Cancellation of 2022 Kluane to Chilkat International Bike Relay

Cancellation of 2022 Kluane to Chilkat International Bike Relay

February 23, 2022

The Board of the Kluane to Chilkat International Bike Relay is sad to announce that the 2022 bike relay is postponed until June 17 2023. Challenges related to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic make staging the event potentially unsafe and unfeasible. Key factors connected to this decision are as follows.

First and foremost, requirements for entry into Canada currently pose a barrier to the event.

• All visitors to Canada must present proof of vaccination and a lab-based negative COVID test, taken within 72 hours of entry.
• These tight timelines and limited testing capacities make it difficult for Americans to enter Canada, or for Canadians to return home after finishing the bike ride in Haines.

Secondly: Haines Junction YT and Haines AK – the Start and Finish Lines

• The Village of Haines Junction and the Champagne and Aishihik First Nation are an essential and valued partner with our event. The welfare of their community is important to us and as such, we wish to respect their current request – that all visitors refrain from non-essential travel to their community.
• The board wants to consider and respect the health of all Haines, Haines Junction and First Nations residents.

A strategic decision on the 2022 event was postponed several times, hoping for better news on the pandemic, and related travel restrictions. There are lead times required to set up registration systems, confirm volunteers, attain permits and make a COVID mitigation plan. As a result, the board had to make a decision with the best available facts.

We are disappointed that we are unable to host the 2022 KCIBR event and we imagine that many of you are as well. We ask that everyone keep themselves safe until the pandemic eases. Don’t’ lose faith, we will be back! Mark your calendars for Saturday, June 17, 2023. We hope to see you all in person then.