At exactly 10:50 this morning, the Ivakkak race official gave the countdown, signalling the dog teams to get ready to take off. 5, 4, 3, 2, 1…. « Uit!, uit! », the mushers shouted out to their dogs, giving them the signal to go. The crowd roared in excitement as, one by one, the dog teams crossed the Puvirnituq starting line and were on their way to a new adventure. A few hours later, as the sun set, the strong huskies had already pulled their masters a third of the way to the halfway checkpoint, some covering over 85 kilometres (53 miles) on this first race day. At that speed, the race may very well end sooner than expected in Kangirsuk…
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The Nunavik’s Arch Bishop, Benjamin Arreak, who happened to be in the Puvirnituq at the time, and local Anglican minister Jonah Alooloo blessed the dog team owners and their partners before they headed out of the community. Makivik President, Pita Aatami and Corporate Secretary, George Berthe, whose department is in charge of the race’s organization, also had a few words of encouragements for the participants in this 2006 edition of Ivakkak. Other Makivik executives and leaders of the Kativik Regional Government (KRG), one of Ivakkak’s great supporters, also made the trip to wish the dog teams well.
Once the start signal was given for each team, with one-minute intervals, the dog teams got on their way. As they each crossed the starting line, set up on the ice in front of the community, the crowd gathered for the occasion roared, even more so for local teams, and especially for their youngest participant, 17-year-old Poasi Kenuajuak.
Although some of the teams’ sleds were packed quite heavily, the dogs, full of energy and eager to go, left in a hurry. Others, who had packed more lightly, bringing only dry food and only what was absolutely necessary, some even cutting their toothbrush in half to carry less weight, whizzed through the starting line. Thankfully, the temperature had cooled down in the last couple of days, after having been unusually mild for this time of year, and making for very soft snow. The trail, still a bit soft, didn’t seem, however, to bother the dog teams who raced their way across the rather flat land. But it was still too soft for Tamusi Sivuaraapik, who bragged that he knew a faster way to Payne Lake, to go off the trail left by the race official and snowmobile safety patrol.
At 6:00 PM, after running his dogs just a little over 7 hours, the two-time Ivakkak champion, Peter Kiatainaq’s team was the first to pass the cabin at Aanninguarvik, a place considered to be halfway between Puvirnituq and the western end of Payne Lake, which the dog teams will have to cross completely before they reach the race’s halfway checkpoint, located at a hunting and fishing outfitting camp on the eastern end of the lake. Over an hour later, a little while after the sun set, it was the Séguin brothers’ turn to pass the cabin and settle for the night a little further, over 85 kilometres (53 miles) from the starting line in Puvirnituq.
A few kilometres behind, just before the Aanninguarvik cabin, Novalinga Novalinga, Tamusi Sivuaraapik, Matthew Nassak and their partners also decided to stop for the night, camping out together in their round canvass tents. Harry Okpik, Willie Cain Jr., Peter “Boy” Ittukallak and their partners did the same, just a couple of kilometres behind.
A little further, at about 65 kilometres (40 miles) from their hometown, Poasi Kenuajuak, his partner, and the Beaulne brothers, had also stopped as night started falling, before their dogs got too tired. Although they are camped out on a small lake 20 kilometres (13 miles) or so behind the other teams, their strategy might pay off tomorrow. Since their dogs won’t be as tired as the others, they may very well pas a couple of teams on their way, as they will be heading out early in the morning.
As for the other guys, at the time of writing this update, we hadn’t heard from them yet, but they are probably not far behind. We do believe, however, that Simeonie Elijasiapik’s team is trailing in last place, as he and his son Arthur had to sort out a spaghetti of tangled ropes just a little ways after the start in Puvirnituq, which made them lose precious time.
The race official, Jackusie Ittukallak, and half of the snowmobile safety patrol (Paulusie Novalinga, Matiusi Tulugak and David Pinguapik) are camped at Parry Lake, over 30 kilometres (20 miles) down the trail, and will be on the look out to see the leading teams pass tomorrow morning.
Meanwhile, the other half of the snowmobile safety patrol (Eyetsiak Nungak, Elijah Tukkiapik, James Napartuk and Aisa Ajagutainaq Iqiquq) are spending the night in the Aanninguarvik cabin, and will be watching out for the rest of the pack to pass at sunrise tomorrow. After this very full first day, the dog teams’ pace might settle to a slower one, as they will have to climb some slopes on the trail ahead. Nonetheless, it is expected that most teams make it to the western end of Payne Lake sometime tomorrow, and the next day to the checkpoint at the other end of Payne Lake, which is some 80 kilometres (50 miles) long.
To be continued tomorrow…
| Rank |  |
Racer | |
Start | |
Arrival | |
Arrival date | |
Total Time |
| 1. | |
Peter Kiatainaq (#2) | |
10:51:00 | |
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| 2. |
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John Jack Séguin (#8) | |
10:57:00 | |
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| 3. |
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Novalinga Novalinga (#3) | |
10:52:00 | |
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| 4. |
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Tamusi Sivuaraapik (#15) | |
11:03:00 | |
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| 5. |
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Matthew Nassak (#16) | |
11:04:00 | |
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| 6. |
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Harry Okpik (#5) | |
10:54:00 | |
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| 7. |
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Willie Cain Jr. (#6) | |
10:55:00 | |
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| 8. |
|
Peter Ittukallak (#1) | |
10:50:00 | |
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| 9. |
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Poasi Kenuajuak (#10) | |
10:59:00 | |
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| 10. |
|
Jani-Marik Beaulne (#12) | |
11:01:00 | |
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| 11. |
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Adamie Inukpuk (#4) | |
10:53:00 | |
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| 12. |
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Johnny Arnatuk (#14) | |
11:02:00 | |
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| 13. |
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Jusipi Lucassie (#11) | |
11:00:00 | |
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| 14. |
|
Adamie Qumak (#7) | |
10:56:00 | |
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| 15. |
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Simeonie Elijasiapik (#9) | |
10:58:00 | |
