Nunavut Quest competitors set off from Pond Inlet

Eight mushers started the Nunavut Quest dog sled race on Tuesday – a journey from Pond Inlet to Igloolik that's expected to take them each a week to complete. 

The Qikiqtani Inuit Association uses revitalization funding from the Qikiqtani Truth Commission for the prize money for all eight mushers: this year the top prizes are $20,000 for the first place winner, $15,000 for second and $10,000 for third.

The participants this year are Donovan Qaunaq, Tom Naqitarvik, Isaac Irngaut, Joshua Qiliqi Ivalu, Jinneal Nanuraq Uttak, Lee Inuarak, Daniel Inuarak and Aiden Qaunaq. The race got underway at 1:30 p.m. 

Quvvaqtaaq Inuarak is an elder helping out with the race this year. He'll be guiding mushers from a snowmobile – a job he says is important.

Shanshan Tian, from Igloolik, is serving as a timekeeper for the third year in a row. Having travelled to Pond Inlet for the start of the race, Tian has seen the conditions of the route first-hand. 

"The sea ice can be a little rough from here to Milne Inlet and the snow is very hard-packed this year compared to previous years," said Tian, adding that the way across Baffin Island also has deep snow and rolling hills. 

"Lots of climbing to do for the mushers and the Ski-Doo drivers." 

Tian will be keeping track of the time it takes each musher to complete each leg of the race, and their overall time as well. That means even though it might look like a particular competitor is winning – there can be surprises. 

"That's keeping Nunavut real excited and on their toes," Tian said. 

While the race is expected to last seven days, Tian said it could last as long as ten.