stories about paddling
Welcome to the Twilight Zone.
Spanish stranglehold under threat.
The Yukon 1000, a truly mind-bending odyssey through the remote wilderness of the Yukon Territory and Alaska, begins today. The 1600km (1000-mile) voyage follows the same course as the iconic Yukon River Quest, however once paddlers reach the traditional finish line in Dawson they're not even halfway home.
There's something about cheering for someone who wasn't expected to win that day. The dark horse. The underdog. The surprise packet. Perhaps it's as simple as upset victories often being what keeps a sport exciting, or maybe the mentality that comes with being an outsider is emotionally appealing to an audience. Whatever it is, there's something about Blue Ewer.
Sweden's Göran Gustavsson has won the 2023 Yukon River Quest, completing the 715km (444-mile) odyssey in a time of 57 hours, 4 minutes, crossing the line in the remote outpost of Dawson just before 3am local time today. Ultra journeyman Thomas "Chilli" Schillig from Austria was the runner-up in what is his second successful navigation of the river.
