Photo: Ivakkak racers well on the trail again

Puvirnituq musher Peter Ittukallak, left, and partner Putugu Iqiquq, were the first to arrive in Inukjuak March 31, day four of Nunavik’s annual Ivakkak dog sled race. As of that day, Ittukallak and Iqiquq were in third place overall, about 45 minutes behind frontrunners Willie Cain and Putulik Saunders of Tasiujaq. This year’s race course takes mushers along the Hudson Bay coast from Umiujaq and Ivujivik, which appears to be about 700 kms by map. Racers planned to stay in Inukjuak over the weekend for a community feast and memorial celebration for former Ivakkak champion Adamie Inukpuk. Bad weather prevented the teams from departing Sunday, April 3 so mushers took off April 3. The annual race, which celebrates the Inuit sled dog tradition, usually takes between 10 days to two weeks to complete. (PHOTO BY PIERRE DUNNIGAN/MAKIVIK)