Now that the waters have settled on the 2023 Yukon River Quest, and the Golden Lake Crew have been crowned champions, it’s time to take a look back at the racers’ experiences up to Carmacks.

Team Tippecanoe and TJ too, a mixed tandem canoe couple from Michigan, near Kalamazoo, came in 36th overall.

“The lake was rough, because we had a crosswind. But otherwise, good,” related Thomas Jepsen.

His wife, Jessica Oakes, faced an odd challenge.

“There were a whole bunch of moths. They were flying into my face, and getting in my shirt and stuff. So I’m glad I had bug netting.” The moth attack went on for several hours.

However, Oakes said the weather was really good.

“The lake wasn’t too bad, one choppy spot. This is my first time being outside overnight in the Yukon, so not really getting dark is really cool. The moon came up, it was super-bright, so that was fun.”

Oakes said the Yukon is much bigger than the rivers they’ve been practicing on.

“Michigan doesn’t have anything this big, so that took a little getting used to. But I’m liking it.”

Jepsen commented that the water was lower in 2016 when he did the YRQ before, but didn’t think that made much of a difference.

“We didn’t have any waves on the lake when I did it last time, but this time we had some crosswind, only for about an hour.”

“A few hours,” interjected Oakes.

“It was hard,” said Jepsen.

“Better than a headwind,” said Oakes. Jepsen agreed.

“I was hoping for a tailwind,” said Oakes.

“There wasn’t much, not when we were on it,” recalled Jepsen.

They were asked how they were feeling physically.

“We didn’t get out of the boat at all,” said Oakes.

“My legs are a little wobbly,” said Jepsen.

As far as the rest of the river, Oakes said she was “a little apprehensive about the rapids.”

Since they got in at 12:44:40 p.m., they also had to sleep during the hottest part of the day, and paddle during the cooler night.

“It’s been quite toasty,” said Jepsen.

“The lake was really warm,” added Oakes. “Until we got the west wind. Then it really cooled off.”

Regarding the challenges ahead, Jepsen said, “We don’t have to do another lake, which is nice.”

“Faster water is fun,” added Oakes.

When it was mentioned that race marshall Stephen Mooney said the toughest part is over, Jepsen replied, “I would agree with that.”

“I’m not looking forward to sitting back in the canoe for thirty hours, though,” said Oakes.

Goran Gustavsson of Team Yster Sweden, a SUP (Stand Up Paddle board) paddler, was back for a repeat performance.

“Lake Laberge was a lot easier than last year, because we had a tailwind … I’ve been paddling an hour faster than last year, so I’m pretty happy with that.

“It’s fantastic to be back … it’s more relaxed. It’s a lot easier.”

When asked if he ran into any challenges, Gustavsson replied, “Not at all.”

Gustavsson was looking forward to tackling Five Finger Rapids, which he looked at as a “fun thing. It’s gonna be good.”

Gustavsson added, “It’s fantastic. It’s a little bit like (riding) a bike.”

He was also looking forward to paddling for two nights and only one day in the heat.

As for how he was feeling physically, Gustavsson admitted, “I was tired this morning. I was really tired.

“It was strange. I felt like I was gonna give up on the lake but right now I feel like I can do it again.”

Gustavsson finished first in the SUP category and 28th overall.

Stroke of Serendipity’s Kimberley Dodds, a solo kayaker who finished 35th, said her first YRQ was going “pretty good. I’m tired and sore but the lake was really decent yesterday. I was really happy with how that went. A little slower than I thought I’d be but in general everything’s going well.

“I didn’t go for a swim, so that’s good. No major challenges, no major injuries. Just a long paddle.”

Dodds said she had previously been a YRQ volunteer.

“I just really loved the vibe, so thought, ‘Might as well do it.’”

Dodds joked, “I’m wondering if I should tell my employer I’m not competent at decision-making. We’re all kind of nutters.”

She added, “I’m OK now. I think it’s going to be hard to get out of the tent and start again. It’s fine once you’re in and you’re going, cause I just paddled for 29 hours straight but now I’m gonna get a break, to get back in the boat for another 30-plus hours. That’s gonna be hard.”

Kelly Magnusson, a Victoria Gold employee from Kelowna, was a support volunteer for the Eagle voyageur crew, a team made up of eight other Victoria Gold employees. They finished 37th.

“It’s been great. The team captain, Ross (Bagnell), came in and told me that he’s never had a team that’s so on-point and great, even keel, no tempers, no meltdowns, no nothing so far. He said it’s been amazing.

“I helped them with logistics … my partner has come up and is helping me. We came up to support them and do the race.”

As for how the team was feeling, Magnusson said, “I can see that they’re all looking good. They need some sleep right now but now that they’re fed – they’re pretty organized.”

Magnusson said they left Whitehorse at 8:15 a.m., set up five tents for the Eagle crew and then started cooking and waited for the team to arrive.

“By the time we were completely ready, they were in within 20 minutes.”

“Next is Dawson, just meet them there., so we’ll hopefully have a nice leisurely drive there. We’ll see them at Five Finger Rapids. We’ll hike down and go onto the river and try to catch them there.”

The Eagle team was scheduled to leave at 10:32 p.m.

“We’re gonna stay here tonight, and then we’ll leave in the morning.”

There’ll be no tents to set up in Dawson.

“They’re in hotels,” said Magnusson. “They deserve a shower and a hotel room.”

A very sleepy Bagnell said, “It’s been pleasantly fun.

“Our team didn’t have an opportunity to practice in the big boat we’re using, but we managed to make it work and got here and got into a rhythm. It’s learning as we go but it’s a pretty fun learning experience.

“We had a talk before we came in and everybody’s super-keen to get to Dawson and if we can do what we just did to get here, I don’t see any issues, just gonna have some aches and pains but the cold beer will taste a little better.”

This is the team’s first YRQ.

“We all work together. A lot of us haven’t trained together or even paddled together before this, but we work six months of the year together so (we) figure this is probably the best team bonding experience you could possibly do.”

Sonny Zlotnik (Team Sonny) was in a chipper mood after exiting his solo kayak.

“It was fine. Just long.”

When asked how he was feeling, Zlotnik said, “I’m alive. Started hallucinating on the way but now it’s time to take a rest and give it the next round.” Zlotnik finished 38th.

Sam Ogden-Newton (Oggy) from London, England, who was on a SUP, said, “it was lovely in some parts and awful in others. Generally awful and then generally amazing. Just up and down all the way. But the last four hours have been all down. 100 per cent. Worst river ever. But everything before then ...”

When asked how he maintains an even keel, Ogden-Newton replied, “I swear a lot and I scream. I was screaming so much.

“Otherwise, it was amazing. During the night, it was fantastic. There was only a couple times where I fell asleep and then woke up. It’s amazing.

“When you start seeing the highway the last four or five hours ago, it just opens up and it gets really slow and wide and for the last half of the time, it’s just so s**t.”

Ogden-Newton did say he was going on to Dawson, however.

“I’ll get it done.”

Oggy finished 43rd.

The last remarkable story encountered at Carmacks was two Filipino brothers in a tandem canoe. John, 28, and Joshua, 20, Apostol were both YRQ rookies.

John said they were “good. It’s going, but you’ve got to work for it.”

“The paddle here was great. Lake Laberge (was) a little rough but overall, it’s fun,” said Joshua.

They both said they were sore, “but manageable, for sure,” said Joshua.

He said the biggest challenge was “trying to measure out how much energy we’re gonna put out and then how to counter that with food, and how to stay awake has been my struggle.” John agreed.

They cited Five Finger Rapids as an upcoming obstacle.

“We’ve never done that one,” said John. “But we’ll get through it.”

“Just got to pass that Five Finger and the rest is good,” added Joshua.

John added, “We’re trying to finish under 50 hours. That should be a pretty good goal for us first-timers. If we do less than that, then it’s a bonus.”

They did indeed finish an impressive sixth in 49:02:33, and were named Top Yukoners in the race.