Puvirnituq mushers win Ivakkak dog sled race
Veteran mushers Aisa Surusilak and Paulusi Amarualik complete race in 39 hours and 30 minutes
Veteran mushing team Aisa Surusilak and Paulusi Amarualik of Puvirnituq were the first-place winners of Ivakkak this year, completing the race Wednesday afternoon in 39 hours and 30 minutes. (Photo courtesy of Ivakkak/Makivik Corp)
Dog sled teams crossed the Ivakkak race’s finish line in Puvirnituq late Wednesday afternoon, welcomed by cheering crowds in the Hudson coast community.
Veteran mushing team Aisa Surusilak and Paulusi Amarualik of Puvirnituq won, completing the race in 39 hours and 30 minutes.
Puvirnituq mushers took the race’s top three spots this year, with Jani-Marik Beaulne and Jackusi Amamatuak finishing second and Kulu Tukalak and Peter Qinuajuak in third.
Dog sled teams departed Salluit on Feb. 24, making their way south along the Hudson coast for about 450 kilometres during the 20th edition of Nunavik’s annual race.
Bad weather hampered many teams’ efforts, creating a mix of white-out conditions and soft snow that made it difficult to move in. Three of the race’s 12 teams had to pull out when their dogs refused to run.
Mushers were forced to rest a few extra days as a result of the weather conditions, stretching the event to 15 days. Ivakkak racers typically complete the race in 10.
Nine of the 12 original teams completed the race Wednesday. You can see the complete race results here.
(0) Comments