Cain's Quest 2016 racers create big buzz in community checkpoints

For many of the small communities of Labrador, flung up and down its isolated coast, the day the Cain's Quest racers arrive is basically an unofficial holiday.

"This is the talk of the town," said Shelley Nicole Nochasak, who lives in Mary's Harbour, the 14th checkpoint of the race.

"Everybody is talking about it, and we're adding up the time to see when the next team is coming, when the next time is leaving. It's the focal point right now."

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It was a similar celebratory scene in checkpoint 12, Cartwright.

"Half of the community was out, it's a pretty big deal. I think most of the businesses were closed down for part of the day," said Jessica Campbell.

As of Wednesday morning, 13 teams had scratched from Cain's Quest, leaving 24 teams remaining in the 3,500-kilometre gruelling race that takes them through 19 checkpoints across Labrador, before the expected finish Friday in Labrador City.

From north to south

The teams raced as far north as Nain, only to hit the checkpoint and turn their machines around and trek as far south as L'Anse au Loup.

Having the racers stop in at Hopedale made for many memories for Sarah-Lee Jararuse.

"It was cool, experiencing it, seeing something different," said Jararuse.

And racers certainly saw something different in Hopedale: teams were greeted by the community's polar bear mascot,  Nanuk.

"They were surprised. They were hoping they'd see a real polar bear... but when they came to Hopedale, they saw the mascot!" said Jararuse.

Tears for the hometown team

As dozens of people lined the race route through Cartwright, Jessica Campbell said the crowd reserved an extra special welcome for its hometown boys, Team Cartwright Orange Eagles.

"Oh my God, I think there might've been tears. It was just great," said Campbell.

"[There was] cheering, shouting, jumping up and down, clapping."

But no matter where the teams are from, they get a warm reception from the checkpoint communities.

"They're all superstars in our minds," said Nochasak.

"We were outside greeting them when they came actually through town…and we all raced inside to get photos as they were checking in."

After all, it's not often many of these small places get so many visitors, all at once.

"I know the team from Finland even signed some autographs for the kids," said Campbell.

Connecting communities

The checkpoints aren't just a source of local entertainment — at subsequent stops, it seems the sportsmanship between competitors grows.

"They are so excited to see each other at the checkpoints, and are very supportive of each other. We've seen lots of fist-bumping and pats on the backs," said Nochasak.

"They don't make it seem as hard as it actually is."

But the racers also use the break to reconnect with family after long hours of isolation on the trail.

Nochasak says that's where the numerous social media posts communities make becomes so valuable.

"I think they're really appreciative when the local people step up and put up photos, because then they're not so tied to making the phone calls and clueing everybody in," said Nochasak, adding she's sent several families pictures directly to let them know their racers are in one piece.

And for Nochasak, the sense of awe for the racers' journey remains, long after the last snowmobile left Mary's Harbour.

"​It is nothing short of amazing to know what these boys are enduring."

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