wing Road Riders throughout the race to ensure the safety of the runners. Motorists are reminded to be extremely careful when passing racers. Traffic control will be done at all intersections where racers will cross.
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2008 Results

OPEN

Skinny Raven: Take no Prisoners
Anchorage, Alaska
10:44:01
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WOMEN

Hard Women are Good to Find
Juneau, Alaska
15:35:46
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MIXED

Pabst Blue Runners
Anchorage, Alaska
12:43:07
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JUNIOR

Norcan Klondike Skiing Machines
Whitehorse, Yukon
14:15:29
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MASTERS OPEN

White’s High Flyers
Whitehorse, Yukon
13:15:16
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MASTERS WOMEN

Lady Gudivas
Juneau, Alaska
14:25:14
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MASTERS MIXED

Sole Train
Juneau, Alaska
15:41:47
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CORPORATE

Skinny Ravens Corporate
Juneau, Alaska
14:29:21
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WALKERS

Slowly Heading North
Whitehorse, Yukon
8:36:33
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ULTRA

Keith Thaxter
Whitehorse, Yukon
6:29:25