This morning, when the mushers awoke, the wind was still blowing strong out on the sea ice. Even though the community of Kangiqsujuaq was illuminated by a bright blue sky, above on the mountain plateaus where the dog teams were going to head, the wind was blowing even stronger blowing snow across the land and making for a very poor visibility. With blizzard warnings in effect on the other coast of Nunavik, created by strong winds blowing east over the eastern Hudson Bay and snowfalls, if it wasn’t here yet, it wasn’t going to be too long before it made its way here. The race officials hence decided to postpone the dog teams’ departure to prevent them from getting stuck out on the land in another blizzard. The dog teams will therefore wait for the bad weather to pass before heading out again, hopefully tomorrow, if not the next day.

______________________________

The race results found below reflect the following changes:

Some of the mushers’ partners will be going home and replaced by others as soon as the race starts over. Harry Okpik’s partner, Billy Keleutak, who hurt his knee on the rough trail from his hometown of Quaqtaq to Kangiqsujuaq and had to be replaced by Noah Annahatak’s son, Sandy, who had come to meet his father on the trail, will be replaced by another young man from Kangiqsujuaq, Juupi Qamugaaluk, who is very eager to go. Johnny Arnatuk’s partner, Johnny Tukkiapik, who’s old knee injury was awakened while running on the trail, will also be replaced by a young man from Kangiqsujuaq, Matiusi Alaku, who’s father hopes to see start his own dog team after this experience. Adamie Inukpuk’s 15 year-old partner, Simon Ningeok, who is suffering from a bad case of influenza, will be replaced by 17-year-old Billie Brian Kasudluak, who is also one of Adamie’s student at the Innalik school in Inukjuak.

Also note that George Kritik Jr. of Tasiujaq, changed his mind about continuing in the race and decided to finish here and go back home instead. The 22-year-old musher was originally going to race with Sandy Saunders from Kuujjuaq. They had decided to join six of their dogs each to make up a team of 12 dogs. Unfortunately, just before the race start in Quaqtaq, Sandy started suffering from an elbow and was sent home to Kuujjuaq to the hospital. Sandy however agreed for George to use his six dogs so that he would be able to race. George therefore had to find a partner at the very last minute. But after a few days spent in the race, he realized that the mixed team of dogs, which him and Sandy didn’t have the chance to train together before the race, was not quite ready to take on such a challenge, and hence decided to quit to prevent his dogs and Sandy’s from exhaustion. Kritik’s team will be brought home to Tasiujaq by plane in the next couple of days, along with George Nunga’s team who will be brought back to Puvirnituq thereafter.

15 dog teams hence remain in the race and will be ready to start as soon as the weather clears up, hopefully tomorrow, if not the next day.