The 2010 Yukon River Quest canoe and kayak race has 65 teams fully registered as of April 1, and the push is on to fill all 100 available team slots before the April 15 registration deadline.

There is still room in the solo classes (up to a 30-team solo limit), as well as all other classes. The complete breakdown of teams as of April 1 was as follows: 5 solo canoes (C1), 18 solo kayaks (K1), 18 tandem canoes (C2), 15 tandem kayaks (K2), and 7 voyageur canoes (VC). Another five teams were in the process of registering this past weekend, and many more are expected over the next 10 days.

So far, eight nationalities are represented in the 2010 field: Australia, Austria, Canada, Finland, South Africa, United Kingdom, and the United States of America.

Organizers hope to meet or surpass last year’s total of entries. In 2009 registrations surpassed 85, and 73 teams actually started the race. The year before, in 2008, the 100-team registration limit was hit and a record 89 teams started the event. Typically about 10 teams withdraw before the start of the event, but so far none have withdrawn entries for the 2010 race.

Registration information and online entry forms are available via a link on the race website:www.yukonriverquest.com. The 12^th annual “Race to the Midnight Sun” begins on June 30 in Whitehorse. Except for two mandatory rest stops totaling just 10 hours, teams will race round-the-clock 740 kilometres (460 miles) to the finish line in historic Dawson City, making it the toughest paddling marathon in the world. The event concludes July 4.

In other YRQ news:

• A Yukon River Quest fundraiser will be held on the evening of April 24 at the Gold Rush Inn in Whitehorse. There will be live music, race videos, and a silent auction. If you are interested in donating items for the silent auction, please call Joanie Pelletier at 867-668-4175.

• The YRQ has also embarked on its annual bib campaign. Businesses may have their names on a solo paddler ($250), a tandem team ($400), or an entire voyageur team ($700) in this year’s race. For more information, visit the race website and download a Bib Sponsorship Form.