Blackfish Paddles has teamed up with the legendary Yukon River Quest (YRQ) to launch a limited edition paddle, celebrating the race’s 25th anniversary.

Blackfish Paddles, backed by a team with deep experience in endurance SUP racing, continues to make its mark in the adventure and long distance paddling world. The brand has recently launched the all-new Yukon 520 paddle - built for high-performance adventure stand-up paddleboarding. 

Now, Blackfish has partnered with one of the most iconic marathon paddling races in the world - the Yukon River Quest (YRQ). This legendary 715 km / 444-mile race, known as the “Race to the Midnight Sun,” stretches from Whitehorse to Dawson City, Yukon, Canada, and will take place from 25-28 June. 

To mark the 25th anniversary of this unique paddling experience, Blackfish is releasing a dedicated paddle – The Yukon 520 YRQ Limited Edition. 

With only 25 paddles being made, the Yukon 520 YRQ Limited Edition is an exceptional, highly collectible paddle. Uncompromisingly built to power any SUP adventure or expedition. 

Cynthia Onions, YRQ Race Coordinator, Chris Prince, YRQ Board Member, and Peter Allen, Sales Director at Blackfish Paddles & ultra-endurance paddler, share their insights on the inspiration behind this remarkable collaboration and the enduring legacy of the race itself. 

What inspired this Blackfish x Yukon River Quest partnership?

Peter Allen: I am a huge fan of the Yukon River Quest (I have competed twice and am heading back this year) and with it being the 25th year I wanted to do something to mark this significant milestone and support the Yukon River Quest at the same time.  

We launched our new Yukon 520 model late 2024 and making a limited edition version of this paddle to mark the 25th year felt like an obvious choice!

What unique features, design elements set the limited-edition Yukon 520 paddle apart from the original version?

The Yukon River Quest is an endurance race through remote wilderness - it is a serious undertaking for any paddler.  We wanted the limited edition Yukon 520 to be worthy of the type of paddle the Yukon River Quest represents.  

We upgraded the blade layup to be a carbon/kevlar weave for extra strength and durability and reinforced the shaft with a kevlar wrap.

It will be available in a fixed length or two-piece adjustable options and come with a padded bag for transport and storage.

How do you hope this limited-edition paddle will contribute to the legacy of the Yukon River Quest’s 25th anniversary? 

It would be great to see the limited-edition Blackfish Paddles serve as a lasting tribute to the spirit of adventure, resilience, and community that defines the Yukon River Quest. 

Symbolically imprinted with the achievements of past and present paddlers. With only 25 handcrafted, it also makes for a unique and meaningful collectible.

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What message do you have for paddlers, supporters, and the community as the Yukon River Quest moves into its next 25 years?

Chris Prince: My message would be to keep doing all the wonderful things they have been doing to make this race such a big success over the last 25 years. It can only get better and keep growing with the people associated with this race and that is very exciting heading into the next 25. 

Cynthia Onions: The Yukon River Quest has grown into a bucket-list event for paddlers from around the world. To date, 3,981 racers from 37 countries have paddled a combined 2.5 million kilometers, experiencing unforgettable moments - from magical wildlife encounters to the camaraderie built with teammates, competitors, and volunteers. The support from the three communities along the race route has deepened over the years and is truly valued.

Twenty-five years ago, the race looked very different - limited to tandem canoes, with manual timing and no tracking. Gas-powered support boats were common along the whole race route. Back then, the fastest tandem canoe team finished in 56 hours; today, that time has been cut to 46 hours. Over time, we opened the race to kayaks and voyageur canoes, and in 2016, we introduced the stand-up paddleboard (SUP) category. Spectators and fellow paddlers were in awe as 11 SUP racers took on the challenge. Hawaii’s Bart de Zwart proved it was possible, finishing in 54:41:14. Just a few years later, Lincoln Dews shattered that record with a time of 47:46:32 in 2022.

The Yukon River Quest continues to evolve, but one thing remains constant—the determination, resilience, and spirit of every paddler who takes on this legendary race.

What makes the Yukon River Quest unique compared to other marathon paddling races around the world?

Chris: What makes the YRQ unique in my eyes is both the community associated with the race as well as the remote landscape of the Yukon. 

The group of volunteers and community members do such a wonderful job welcoming people to the Yukon and making everyone feel at home. There is no other race like it that brings such a family feeling to the entire experience. 

The vast landscape of the Yukon really gives you the feeling of remoteness as well as being in a rare untouched wilderness. The connection to the wild is really deep when you are going through such hardship in a location that is absolutely breathtaking. 

Cynthia: Paddlers consistently say they feel a deep connection to our communities, thanks to the warm welcome from volunteers and spectators. No other race combines extreme remoteness with such a challenging format. Racers paddle through the wilderness under the midnight sun, with only one mandatory 10-hour rest. This means there’s no time to pull over to sleep, eat, or even hydrate properly until reaching Carmacks, a whopping 300 kms from the start line

The Yukon River itself is a challenge—its channels shift from year to year, and Lake Laberge’s waves can rise suddenly, testing even the most experienced paddlers. Once racers leave Whitehorse and the field spreads out, they are largely on their own, with only their maps, their thoughts, and their endurance to guide them. With minimal road access and communication limited to SPOT or inReach devices, paddlers must be entirely self-sufficient. It’s this raw, immersive experience that makes the Yukon River Quest unlike any other paddling race in the world.

How do you hope this limited-edition paddle will contribute to the legacy of the Yukon River Quest’s 25th anniversary?

Chris: I think it will add to the memories for some as well as creating inspiration for others. The paddle matches what defines the toughness of the race for the SUP paddlers. It has both durability and strength mixed in with balance and finesse. True qualities of all of the SUP paddlers that enter our race. 

Cynthia: Blackfish Paddles is dedicated to efficiency and innovation—values that align closely with the Yukon River Quest’s mission. Just as we continuously refine the race experience, Blackfish has worked alongside marathon paddlers, like Chris, to develop cutting-edge technology that maximizes every stroke.

The SUP record set by Lincoln Dews remains an inspiration, pushing paddlers to find the best tools to surpass his record. We’re thrilled that Blackfish has partnered with the YRQ to provide the most advanced SUP paddle ever used in the race, with proceeds supporting the continued growth of this epic event. 

The Yukon 520 YRQ Limited Edition paddle is now available for pre-sale with the first paddles being shipped in April. Find out more and own a piece of history here.   

A portion of each paddle sale will be donated to the Yukon Marathon River Paddling Association (organizers of the YRQ race).