Ivakkak 2009 was kicked off earlier today in Inukjuak, during lunch hour. It was such a beautiful day when the mushers got out to check on their dogs this morning, that, if it hadn’t been for the snow covering their sleds and equipment, it would have been hard to believe there was really a blizzard yesterday. But the calm after the storm didn’t last long, as the excitement of today’s start soon took over. After a prayer to bless the dog teams’ journey ahead, the racers rushed to harness their dogs, anxious to get going. At noon, Ivakkak’s official timekeeper Jackusie Ittukallak signalled Harry Okpik, who was lucky enough to draw the number 1 again this year, to get his dogs in gear. As the one-legged man crossed the starting line, the crowd’s enthusiasm grew into a roar, as everybody cheered him on, and each of the dog teams, leaving one after another, at one-minute intervals. But the 13 dog teams taking part in this eighth edition of the Ivakkak dog team race are just getting started, as they are in for a long, yet remarkable journey, with over 500 kilometres (300 miles) to cover (see The Race Trail, under the Race Information menu above). If all goes well, the dog teams should be in Puvirnituq by Friday afternoon, then off to Akulivik, and on their way again to Ivujivik, the northernmost community of Quebec, where they are expected to cross the finish line at the beginning of April, weather permitting of course.

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Passed once by four-time champion Peter Kiatainaq, Harry Okpik stayed ahead most of the day and was the first to arrive at the first checkpoint, in Nauligarvik, just a little over 65 kilometres (40 miles) from Inukjuak, where the racers are shacked up for the night in a few cabins and canvas tents.

But taking into account their time of departure at one minute interval earlier in the day, it’s Novalinga Novalinga’s team, who was second to make it to the checkpoint, that made the best time today, even before Kiatainaq’s (see race results below for more details).

According to the race officials report, the day went by smoothly for most of the dog teams, except maybe for Adamie Inukpuk and Juusipi Qisiiq, who’s dogs got tangled along the way. To get untangled, they had no choice but to cut off some of the dogs’ lines, letting them loose, which caused problems for other dog teams in the vicinity.

But all in all, it was a good first day out on the Ivakkak trail. Let’s just hope Mother Nature stays on the dog teams’ side, for the race to go on without further delays.

More news to come tomorrow…