The Yukon 800 Marathon, also known as the Yukon 800 Mile Marathon or simply the Yukon 800, is an annual speedboat race held in June. The race is run from

Fairbanks, Alaska Fairbanks is a home rule city and the borough seat of the Fairbanks North Star Borough in the U.S. state of Alaska. Fairbanks is the largest city in the Interior region of Alaska and the second largest in the state. The 2020 Census put the po ...

Galena, Alaska Galena () (''Notaalee Denh'' in Koyukon) is a city in the Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area in the U.S. state of Alaska. At the 2020 census the population was 472, slightly up from 470 in 2010. Galena was established in 1918, and a military airfield was ...

and back, on the Chena, Tanana, and

Yukon Yukon (; ; formerly called Yukon Territory and also referred to as the Yukon) is the smallest and westernmost of Canada's three territories. It also is the second-least populated province or territory in Canada, with a population of 43,964 as ...

rivers. The idea for the race was generated in 1959 and was originally run from

Circle, Alaska Circle (also called Circle City; Gwichʼin: ) is a census-designated place (CDP) in Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, Alaska, United States. At the 2010 census the population was 104, up from 100 in 2000. Circle is northeast of Fairbanks at the en ...

to Fairbanks, via

Fort Yukon Fort Yukon (''Gwichyaa Zheh'' in Gwich'in) is a city in the Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area in the U.S. state of Alaska, straddling the Arctic Circle. The population, predominantly Gwich'in Alaska Natives, was 583 at the 2010 census, down from 595 ...

. The first race was run in 1960 and was called the Arctic Circle Marathon. (The current route no longer crosses the

Arctic Circle The Arctic Circle is one of the two polar circles, and the most northerly of the five major circles of latitude as shown on maps of Earth. Its southern equivalent is the Antarctic Circle. The Arctic Circle marks the southernmost latitude at w ...

.) Ray Kasola was the winner of the inaugural race. In 1964, the race course was changed from Fairbanks to

Ruby A ruby is a pinkish red to blood-red colored gemstone, a variety of the mineral corundum ( aluminium oxide). Ruby is one of the most popular traditional jewelry gems and is very durable. Other varieties of gem-quality corundum are called sa ...

and back, and in 1972 was extended to Galena. Competitors build their own 24-foot boats, which are required to have standard 50hp engines. The race can be dangerous and hard on the boats; in 2014, for instance, only two competitors finished the race. One of the two 2014 finishers, first-place Tom Kriska, has gone on to become a five-time winner. Harold Attla is the winningest competitor, having finished first 10 times between 1992 and 2011. The event was inducted into the

Alaska Sports Hall of Fame The Alaska Sports Hall of Fame honors Alaskan athletes, coaches, contributors, recurring events, and historic moments that have significantly impacted the sporting landscape of Alaska. The Hall was established in 2006 and the first class was ind ...

in 2020.Hall of Fame inducts Yukon 800 riverboat race
''Fairbanks Daily News-Miner'', December 13, 2019.

References

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External links

Official website
Motorboat races Culture of Fairbanks, Alaska Annual sporting events in the United States Recurring sporting events established in 1960 Sports in Fairbanks, Alaska