Organizers of the 21st annual Kluane-Chilkat International Bike Relay say riders and teams wanting to participate in this year’s event should register soon.
Registration opened on Friday and by Monday, 83 teams and more than 260 riders had signed up.
The event caps total riders at 1,200 and limits to 95 the number of 8-person teams that can participate. The 150-mile relay begins in Haines Junction, Y.T., and ends at Fort Seward.
Teams include solo riders and 2-, 4- and 8-person squads of men, women or mixed men and women.
Because race registration filled up fast last year, excluding some would-be riders, teams appear to be jumping in even sooner this year, said local organizer Chip Lende. “I can see it filling up before the early registration deadline (April 26),” Lende said.
Registration officially closes June 15, but Lende and other organizers say they expect it to fill up long before that. Some riders left out last year attempted to “buy out” other teams.
Participants who want to purchase a souvenir T-shirt or long-sleeve “tech” shirt must register by April 26. Haines artist Elizabeth Jurgeleit created the 2013 T-shirt design. Registration for an eight-person team costs $462 before April 26 and $588 after that date.
To register or for more information, visit the website at http://www.kcibr.org.