Fired up for the 50 - and the Kayak Run on Aug. 16

We're just under 80 days until the second-annual Riverboat Days Kayak Run, folks, and we hope you'll join us for a great event. We had nearly 60 last year - hopeful to get 160 this year!

The "Bubble" can handle that many canoes and kayaks, and if you're new to our event, you'll fit right in. This event is "fun-run" style in that few - if any - will be out there to win. You can compete or just join a paddling community that is growing every day.

We have a new wrinkle this year in that we'll have shuttle service via the Yankton Riverboat Days Committee and our staff. Come to the bubble around 1 p.m., drop off your kayak or SUP, register, then drive to the visitor's center on Fourth Street. Drop your vehicle, grab the shuttle back and BAM! You're ready to race back to your car.

The Kayak Run will have a short-hop shuttle from the water's edge to the parking area to help you wrap up your time on the river. It's going to be fun, so save the date: Aug. 16, and we'll see you then.

In the meantime, please consider our sister race on July 19, the Fort to Field 50 Paddle Battle. It's a 50-mile race from Pickstown to Springfield and you can sign up to race it, volunteer for it, or just learn more right here.

We'll be back!

The Riverboat Days Kayak Run for 2014 is a go go go! Yes, we're coming back to the festival with the most fun in the Mother City of Dakotas this year, we can't wait. Well actually, we can wait as we're busy with a pair of fun events that may be of interest to you as a paddler.

The first is the May 24-25 South Dakota Kayak Challenge, another Missouri River Race that puts the emphasis on "challenge!" This 72-mile event starts in our fair homesite city, Yankton and gives racers 30 hours to reach Sioux City, some 72 miles downstream. You can learn all about it - and sign up to volunteer or race - right here.

 The other that takes place before Year No. 2 of the Kayak Run is the brand spanking new Fort to Field 50 Paddle Battle. Like the Challenge it's a great way to explore the river in a safe fashion with a gaggle of like-minded paddlers. This event highlights the 39-mile stretch of the National Recreational River, and as an inaugural event, we're confident it'll grow over time. Your registration in the Battle is tax-deductible thanks to a partnership we've formed with the Izaak Walton League of America.

But don't fret: If these 72- and 50-mile-sized events sound like too much for you, our "fun-run" style Kayak Run will be back. Please join us on Facebook and spread the word on all three events if you would. We can use all the help we can get to keep folks paddling on the Mighty Mo.

Exciting!

YEEHA! Another dozen paddlers have joined our event! We'll have an update on the roster so far and an interesting approach to the route today or tomorrow. Most importantly: THANK YOU! To all the paddlers who have signed up for this first-year event. We will have a safe - and super-fun - event and the forecast calls for mostly sunny and 84 for a high (knocking on wood that holds!) Write Jarett or call him with questions! WOOT WOOT!

Registration form

Apologies to any/all who have had trouble with the link to the form.

Please use this link for registration forms! Thank you for your patience.

Jarett

It's SO ON!

We're cooking with gas now!
Our first registered racer is signed up, we have TWO BUSSES to make sure the logistics of you, your boat and your car are smooth as glass and we're getting great traction on social media.
All we need now is you! Sign up today for this fun event. We'll bring some more fresh photos from the route - and perhaps some video - as soon as tomorrow.
Remember to write Jarett if you have questions or just fill out the registration form and send it in today!

More good news on the Kayak Run

Jack Frick of Yankton has agreed to let racers park in his lot. It's just east of the Yankton Visitors' Center off Fourth Street (SD Highway 50). So now we have even more places to park vehicles for you: You can use his lot, the one at the Visitors' Center or the City of Yankton's to the west of the center.

Many thanks to all parties for helping us with this!

We hope you'll join us on Aug. 17!

More details on the route!

You can click this link to go to a new set of images that explain the event in more details. Feel free to share with your paddling friends today!

We hope to see you on the water at Yankton Riverboat Days 2013!