Red River Paddle Challenge

06/02/2026

🎙️ New Podcast Episode Alert!

Discover Elizabeth Ashe's inspiring story of stepping out of her comfort zone and embracing the challenge of kayaking, culminating in her participation in the 2025 Red River Paddle Challenge. This episode highlights her journey from a novice paddler to completing a challenging race, emphasizing resilience, preparation, and community support.

Whether you are a seasoned paddler or just thinking about getting your feet wet, Elizabeth's story will inspire you to take on your next big challenge!

🎧 LISTEN NOW via the links below:
https://www.redriverpaddlechallenge.com/2026/06/02/ep-005-the-power-of-perseverance-elizabeth-ashes-kayaking-journey-red-river-paddle-challenge-experience/

Apple Podcasts
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-power-of-perseverance-elizabeth-ashes/id1894704948?i=1000770745022

Spotify
https://open.spotify.com/episode/63eEdo4jXGOX8ZLcmTxh8Q?si=Rg_24noKQiCqTdnVIP8Vcw

YouTube
https://youtu.be/OQXhdAv9FdA?si=g_jv8QNOkSn56bhS

🚀 Registration is now open for the 2026 Red River Paddle Challenge! Don’t wait! Secure your spot and enjoy early bird rates until June 30th. Whether you’re a seasoned paddler or just starting out, this event is for you.

👉 Visit our website for more details and to register. Can't wait to see you there!
https://www.redriverpaddlechallenge.com/
https://www.webscorer.com/register?raceid=419381

06/02/2026

🛶 BIG NEWS FOR YOUNG PADDLERS! 🛶
We’ve officially updated our age requirements for this year's Red River Paddle Challenge, and we are so excited to welcome the next generation of paddlers to the water! 🌊👇

Here is what you need to know:
Minimum Age: You can now tackle the RRPC starting at 12 years old!

Ages 12–15: Young paddlers in this bracket can take on the challenge in a tandem canoe or kayak (or other multi-person boat) as part of a team alongside their parent or legal guardian. It’s the ultimate family bonding adventure! 🧑‍👦🛶

Ages 16+: Ready for the ultimate test? Paddlers must be at least 16 years old to register for the grueling Les Voyageurs Challenge.

Waivers: All participants under 18 just need a parent or legal guardian to sign their waiver before hitting the start line.

Whether you're a seasoned paddler wanting to share the river with your kids, or a teen looking to test your endurance, this is your year to shine.

🗓️ Registration is officially OPEN! Don't wait—spots are filling up, and early bird registration closes June 30.

🔗 Head over to our website to check out the full details and get your team signed up today!

https://www.redriverpaddlechallenge.com/

Event registration: Red River Paddle Challenge 2026 @ Winnipeg, MB, Canada. Saturday, September 19, 2026 9:00 AM (GMT-5) - Sunday, September 20, 2026 5:00 PM (GMT-5)

06/01/2026

📍 Ontario is officially on the map! 📍

Our paddling community keeps on growing, and we are so excited to watch our participant map fill up for this year's challenge! 🗺️✨

We are officially welcoming paddlers traveling from Ontario to take on the Red River this year! It’s incredible to see the map light up with cross-provincial representation. 🍁🚣‍♀️

Is your province, territory, or state still blank? Consider this your early-season nudge. Register today to add your color, claim your spot, and join the river family.

🎟️ Secure your spot today: https://www.webscorer.com/register?pid=1&raceid=419381

05/31/2026

🌊 Record Holder Returns to the RRPC! 🌊

We are absolutely thrilled to welcome back a true Red River powerhouse—Ghina Sewaidi!

If Ghina looks familiar, it’s because she completely crushed the 44km course back in 2021, setting the women’s OC1 record (captured here as she smiled her way across the finish line)! 🥇🛶

This year, Ghina is back for a whole new challenge. She’s trading in her outrigger paddle and stepping onto a SUP to take on the river from a brand-new perspective! 🏄‍♀️💪

Help us give Ghina a massive welcome back and let’s wish her the best of luck on her paddleboard this year! 🥳

05/28/2026

🚣‍♀️ THE STREAK CONTINUES! 🚣‍♀️

We are absolutely thrilled to welcome back Barb Magee to the 2026 Red River Paddle Challenge! 🙌

Barb is a true RRPC legend! She has participated in the event every single year since we started, and looking at this shot of her crushing it on her Starboard sprint board, she’s not slowing down anytime soon, well except for when it's time for a snack.

Whether you're looking to challenge your personal best like Barb or want to experience the beauty of the Red River for the very first time, there is a place for you on the water.

Don't miss out on the fun, the community, and the ultimate paddling challenge.

👉 Be like Barb. Head over to our website and secure your spot today! Registration is open!

https://www.webscorer.com/register?pid=1&raceid=419381

05/26/2026

🌲 British Columbia has entered the chat... and they brought a ringer! 🚨
The 2026 map just got a lot more exciting. A huge welcome to Yota Kano, our very first registrant from British Columbia!

If that name sounds familiar, it’s because Yota absolutely crushed it in 2024, setting the RRPC Men's Kayak course record! 🏆

As if conquering the Red River wasn't enough, Yota is using his training to gear up for an epic adventure this June: the legendary Race to Alaska (R2AK)—a grueling 750-mile, engine-free trek through wilderness waters. We are incredibly stoked to have that kind of elite West Coast energy back on our start line this September!

Yota has officially lit up BC alongside our early crew from Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Minnesota. 🇨🇦🇺🇸

Is your province, territory, or state still blank? Consider this your early-season nudge. Follow Yota’s lead: add your color, claim your spot, and join the river family.

🎟️ Secure your spot here: https://www.webscorer.com/register?raceid=419381

05/25/2026

The River City Dragon Boat Festival is happening this Sunday at the Manitoba Canoe & Kayak Centre and there’s still time to enter a team.

Grab your crew, pick a team name, and get ready for a fun day on the river.

No experience needed. Just enthusiasm, teamwork, and a willingness to get a little splashy.

👉 Register your team today.

https://nacf.ca/event/river-city-dragon-boat-challenge/?event_date=2026-05-30

05/21/2026

🛶 "If you can paddle it, you can race it!" 🌊

Let’s bust a myth right now: You do not need a $4,000 carbon-fiber racing boat, a sleek surfski, or elite athletic sponsorship to line up at the Red River Paddle Challenge.

Whether you’re eyeing the 44km challenge or stepping up to the grueling 110km Les Voyageurs Challenge, this event is about personal milestones, community, and enjoying our historic waterways.

We love our high-performance racers, and we love our weekend warriors just as much. Over the years, we’ve had finishers cross the line in:

✅ Standard recreational plastic kayaks
✅ Heavy-duty family tandem canoes
✅ Inflatable Stand Up Paddleboards (SUPs)
✅ Camping setups packed with snacks

If it floats, and you can paddle it, you belong at the starting line this September. No intimidation. Just you, the river, and an incredible community cheering you on all the way to Lockport. 🏁

Ready to commit to your summer training goals? Don't leave money on the table. Secure your spot on the starting grid before our Early Bird Pricing ends on June 30th.

👉 Head over to the Red River Paddle Challenge Registration Page to lock in the lowest rate of the year.

https://www.webscorer.com/register?raceid=419381

Tag your weekend paddling partner in the comments who needs to see this! 👇

05/20/2026

For decades, the Les Voyageurs Shield has carried the names of paddlers who rose to the challenge.

Now there’s just one space left… and the canoe team that wins this year’s Les Voyageurs Challenge will seal their place in history.

If you want your story etched in metal, the journey starts with one step:

Register today.

https://www.webscorer.com/register?pid=1&raceid=419381

05/19/2026

Ever wondered about the untold stories behind Manitoba's paddling history? 🛶

In our latest episode of the Red River PaddleCast, John Thompson reveals the fascinating legacy of Les Voyageurs Canoe Race and its 100th anniversary at this year’s Red River Paddle Challenge. From the evolution of paddling gear to the revival of this legendary race, it’s a journey you won’t want to miss!

🎧 LISTEN NOW via the links below:
https://www.redriverpaddlechallenge.com/2026/05/19/ep-004-honouring-a-century-of-paddling-les-voyageurs-canoe-race-and-the-red-river-paddle-challenge/

Apple Podcasts
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/honouring-a-century-of-paddling-les-voyageurs/id1894704948?i=1000768534898

Spotify
https://open.spotify.com/episode/1oKmOuRM7Hh8KPCV3ltGNj?si=esUulwgBQA2eHNsk12bjOQ

YouTube
https://youtu.be/xzlhhdYbfGs?si=SQu6L2ZOFIzCDq68

🚀 Registration is now open for the 2026 Red River Paddle Challenge! Don’t wait! Secure your spot and enjoy early bird rates until June 30th. Whether you’re a seasoned paddler or just starting out, this event is for you.

👉 Visit our website for more details and to register. Can't wait to see you there!
https://www.redriverpaddlechallenge.com/
https://www.webscorer.com/register?raceid=419381