April 2, 2011 Almost there!

April 1, 2011  The dog teams are now more than half way thru the race

March 31, 2011  The teams are at “the tastiest part”

March 30, 2011 The teams unwind in Akulivik before tomorrow’s continuation

March 29, 2011 The dog teams reach Akulivik

March 28, 2011 The 10th edition of Ivakkak hit the trails

March 27, 2011  The Ivakkak 2011 Mushers are ready!

March 21, 2011 Ivakkak 2011

The top five winners of the race are # 9 Peter Kiatainaq & Peter Jr of Kangiqsujuaq, # 15 Peter “Boy” Ittukallak & Juani Nutaraaluk of Puvirnitq, # 6 Allen Gordon & Willie Ningiurivik of Kuujjuaq, # 4 Harry Okpik & Adamie Kauki & Adamie Kauki and in 5th place are Willie Kulula & Piari Kulula St-Cyr of Quaqtaq. Congratulations!
Peter claims the Ivakkak Champion Cup back for the 5th time.

The award ceremony will be taking place this evening April 4th followed by a community feast organized by the local Northern Village of Salluit in honor of Ivakkak 2011.  Also the community is organizing an afternoon of dog team rides for the children of Salluit

Hats off to each and every dog team who participated in Ivakkak 2011 along with every member of the support crew, coordinators, the veterinarian, the photographer, the community members of Puvirnituq, Akulivik and Salluit, the sponsors and all the Ivakkak fans who visited this page!

PRIZES

1st PRIZE: Peter Kiatainaq & Peter Kiatainaq Jr.

$12,000 gift certificate good for any purchase made at any co-op throughout Nunavik or on order at the selling price (taxes and shipping included) offered by the Fédération des coopératives du Nouveau-Québec (FCNQ) to the champion.

Cash Prize of $7000 in total for the champion offered by Makivik Corporation

A pair of plane tickets to Montreal offered by First Air
Two night(s) for two offered by the Dorval Airport Travelodge

Ivakkak Cup to bring to home

2 gold medals and champion trophies

$500.00 from Kativik Municipal Housing Bureau

2 sealskin hats (retail value of $350 each) 
offered by Nunavik Creations

2nd PRIZE: Peter Ittukallak & Juani Nutaraaluk

Cash Prize of $8000 in total for the silver medalist offered by Makivik Corporation

A plane ticket to Montreal offered by First Air

Ivakkak Cup to bring to home

2 silver medals and participation trophies

$300.00 from Kativik Municipal Housing Bureau

3rd PRIZE: Allen Gordon & Willie Ningiuruvik

Cash Prize of $4000 in total for the bronze medalist offered by Makivik Corporation

Free Cargo for 200 kilos of goods on First Air

Ivakkak Cup to bring to home

2 bronze medals and participation trophies

$200.00 from Kativik Municipal Housing Bureau

4th PRIZE: Harry Okpik & Adamie Kauki

Cash Prizes of $2500 in total offered by Makivik Corporation

Free Cargo for 100 kilos of goods on First Air

5th PRIZE: Willie Kulula & Piari St-Cyr Kulula

Cash Prize of $1500 in total offered by Makivik Corporation

Free Cargo for 50 kilos of goods on First Air

OTHER PARTICIPATION PRIZES:

The owner of all other dog teams owners will get a $1000 participation prize.  All partners will get $750 participation prize offered by Makivik Corporation.

TAMUSI SIVUARAAPIK AWARD ($1,000 from Makivik and plaque to musher only)

Criteria:

Most valuable player
Competitive
Ready to go no matter what (in terms of trail conditions and cold temperature)

*Still to be decided amongst the race officials

Avataq Award (two plaques and the two certificates of $1,000 for the Avataq prizes)

Promoting the tradition of dog sledding to the younger generation

Note: They will also leave with a few bags of Inukshuk Dog Food offered by the FCNQ

*Still to be decided amongst the race officials

Adamie Inupuk, who has been participating as musher since the inception of Ivakkak, sadly lost one of his lead dogs today. The dog had been very sick and dehydrated yesterday did not make it to the end of today’s checkpoint.

Nevertheless everyone is pretty enthusiastic to cross the finish line on Sunday afternoon, they will be departing from the last checkpoint at 10:00 AM.

They are now at Kuuvvik camp checkpoint, a river is known for char fishing. Johnny Qaqutuk, who is the trail marker of Ivakkak 2011, had arrived to the camp earlier then everyone set up some nets and had fresh char for when the teams arrived.

Julie Ducrocq, the vet of Ivakkak 2011 has also been busy. She has been evaluating the dogs, making sure they are healthy with normal vital sign and giving them small treatments such as applying cream on the dogs paws to protect them from getting blisters. Minnie Ningiuruvik, the other girl in Ivakkak 2011 is also doing very well for a first timer. Overall everyone is getting more and more excited as they get are closer to the finish line in Salluit.

10:00 AM will be tomorrow’s departure toward the last checkpoint before crossing the finish line on Sunday afternoon.

There was gray skies for most of the day with a temperature of -15 and winds from the south.

Overall they had a good run today on mostly flat lands and made 61 kms of distance to an area called Mamarnialuk which translates to “the tastiest part”. Rougher and more rugged terrains are what lie ahead on tomorrow’s trails.  The skies began to clear as the teams were retiring for the night.  They will continue tomorrow morning at 10:00 AM.

They are expected to reach the finish line on Sunday April 3rd if all goes well and the weather conditions permit them to travel across the rigorous land.

The race will resume tomorrow morning at 9:00 AM.

During the run, 2 dogs ended up loose creating disarray on the mushers’ momentum where Jusipi Qissiq, Sandy Annahatak’s partner (#12) got run into by their qamutik as a result. He did not get gravely harmed. It was quite rough towards the end of today’s trip where there were rough patches on the ice nearing the community and they had to maneuver their sleds quit abit. Despite this small disruption, everyone was in a good mood.

Once they had reached the community, it was decided by majority vote that the mushers stay and extra night in Akulivik. This will allow them to “recharge their batteries” and to dry all their equipment properly. The race will resume on Friday March 31st.

As the departure day came with clear blue skies, there was excitement in the air, the mushers were all at the site by 9:30 to where the dogs were tied who were howling and eager to begin their journey. Many volunteers, community members and school children accompanied by their teachers made it to the departure site to show their support. It was like a continuation for the culturally themed Puvinituq Snow festival that took place the week before.

Billy Cain and his partner Arther Munick of Tasiujaq were the first to take off at 10:30 followed by one minute intervals between each team departures. There was loud and enthusiastic cheers’ for each teams from the crowds especially for the Puvirnituq participants, naturally.

This 10th edition race marks the first time in Ivakkak history where an official veterinarian, Julie Ducrocq, is a part of the Ivakkak team. Julie has worked in the Nunavik region before so she is familiar with the vast territory. The first day on the job, Julie had to tend to 10-12 dogs who suffered minor injuries on their paws from the bristly terrain.

A total distance of 67 kilometers was achieved today where the teams set up camp at a place called Niaqunnguuq. Everyone was in good spirits and they were all happy to be out on the land, helping each other out setting up camp for the night.

10:00 AM will be the departure time from Niaqunnguuq to Akulivik. Another beautiful day is in the forecast for tomorrow.

One of the mushers, Harry Okpik, took part in the 14 mile local dog team race organized by the snow festival and ranked 1st place. Also, there was a community feast in honour of Ivakkak 2011 that took place this evening generously organized by the kind coordinators of the Puvirnituq Snow Festival. Nakurmiik!

The 356 km race is scheduled to begin on Monday March 28, 2011 at 10:30 AM to makes its way to the finish line to the community of Salluit. The quest is expected to last about 6 days depending on weather.

Gallery 2002

Gallery 2003

Gallery 2004

Gallery 2005

Gallery 2006

Gallery 2010

Gallery 2011