The sixth edition of Nunavik’s annual dogsled race is scheduled to start on Monday, March 27. The dog teams will set out in the morning from Puvirnituq, one of the region’s largest community, located on the eastern Hudson Bay coast. The mushers and their racing partners will then have to face the elements to cross Nunavik from one coast to the other. A 525-kilometre journey in land will lead them to Kangirsuk, a smaller community settled on the shores of Ungava Bay, where they are expected to cross the finish line 10 days or so later. With a new set of rules in effect for Ivakkak 2006, it will be quite the challenge for the 15 dog teams registered in this year’s event (see Participants’ section under the Race Coverage menu).
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As a matter of fact, this year’s more onerous rules could potentially impact on the race’s results. Unlike previous years, daily timed stages and organized overnight camps have been eliminated to give more autonomy to the dog teams who will be able to run for as long as they want, from dawn to dusk. The race timer, which will begin ticking the instant the dog teams set out, will only stop when each of them crosses the finish line. Moreover, each team will be completely self-sufficient throughout the race, transporting themselves all the food and supplies required for their journey across Nunavik, without the support of a snowmobile. But, to make the trip more enjoyable, a partner will accompany each musher on his sled, to share the every day duty of running their team of 10 to 14 dogs.

Of course, to give the 180 or so animals a break from pulling this big load across an unknown territory to most, all teams will be required to stop for a full day at a checkpoint that has been set up on Payne Lake, about halfway in the race. But other than this mandatory stopover, the dog teams will not be encountering any other trail markers and will be completely on their own to travel across the relatively flat snow and ice-covered tundra, most vulnerable to weather, as hardly anything can stop the wind from blowing.

But their efforts will most definitely pay off, as the 15 participating teams will have a chance to take home some exceptional prizes, thanks to the generosity of the race’s loyal sponsors.
Not only will the 2006 champion and his partner be presented the Ivakkak Cup and a gold medal, they will also receive: from the FCNQ, a number of household items worth $9250 including four appliances, a leather living room sofa and easy-chair set plus mattresses; from the Makivik Corporation, two cheques for $3500 (totalling $7000) for each of the winning pair; and finally from First Air and Air Inuit, two return tickets to Montreal plus two nights accommodations at the Travelodge in Dorval.

Also from the Makivik Corporation, the pair that finishes in second place will receive two cheques for $2500 (total $5000), while the pair of bronze medallists will receive two cheques for $1500 (total $3000). Makivik will also award the fourth place finishers with two cheques for $1000 (total $2000), and the fifth place finishers with two cheques for $500 (total $1000).

As well, in the order that they finished the race, the second, third, fourth and fifth place finishers will be able to choose from the following prizes: a four-stroke Yamaha 1000i 2006 generator worth $1400 and a variety of snowmobile accessories from Kuujjuaq Motosport; two portable VHF/GPS radios and accessories worth $1500 from Umiak Builders; a Big Boggan fibreglass sled and camping gear worth $2300 from the North West Company; and finally, two hand-tailored parkas worth $1300 from Nunavik Creations.

For its part, the Avataq Cultural Institute will present $500 to each member of one team (total $1000) for an award in memory of the late Nutaraaluk Iyaituk, a previous Ivakkak musher who took great joy in going out with the dog teams each year for this challenge.

Various awards recognizing the talents of the racers, as well as participation prizes, will also be given out during the celebrations held following the end of the race, leaving no one empty handed.

Good luck to all!