Thank you for your interest in volunteering at the Red River Paddle Challenge! Volunteers are essential for the Red River Paddle Challenge. Join us for the following duties:
Pre-race set up and Registration
Help racers unload vehicles, provide answers about the race and check-in racers. These duties take place from around 6:00 a.m. race day morning until 9:00 am when the race starts, all at St Vital Park in Winnipeg. We work together to make sure people are in the right place as the event starts, assisting unsupported crews with their boats and gear. Volunteers who want to see the start and don’t mind an early wake-up – this is a perfect place to get involved.
Checkpoints
This is a priority volunteer assignment, as volunteers host three checkpoints between St Vital Park and the finish line throughout the event. The first one opens around 10 a.m., while the second and third checkpoints will open as the race progresses. At each checkpoint, we need volunteers to record racers as they check in, cheer them on, and provide them with water, snacks, and other general duties. We expect to have volunteers on site throughout the race, but won’t ask anyone to work late – unless they are game.
There are three checkpoints during the race:
Volunteers on checkpoints will get training on their operation when they arrive.
On-water safety/spotters
This volunteer opportunity is open to any powered watercraft. We are looking for fishing and recreation powered boats that can shepherd our paddlers on the course. The key role of on-water staff is communication and observation. We will need boats and volunteers in this area from 8:30 a.m. until the final racer crosses the finish line. Volunteers will be asked to patrol specific areas only, unless they feel compelled to travel from start to finish.
Finish line staff
At the finish line, we’ll record the finishing time of racers as they hit the finish line on the Red River at our Lockport finish HQ. We’ll also assist racers as they finish with their boats and gear. Celebrating their accomplishments is a big part of the finish-line duties.
Events Planning Committee
The purpose of the planning committee is to assist in all aspects of the event planning, logistics, event day volunteers, sponsorships, marketing, social media, etc. The committee typically meets virtually once a month, and then more frequently as needed closer to the event date (e.g., once a week during September). Interested? We’d love to hear from you!