Nunavik’s Ivakkak race heads into the final leg

First-place musher Peter Kiatainaq arrives at the Tasiujaq checkpoint March 17. Teams were forced to take March 18 off when blizzard warnings were issued for the Ungava coast. (PHOTO BY PIERRE DUNNIGAN/ COURTESY OF MAKIVIK CORP.)

An Ivakkak team sprints along the Ungava Coast en route to Tasiujaq. (PHOTO BY PIERRE DUNNIGAN/ COURTESY OF MAKIVIK CORP.)

About half the mushers in Nunavik’s Ivakkak dog team race took off from Tasiujaq early March 19.

And their numbers included Kangiqsujuaq musher and frontrunner Peter Kiatainaq, who has held a steady lead since the race left Kangiqsualujjuaq six days ago.

The six frontrunners will likely arrive in Aupaluk (only 80 kilometres from Tasiujaq) March 19, where they’ll spend the last mandatory stopover in the race before heading off for their final destination — Kangirsuk.

As of early March 19, Puvurnituq mushers Novalinga Novalinga and Johnny Sivuaraapik sat in second place, followed by Kuujjuaq’s Junior May and Tommy Kooktook and Tasiujaq’s Willie Cain Jr. and Willie Cain Jr. Jr.

Another five dogsled teams were still en route to Tasiujaq Monday.

Ivakkak 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.

Mushers took the time to tend to their teams, repair gear and rest for the final leg of the race.

But Ivakkak also lost a competitor over the weekend 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 — which leaves 11 participants in the race — 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.

Now, Ivakkak officials expect the first teams could make the finish in Kangirsuk late March 20 or March 21.

The final stretch of the race from Aupaluk to Kangirsuk is about 130 kilometres, where Environment Canada is forecasting sun, light winds and -18 C temperatures for March 20.

Follow the daily race updates and live tracking of the mushers at www.ivakkak.com.