Ivakkak musher chalks up fifth victory

Puvirnituq mushers Peter “Boy” Ittukalluk and Juani Nutaraaluk, pictured here mid-race, went on to finish second in the 2011 Ivakkak dog team race in Nunavik. The annual dog-sled race wrapped up in Salluit April 3. (PHOTO BY PIERRE DUNNIGAN)

Veteran musher Peter Kiatainaq is celebrating his fifth Ivakkak dog team race victory today.

Kiatainaq, his co-musher, son Peter Jr. and their dog team crossed the race’s finish line in Salluit on April 3 after 30 hours and six minutes on the trail.

The winners were closely followed by Puvirnituq’s Peter Boy Ittukallak and Juani Nutaraaluk (31:07), and Kuujjuaq’s Allen Gordon and Willie Ningiuruvik (31:27.)

A Salluit dog team has never participated in the Ivakkak race, but a record number of its residents showed up to welcome mushers to the finish line.

The 10th edition of Nunavik’s dog-sled competition wrapped up without incident after 15 teams completed the 356-km trek from Puvirnituq to Salluit.

The large turnout of supporters at the finish line was “a great feeling,” said race coordinator Jobie Epoo.

“This year we had an unusual blessing of good weather,” Epoo said. “We had one down day in Akulivik, but made the trip in six days.”

In 2010, 16 teams raced from Quaqtaq to Kuujjuaq, taking 10 days due to poor weather conditions.

Makivik Corp. helped launch Ivakkak in 2001 as a way to encourage a new interest in dog-sledding across the region.

Since then Epoo says there is a growing interest among young Nunavimmiut mushers.

In 2010, father and son team Noah and Sandy Annahatak participated in Ivakkak, but in 2011, Sandy Annahatak came back as the musher to his own team.

“There are more young people participating every year,” Epoo said.

The community of Salluit was hosting a community feast for participants and local residents on April 4, where prizes would be handed out to mushers.

Kiatainaq and his son will share the top prize, which includes a $12,000 gift certificate to use at local co-op stores, a trip for two to Montreal and $7,000 in cash.