For Peter Kiatainaq, it’s Ivakkak win number six

Willie Cain Jr.’s team gets a celebratory hug after crossing the Ivakkak finish line in second place March 20, at 8:30 p.m. (PHOTO BY PIERRE DUNNIGAN/ COURTESY OF MAKIVIK CORP.)

Nunavik musher Peter Kiatainaq and his son Peter Jr. are hoisted above the crowd March 20 in celebration of his sixth Ivakkak victory. The dog sled team from Kangiqsujuaq crossed the race’s finish line in Kangirsuk March 20 at 4:30 p.m.(PHOTO BY PIERRE DUNNIGAN/ COURTESY OF MAKIVIK CORP.)

(updated March 22)

Veteran musher Peter Kiatainaq is celebrating his sixth Ivakkak race victory.

Kiatainaq, his co-musher, son Peter Jr. and their dog team crossed the race’s finish line in Kangirsuk late in the afternoon March 20 after nine days on the trail.

The father-son team was welcomed by local fans gathered on the sea ice of Payne Bay, along with a crowd from Kangiqsujuaq that had travelled to Kangirsuk to welcome them.

Kiatainaq’s 2012 win adds to five past victories in 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2011.

Tasiujaq’s Willie Cain Jr. and Willie Cain Jr. Jr., Ivakkak’s 2010 champions, crossed the finish line second March 20 at about 8:30 p.m.

Puvirnituq’s Novalinga Novalinga, with his partner Johnny Sivuaraapik, pulled into Kangirsuk in third position just before 10 p.m. that evening

They were followed an hour later by Ivakkak 2002 champion Junior May, and his teammate Charlie Snowball, from Kuujjuaq.

Three more teams Ivakkak teams arrived in Kangirsuk March 21.

Because poor weather was forecasted for the region, race officials ended the race that day, with the last four teams still positioned at Tasiujaq or Aupaluk checkpoints.

Ivakkak’s resident veterinarian, Julie Ducrocq, reported that the sled dogs were tired but in good health following the race, with only minor nicks on some paws and sore muscles. The 18-hour layovers in the 2012 race helped to give both dogs and mushers a good rest.

Kangirsuk hosted the race’s closing ceremonies March 21, where the Ivakkak Cup was presented to the Kiatainaqs, who also receive a $12,000 gift certificate from the FCNQ, $12,500 cash prize from the Makivik Corporation and a pair of return tickets to Montreal from First Air.

The 2012 edition of Ivakkak left Kangiqsualujjuaq March 13, with twelve dog dogs working their way over 650 kilometres of trail, through Kuujjuaq and up the Ungava coast.

Ivakkak officials usually plan for a 10-day race, although the 2012 version wrapped up in nine, including a one-day delay due to bad weather.

Officials put the race on hold for 24 hours March 18 after a blizzard warning issued was issued for the Ungava coast over the weekend, where mushers took the time to tend to their teams, repair gear and rest for the final leg of the race.

The shorter race might be due to new rules introduced this year where mushers no longer race in timed segments, which previously required them to stop the end of each day and camp out together at predetermined checkpoints.

Except for mandatory layovers in Kuujjuaq, Tasiujaq and Aupaluk, mushers managed their own schedules and make their own decisions on how to pace their dog teams, which may have given a leg up to more experienced teams.

Ivakkak 2012 also lost a competitor March 16 when Kuujjuaq musher Allen Gordon injured his knee climbing a hill with his dog team March 16, forcing him out of the race.

Gordon’s departure was a big disappointment for the long-time musher and his supporters, even more so because Gordon was placed third in the race when he pulled out.

Nunavik’s dog team race was first held by the Makivik Corporation in 2001 to encourage Nunavimmiut to carry on with the practice of dog sledding, which was nearly wiped out following the slaughter of Inuit husky dogs by Canadian authorities in the 1950s and 1960s.

Today, only Inuit are eligible to participate in the race.

See photos from this year’s race at www.ivakkak.com.