The Alcan 200 is the first Haines event in 2021 to be officially cancelled due to COVID-19.
“(The Yukon government) isn’t issuing any special events permits because of COVID and the border is closed except for essential travel,” race organizer Kathi Lapp said. She said the Yukon government informed them of the decision on Dec. 17.
The news wasn’t surprising for race participants, according to Lapp. The U.S.-Canada border has been closed to non-essential travel due to COVID-19 concerns since March 21, restricting a number of normal activities for Chilkat Valley residents including skiing, snowmachining, hiking, moose hunting in the Interior and cross-border tourism.
Even though organizers applied for a permit for the race, “I think everybody kind of knew we wouldn’t be able to hold the race, unless something really exciting happened quickly,” Lapp said.
She said the plan is to pursue a permit for 2022.