Held across a mix of long upstream and downstream legs and a high-intensity circuit in Peace River, Alberta, the last three stages have tested not just speed but strategy. Timing has become critical, with gaps between top competitors in each class measured in seconds, not minutes. And while Canadian racers are leveraging home river advantage, the Kiwi teams remain in the fight.
Unlimited Class: Williamson slides, then surges
The biggest shake-up in the Unlimited Class came in Leg 5, where Regan Williamson (U777 Unicorn) slipped from second overall to fourth, overtaken by Canada’s Chad Burns and fellow Kiwi Kevin Hyde. Burns had the fastest time of the leg (0:22:47), with Humphrey just behind him at 0:23:00. Hyde posted a solid 0:24:18, while Williamson’s performance wasn’t enough to hold onto his early gains.
But Williamson answered back in Leg 6, a 33.8-kilometre circuit race consisting of three laps around the South Circuit with a mass start. He clocked the fastest time of the day—08:45, reclaiming momentum and proving he’s still a serious contender. While he remains fourth overall, his Leg 6 pace was a clear signal that he’s not done yet.
Meanwhile, Kevin Hyde has emerged as the most consistent of the Kiwi Unlimited drivers, moving up to third overall after six legs and continuing to put pressure on the Canadian frontrunners. Humphrey still leads overall, with Burns in second, though a Did Not Start for Burns in Leg 6 has narrowed the points gap.
A Class: Tom Kelly steady but faces pressure
Tom Kelly (A377) continues to hold sixth overall and second in A Class, sticking closely behind Canada’s Spencer King. Kelly’s last two races—both 72.4-kilometre long legs—showed him edging closer to King’s pace.
Leg 4 took racers upstream from Riverfront Park to Watino Boat Launch on the Smoky River. Leg 5 reversed that direction, with a downstream return from Watino to Riverfront Park.
Kelly delivered solid runs but was hit by a setback in Leg 6, posting a 15:22 DNS time in the circuit race. That has put Canada’s Darin Cage just three seconds behind him overall, threatening his position heading into the next venue. Kelly will need a strong recovery in the next round of racing.
CX Class: Seconds separate top three
In one of the tightest battles of the championship, the CX Class remains a three-way showdown between Canada’s Tanner Froehlich, Jeremy Hand, and New Zealand’s Justin Hill.
Justin Hill, in CX248 Aftershock, briefly dropped to 11th overall after Leg 4, but rebounded to reclaim 10th overall by the end of Leg 6. He now sits third in CX Class, just 30 seconds behind Hand, with Froehlich slightly further ahead. With less than a minute separating the top three, every corner, surge, and split-second decision counts.
Froehlich claimed the class lead after Leg 5, while Hand—previously the front-runner—dropped to second. Hill’s steady improvement and ability to stay in touch with the leaders is keeping this class one of the most unpredictable on the water.
Legs 4–6 snapshot
- Leg 4 (72.4 km) – Long upstream run from Riverfront Park to Watino Boat Launch (10:00 AM start).
- Leg 5 (72.4 km) – Downstream return from Watino Boat Launch to Riverfront Park (1:00 PM start).
- Leg 6 (33.8 km) – Circuit race around the South Circuit (3 laps) with a 4:00 PM mass start.
These three legs marked a turning point in the championship, shaking up standings and tightening time margins—particularly in the CX Class and Unlimited Class chases.
Looking ahead: travel day and Grande Prairie stages
There is no racing scheduled on Monday, 23 June (Canadian time) as teams travel to Grande Prairie, Alberta for the next phase of competition. Racing resumes Tuesday with two major long-leg stages:
- Leg 7 (93.3 km) – Magoo’s Landing to Canfor Bridge/McLeod Flatts (10:00 AM).
- Leg 8 (93.3 km) – Return from Canfor Bridge/McLeod Flatts to Magoo’s Landing (2:00 PM).
With long stretches ahead and new river conditions to contend with, the next two legs offer opportunities for comeback, redemption—or further disruption. For the Kiwi racers, the mission is clear: stay sharp, drive clean, and make every second count.
