The NWT’s record low water levels have led organizers to cancel a jet boat race planned for the Hay River in June – but they say a race next year will be even better.
Trevor Beck, president of the Hay River Métis Government Council, is also the crew chief for the Reverse Elevation jet boat, driven by Tanner Froehlich with navigator Ty Wheat.
Froehlich was part of a team with Hay River roots that won a world title in the sport in 2019. Beck had been hoping to organize a race on the Hay River this summer to give the town “something positive” after years of floods and fires.
“The water is so low, we had to cancel unfortunately,” Beck told Cabin Radio late last week.
But he’s promising a bigger event featuring the whole town in June 2025, which he says will double as the first race of that summer’s world championship series.
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“Hay River’s had terrible luck lately, but I think that’s about to turn,” said Beck.
“We’re bringing the whole community in on it. We’re going to do a show ‘n’ shine, barbecues, some kids’ stuff, just throw everything at it. We’ve been talking to the town council and the mayor and they’re super excited to put this all together with us.”
Jet boat racing has been a thing on the Hay River for decades. (For evidence of that, just watch this footage from a TSN show recorded on the river in 1986.)
Beck said the last major race on the river took place in 2011.
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“Everybody was on the bank of the river watching these guys, including ourselves, and it ignited something in Tanner,” he said, describing how Froehlich went on to flourish in the sport.
“Now we’re completely addicted to it. The whole race family is amazing.”
Given everything the town and the region’s residents have been through lately, he said, another race is overdue.
“Those guys all want to come to Hay River and they love to race there. They can’t wait to see it in Hay River again. In 2011, the folks before us did a really good job. We’ve got big shoes to fill,” said Beck.
“In my political career, I get to deal with people in their worst times and people in their best times. With the floods and losing homes to the fire, I can’t wait to just bring something positive.
“It breaks my heart. I hear people leaving Hay River, and talking about leaving, and you know what? I’m still going to be here. There’s a big pile of super positive folks that are always going to be in the North, from the North. We’re going to work really hard to put it on.”
