Mushers in Ivakkak dog sled race head for the finish line
Sledders less than a day away from race's end in Puvirnituq
Participants in the 2015 Ivakkak dogsled race are less than a day away from the finish line in Puvirnituq.
The teams arrived at the Kuuraaluk camp Wednesday afternoon after travelling about 81 kilometres during the day. The mushers camped overnight and will set off Thursday morning for Puvirnituq.
Three teams from that community are the front runners — Novalinga Novalinga is in first place, followed by Peter Ittukallak in second and Aisa Surusilak in third.
Allen Gordon from Kuujjuaq had to leave the race after injuring his arm but his racing partner Mangik Kooktook will continue with Gordon's dogs and a new partner from Inukjuak, Simeonie Weetaluktuk.
Race supervisor Jakusie Ittukallak says the first teams could arrive at the finish line between 1 and 2 p.m. local time Thursday afternoon.
The Ivakkak is a sled dog race that runs approximately 600 kilometres up the eastern coast of Hudson Bay in Nunavik. It was established in 2000 as an attempt to revitalize sled dog culture among Nunavik residents.