More than 20 people have registered for the Chilkat Challenge Triathlon, which organizers are planning to hold in late May after a four-year hiatus.
The 38ish mile race includes paddling, cycling and running from Mosquito Lake to the Letnikof Cove pavilion in the Chilkat Inlet.
One hundred people will be able to race. In the past, the majority of competitors have been from Haines, the Yukon and Juneau. But, that could change this year as the race is timed to coincide with the Great Alaska Craft Beer & Home Brew Festival.
“We think there’s a good chance there’ll be ferry service,” said organizer Gershon Cohen. The race was supposed to start back up last year but had to be canceled due to a lack of ferry service. Before that, it was canceled due to the pandemic.
That means, in theory, a beerfest visitor could run the triathlon – which starts 9 a.m. and can be finished in three or four hours – and then relax for the afternoon at the Southeast Alaska State Fairgrounds sampling beer, before heading back out for the post-race award ceremony and banquet which starts at 6 p.m.
The race starts at Mosquito Lake with a paddle across the lake and winding slough and then out onto the Chilkat River to the 21 Mile takeout just south of Klukwan. Racers then cycle 22 miles to town where they’ll run 5.5 miles to the pavilion at Letnikof Cove.
“It’s a little shorter run than we’ve had in the past,” Cohen said.
Racers can enter as individuals or as teams. Prizes from sponsors including Patagonia, Nugget Outfitters in Juneau, and a myriad of local businesses will be awarded to athletes. First-, second- and third-place prizes will be awarded in a men’s and women’s division, a first-place team winner, and there will be a prize for the fastest senior – that is 65 years of age or older in each division. Racers will also get a ticket to a dinner held at the Letnikof Cove pavilion.
“The reason we came up with this idea was we wanted to celebrate the Chilkat and just, you know, just one more opportunity for the community to see how important and remarkably unique this river is in this area,” Cohen said.
Cohen said organizers are still looking for silent auction items. For more information about that, or to register, visit chilkatchallengetriathlon.com/ He said the race, which takes 40-45 volunteers to run, could use a few more as well.
And as for racers, Cohen said he’d consider it successful if they had 50 people sign up to compete.
“You know, this is a race, since it can be done as a solo or with teams, most of the people are in it for fun. There are a few very good athletes that do it, for sure. For us, it’s mostly about enjoying the river and recognizing what an incredible thing it is that we live in this beautiful place with this pristine waterway that we can go out and play on and and that it’s here and it has it has fish in it, it’s alive, and the community depends on it. And it’s just really important, I think, to consciously appreciate that.”