There was a whiteout on the Yukon River in Whitehorse last weekend.

Close to 35 people jumped into the Yukon River last Saturday, tried not to sink their “vessels”, and did as much crazy manoeuvring as they could. 

It was the latest incarnation of a classic Whitehorse event: the 2024 edition of the Whitewater Rodeo. 

The event, hosted by the Yukon Community Kayak Club, was divided  into four friendly competitions, including a hardshell freestyle, pack raft rumble, downriver race, and raft flip race. 

The event is designed to enhance the club’s mission to support and inspire people to paddle in the territory, and at the same time, serve as a gathering and a chance for people to meet new people. 

“If you are new to town, you’re looking for (a) crew to paddle with, so this is a great opportunity,” said Lawrence Brennan, the club’s executive director. 

He said that the event has a history of at least 20 years in the city, if not longer. 

“I remember coming to watch this when I was five or six with my dad, and I’m now 33,” he said. 

The club offers free equipment to its members to take part in the competition, though he mentioned that members usually have their own equipment. 

The event this year happened about a month earlier than previous years, due to the concerns over the impact to the salmon in the river. 

The change came at the request of three Yukon First Nations.

“As an organization, river stewardship is one of our pillars, so understanding that migration is very important to the health of the river ecosystems,” said Brennan.