The Payak

Coast Outdoors Payak is pleased to welcome new and returning sponsors, Rundle, KV+ and the Nordic Racers. They join our long-term sponsors Coast Outdoors, Salomon, Fischer and Swix, and Squamish Nesters. Without support from these businesses and clubs, this race would not be such a success!

This is a gentle reminder the pre-registration deadline was moved ahead to January 15, at midnight. The next price increase is February 15 at midnight.

In the event that organizers are forced to cancel due to COVID-19 restrictions, your registration will transfer to next year. If you cannot attend in 2023, please let us know in January, 2023, and you will be refunded at that time.

All participants, including volunteers, age 12 and over must be double-vaccinated for COVID-19. Uploading your QR code is part of the registration. Thank you for your understanding.

We are always striving to improve your experience at the Payak. After feedback that people enjoyed the 25 km option in the virtual challenge last year, organizers decided to keep that theme alive. This year there is no 30 km course for the live event, only the 25 km – one loop of the 50 km! So now those skiers will work through the biathlon 4 km loops, up Norwegian Woods, down Madeley Road and back into the trail system to Porter’s Glide and Around the World. There is a 30 km option for the virtual challenge. Click here to see the courses!

What a great turnout! There were 445 people, aged 5 to 75, who skied the Virtual Coast Outdoors Payak Challenge! From Whistler to Mt. Washington, Vernon, Ottawa and Quebec, the total distance skied was 12,120 km! That took participants 1,035 hours of skiing, or 43 days and 3 hours!

The winners of the distance challenge were Lyndsay Sayers (415 km) and Hector Aragon (100 km). Honorable mention goes to Karen Nakagawa (355 km) and Tobi Henderson (325 km). To win the distance challenge you needed to register for all distances skied, and upload your .gpx file to verify the ski.

Did you win a draw prize from one of our fantastic sponsors? Check the list and see! Please arrange to collect your prize by April 11 from Coast Outdoors. If you are unable to pick it up, alternate arrangements will be made, but do your best please so volunteers do not have to make shipping arrangements. Click here to see the final awards ceremony.

The first 75 first-time Payak registrants receive a toque. Click here to see if you are one of those registrants. You can pick these up at Coast Outdoors on Lynn Avenue in North Vancouver as well. Please try to pick up items within the next two weeks.