About SDKC

Description

The South Dakota Kayak Challenge is the first marathon-endurance paddling race in the state.

Racers will face 75 miles on the Missouri National Recreational River, starting in history-rich Yankton, S.D., and ending in less than 36 hours in Sioux City, Iowa.

The SDKC portion of the Missouri National Recreational River varies greatly, from narrow channels between islands to areas where the river is more than a quarter-mile wide. Views from Google Earth or even Google Maps can give you an accurate view of the area.

As a first time event aimed at a wide range of paddlers, the SDKC timeframe is 36 hours for all participants. As registrations come in, we hope to develop a series of cut-off times for racing veterans and offer cash prize incentives.

Supporting communities

The South Dakota Kayak Challenge organizers give many thanks to the South Dakota cities of Yankton, Vermillion, Elk Point, Burbank, North Sioux City, Dakota Dunes, McCook Lake,the Nebraska communities of Newcastle, Ponca, and South Sioux City, and our finish-line host city in Iowa, Sioux City.

The support of citizens of these fine towns and cities makes our efforts to get a race on this beautiful natural resource makes the race possible. We offer our thanks to the vibrant Missouri River community that stretches from North Dakota to Omaha, since up and down this stretch people have voiced their support of this inaugural event.

How do I get started?

We recommend reading through our site. We have links to a number of other races of this type, and as a first year event, we invite potential SDKC racers to visit some of the web sites of races like the Texas Water Safari, the Kansas River "Gritty Fitty", the Missouri River 340, and the Colorado River 100 to see what a marathon-endurance race can be like.

The South Dakota Kayak Challenge is a marathon-endurance paddling race on the Missouri River. The race length is about 75 miles. Racers will have 36 hours to reach the finish line in Sioux City after they leave the start on Saturday at 8 a.m. in Yankton. Racers will have five checkpoints on the route.

Experienced racers will probably finish the race in less than one-third the allowed time. But we want veterans and newcomers alike to take part and not feel that they will train, travel, and give up their Memorial Day weekend, only to miss a time cut-off and be “out” of the race.

You can e-mail the SDKC race organizers directly at these links:
Steven Dahlmeier, steven (at) sdkayakchallenge (dot) org
Jarett Bies, jarett (at) sdkayakchallenge (dot) org for more information.

How much does it cost?

Registration for all racers will be $50 per person. Hence a tandem kayak team would need to pay $100 to race.
A portion of the cost will be used to purchase insurance. We plan to use a mail-in registration only, to save money and inconvenience.

Are there multiple classes for racers?

SDKC organizers want to keep things as simple as possible, so the categories for racing will include:

Men, single
Women, single
Mixed team
Men’s team
Women’s team

If we have enough competitors, we will set time cut-offs and make two classes: Racers and Adventurers.
Check back often to see if we can offer this additional feature to our 2010 race.

How do I train?

Veterans of marathon-endurance paddling events, we guess, will see our South Dakota race as a sprint. Our sources have said that a race of this length will most likely be seen as a “sprint” for experienced racing kayakers and teams. Newcomers may scoff at the idea of finishing 70-plus miles in 36 hours, based on their own recreational or touring experiences on rivers.

But let’s look at example:

If Kayaker A covers about 77 miles on his or her route, they would need to average only

2.3 miles per hour

To finish in the time allowed. At a somewhat typical paddling speed of 4 mph, you could cover 80 miles in 20 hours.

Figure in a break or two, and the challenges of night travel, and you can see how “doable” a race like this can be.

Extensive training is recommended. A race of more than 70 miles will challenge almost anyone, and the river is neither tame nor overly aggressive. SO start training now to be ready for the Challenge!

What boats will race?

The South Dakota Kayak Challenge is open to any paddle-powered craft, and the route should allow canoes, kayaks, racing craft of any designs, surf-skis, just about anything. We will open our race to wind-assisted craft, but they will not directly “compete” with paddle-only craft.

Mission statement

Our goal is to safely host a new paddling event in the state of South Dakota, a challenging one where competitors of many skill levels paddle one of the most beautiful stretches of the Missouri River, and in doing so, remind all who race, support, volunteer, and watch the race of the necessity of ongoing care of this amazing treasure called the Mighty Mo.

Schedule of events

Friday, May 28
7:30 p.m. Pre-race briefing for all participants and crews.

Saturday, May 29
8 a.m. race begins in Yankton

Sunday, May 30
8 p.m. race ends in Sioux City

Insurance

We will offer USCA race insurance and require it for all participants. The fee is minor and we aim to include it in the registration cost.

Safety

Local emergency medical teams are part of the South Dakota Kayak Challenge team.

Safety boat crews will patrol the waters of the course as necessary, including U.S. Coast Guard teams.
Emergency medical care will either be on-site or readily available during the event. Most of the race is near river access points and will give us plenty of safe places to evacuate racers if needed.

Emergency medical numbers will be given to all participants.
Cell service in the area is limited and radio communications equipment is encouraged but not required.
An established race channel will be established during the pre-race meeting.
Three mandatory checkpoints will be established, with a mandatory check in and out.
Failure to comply will result in disqualification.

Each participant must have a coast guard approved type I, II, III or V Personal Floatation Device (PFD) in his/her possession while on the water. Each boat must have at least one whistle while on the water.

Mandatory equipment

Cell phone or two-way communication device
Coast Guard approved PFD for each person in boat
Lights for night racing
Two liters water per person onboard
Whistle and mirror on each craft

Good idea stuff
GPS
Spare Paddle

Cut-offs and checkpoints
This event has a 36-hour time limit for all paddlers in all classes.
There will be four checkpoints.
Racers must reach checkpoints in a reasonable amount of time, but to promote an “as many racers as possible” goal, we will not cut off racers who fail to make it to a check point “in time.”

Support teams
Each participant is allowed unlimited race support at the few locations where vehicles can access the water. No replacement paddlers or boats.
Racers may self-support using any of the listed spots.

Age restrictions
Children ages 16 and younger must paddle in tandem kayaks or in a team of two or more boats with a parent or legal guardian.

Race shuttles
The SDKC will offer no-cost vehicle shuttle from the starting point of the race to a parking area near the finish line.

Awards and post-race
All participants will receive t-shirts.
We hope to include awards for top finishers, and we’ll develop more details on this as soon as possible.

DNF on the Course
Paddlers who fail to notify race authorities after choosing to exit the race will be banned from future South Dakota Kayak Challenge events.

Sportsmanship
No win is worth the loss of life. Race camaraderie is encouraged on this oft-challenging water.
Race officials will weigh in on line-crossing rudeness between racers, and penalties include disqualification.

Logical “leave-no-trace” rules
Racers who discard anything into the river or who fail to maintain gear accountability are subject to penalty. Litter, trash, etc. are verboten.

The River Creed
The organizers of the South Dakota Kayak Challenge, when faced with a unforeseen hazard or conflict, reserve permission to revise any of the information on this Web site and on publications or information offered on the site, or on the water.