A rider from Fairbanks and two B.C. riders surprised a strong Yukon riding contingent at the 2023 Kluane Chilkat International Bike Relay (KCIBR).

The race, back after a four year hiatus, took place June 17 and by all accounts, a good time was had by all.

It started in Haines Junction and finished in Haines, Alaska.

Approximately 1200 riders, including 280 teams, took part in the event.

Tyson Flaharty (Still Fuzzy) from Fairbanks took first place overall in six hours, 59 minutes and 32 seconds.

Bryce Molder (Goose) from Prince George and Kevin Ahl from Nelson finished second and third, respectively.

Race Coordinator Mia Lee said that was "quite surprising because we have a very strong contingent of riders here from Whitehorse that usually take first place, like Joel Macht, Ian Parker, the regulars. They didn't take it."

Heather Clarke of Whitehorse won the Solo Women's category in 8:24:03.

Lee said the race was "phenomenal. It went smoother than I anticipated.

"The biggest emphasis is I was delighted when I had no reports of incidents, accidents, like no accidents. Everybody stayed safe. That's the big one for me. So, everybody was careful.

"The forecast was going to be overcast, cloudy, and it turned out to be a brilliant day. There was wind coming off of Dezadeash (Lake), so people in Leg 2 definitely felt it but I know it was not that bad. (Legs) seven and eight, those are the big ones. Not bad at all.

"It was a great return after three years of being cancelled."

Lee said the road conditions were "fabulous. There were only some rough patches on Leg 4; that section is chip seal. There were some rough patches but nothing really bad and I gave everybody a heads up. But everybody was like, 'Oh my gosh, the section on the American side into Haines.' They finally finished (construction), with wider shoulders, paved, it was fantastic. So we were very, very lucky. Yes. So the road conditions were good. I didn't hear any complaints."

Lee described some of the outfits she saw on the course.

"They were just fun. We had some really amazing pirates. One guy, he was totally decked out. He had an amazing pirate hat but he had the whole costume, including the boots.

"I saw a guy and I have no idea what the costume was. He had tights and cowboy boots on and pink hair. I don't even know what the costume was; he definitely stood out.

"And then the popcorn ladies, the Popcorn Machines. They painstakingly took a glue gun and they glued popped popcorn all over their helmets. They stood out like a sore thumb. And it was really, really cute. "And I had Ninja Turtles.

That was a four person team.

"There was something else; the bike went by pretty quickly. I just got a quick glance at it. On the side of the bicycle and on the front and the back, it looked like they had attached cardboard cutouts. And it actually looked like caribou legs.

So the caribou going down the road. I don't know if it was a caribou. But that's what I thought it was. That was so creative."

The checkpoints were another highlight of the race.

"The Fiddleheads were a checkpoint group and apparently they serenaded the riders as they went by. That is just fantastic," enthused Lee.

"Checkpoint 2 was the Japanese Canadian Association. And they were awesome. You know, 100 per cent reliable.

And then checkpoint three and four was the Filipino Association, and they're amazing.

"At each checkpoint, I've got a St. John Ambulance person stationed there for first aid and YARA (Yukon Amateur Radio Association) radio person because they are our main means of communication. The Filipinos fed them copious amounts of foods. So they were super-happy.

"That's why I love the Filipinos. One is the reputation that they have. They are hardworking, they are reliable, you can count on them. And they're community-oriented. They're all about family and community.

"Checkpoint 3 had music going on. A checkpoint chief's son took care of that. When I rolled up, it was Led Zeppelin. It was great! I loved it. It was like a blast from the past."

"On the American side, Checkpoint 7 was the Haines Hot Shots, which is a gun target shooting group, and Krystal Krystal Lloyd was amazing."

Lee also had kind words for all the volunteers.

"I'm extremely grateful for all the volunteers, not just the checkpoint groups. We had volunteers in Haines Junction and Whitehorse for the race package, stuffing and pickup. Awesome people.

"So collectively, the good weather, the volunteers, all helped to pull off a really good race. And I also was very, very fortunate to have the RCMP. I had three cars. One was at Checkpoint 1, one at 2 and one at the start line. And that's a luxury that we normally don't have. So very grateful to have the police presence because it helps people to adhere to the rules of the road."

Lee added, "All the way down the highway, I saw nothing but smiles. I've gotten lots of thank yous, lots of positive feedback. I haven't received any negative feedback.

"It couldn't have gone smoother. I'm just so grateful at the outcome and everybody seemed to have a really good time."

Lee also had high praise for the communities of Haines and Haines Junction.

"The barbecue salmon dinner at the finish line at the Alaska State Fairgrounds was absolutely packed and it wasn't just riders and support crews, it was local people. It was a celebration for everybody. They had a live band, there was banjo music. And it was just fantastic."

Lee also said a big thank you to "everybody that kept it safe. Number one, the drivers were pretty good. And the riders, just being responsible, because that they're the ones that get hurt, right? And so we just want to put out a big thank you to everybody for making sure that they were careful out there. And then just really glad that everybody had a good time and we'll see you next year."

For complete race results, go to https://kcibr.org/content/race-results