Alaskans in short supply

A year ago, 14 teams with Alaska paddlers participated. This year, just five Alaska teams are among the 80 that will begin paddling Wednesday.

Anchorage canoeists Larry Seethaler and Brenda Forsythe will look to improve on their fifth-place finish in the tandem canoe mixed category. The duo's time of 59 hours, 7 minutes put them 33rd overall, making them the strongest returning Alaska team.

Seethaler has completed all 12 previous Quests; Forsythe has done eight.

The nonstop race includes two mandatory stops totaling 10 hours. More than $36,000 in prize money is awarded.

Fairbanks solo kayaker Rick Hoegberg believes he's figured out a way to gain more speed between Whitehorse to Dawson.

"More coffee and more ibuprofen," Hoegberg said seriously.

By staying awake and avoiding the aches and pains associated with paddling a kayak that far, Hoegberg hopes to cut at least eight hours off his last year's time of 67 hours, 11 minutes.

That placed him 52nd out of 56 finishers.

"I went over my performance with a fine-tooth comb afterwards," the 53-year-old Hoegberg said. "I know where I can do better."

Hoegberg said he also will be using a rudder on the 18-foot wooden kayak he built and used in last year's race.

"I stuck with the same boat this year but put a rudder system on," he said. "I was one of only two boats without a rudder last year."

The rudder will allow him to steer better so he doesn't waste strokes.

"Even when you're going straight, the rudder helps reduce the wobble," he said.

The 11th annual Yukon River Quest begins in Whitehorse. All together, there are 80 teams entered, down slightly from the 84 last year.

It will take the fastest paddlers less than two days to reach the finish in Dawson. Last year's fastest time of 40:52 was clocked by a team of eight Texans in a voyager canoe. The fastest solo paddler was a California kayaker who finished third overall in 44:24.

The Quest's version of the mythic 4-minute-mile barroer is the 40-hour paddle. The race record is 39 hours, 32 minutes, 43 seconds.

Hoegberg has put in about 500 miles of paddling in preparation.

He made the 160-mile trip from Fairbanks to Manley on the Tanana River during Memorial Day weekend and was planning to do the same trip two weeks ago but a fierce headwind forced him to stop in Nenana, 60 miles into the trip.

"It took me 13 hours to get to Nenana, and it normally takes eight," he said.

Reach Mike Campbell at mcampbell@adn.com or 257-4329. Fairbanks News-Miner outdoors editor Tim Mowry contributed to this report.

Alaskans in Yukon River Quest

Beginning Wednesday in Whitehorse

Men's Solo Kayak -- 1) David Peters, 50, of Eagle River, a veteran of the Iditasport and the Alaska Mountain Wilderness Classic; 2) Severin Nelson, 28, of Skagway, a former Arkansas whitewater guide; 3) Rick Hoegberg, 53, of Fairbanks is entered for the third consecutive year.

Tandem Kayak Mixed -- Mike Buck, 55, of Valdez and Teri Buck, 47, of Anchorage, two race rookies.

Tandem Canoe Mixed -- Larry Seethaler, 67, and Brenda Forsythe, 52 of Anchorage. The hugely experienced duo looks to improve on the 33rd-place finish last year. Seethaler has raced all 10 Yukon River Quests, and Forsythe has completed eight.