And they’re off!

Kuujjuaq team Junior May, left and co-musher Tommy Kooktook harness their dogs at the starting line of the 2012 Ivakkak race March 13. (PHOTO BY PASCAL POULIN)

Five-time Ivakkak winner Peter Kiatainaq of Kangiqsujuaq took an early lead in the race March 13 as dog teams set off for Kuujjuaq. (PHOTO BY PASCAL POULIN)

Twelve dog teams run by Nunavik Inuit mushers took off from Kangiqsualujjuaq March 13 in light snow and winds as part of the 2012 edition of the Ivakkak dog team race from that community to Kangirsuk, 650 kilometres away.

The mushers and their teams were raring to go after an extra day of rest on March 12, when heavy snow and flurries hit and race organizers opted to delay the race’s start by a day.

Veteran musher and five-time Ivakkak champion Peter Kiatainaq of Kangiqsujuaq and his co-musher, son Peter Jr., took a large and early lead March 13 as teams raced southwest towards Kuujjuaq, in what may be the race’s longest and toughest stretch.

Following Kiatainaq was Tasiujaq musher Willie Cain and his co-musher Willie Cain Jr. Jr.; in third sat Willie Kulula and Gabriel St-Cyr of Quaqtaq.

Family, friends and fans of Ivakkak can follow the race live by clicking here.

That’s possible because all mushers and their support staff are fitted with SPOT GPS tracking devices to monitor their location throughout the race.

That will help ensure the teams are safe, as mushers are no longer racing in timed segments this year.

This year, teams are required to stop the end of each day and camp out together at predetermined checkpoints. Besides mandatory layovers in Kuujjuaq, Tasiujaq and Aupaluk, mushers will manage their own schedules and make their own decisions on how to pace their dog teams.

Canadian Rangers in each community visited by Ivakkak racers will be on stand-by in case of emergencies.

And for the second year in a row, veterinarian Julie Ducrocq joins the race to check in on the health of the 132 sled dogs participating.

The race is expected to take about 10 days to complete.

The first team to pass the finish line in Kangirsuk wins the race and its Ivakkak cup.

The champion also stands to receive a $12,000 gift certificate from the federation of co-operatives of northern Quebec, a $12,500 cash prize from the Makivik, a pair of return tickets to Montreal from First Air and a gift certificate for a stay at the Quality Inn Suites in Montreal.

The second and third place teams will also receive cash and prizes.

This year’s teams include:

• Harry Okpik and Junior Tukkiapik, Quaqtaq;

• Allen Gordon and Willie Ningiuruvik, Kuujjuaq;

• Willie Kulula and Gabriel St-Cyr, Quaqtaq;

• Johnny Arnatuq and Adamie Michaud, Quaqtaq;

• Noah Ningiuruvik and Minnie Ningiuruvik,Kangirsuk;

• Billy Cain and David Nayumik, Tasiujaq;

• Willie Cain Jr. and Willie Cain Jr. Jr., Tasiujaq;

• Peter Kiatainaq and Peter Kiatainaq Jr., Kangiqsujuaq;

• Peter Ittukallak and Juani Nutaraaluk, Puvurnituq;

• Novalinga Novalinga and Johnny Sivuaraapik, Puvurnituq;

• Junior May and Tommy Kooktook, Kuujjuaq; and,

• Johnny “Aakutaa” Angnatuk and Sammy Angnatuk, Tasiujaq.

See a map of the first leg of the race here.

Minnie Ningiuruvik of Kangirsuk, Ivakkak’s only female musher, prepares her dogs for the race’s starting line March 13. (PHOTO BY PASCAL POULIN)