Eight mushers are set to take off from Pond Inlet as the Nunavut Quest begins on Tuesday.
The dog-sled race, which concludes in Iglulik, is expected to take about a week to complete.
This year's competitors are Donovan Qaunaq,Tom Naqitarvik, Isaac Irngaut, Joshua Qiliqi Ivalu, Jinneal Nanuraq Uttak, Lee Inuarak, Daniel Inuarak and Aiden Qaunaq.
The top finisher will receive a $20,000 prize. Second place is in line for $15,000. The remainder of the prizes are $10,000 for third place, $5,000 for fourth place, $2,500 for fifth place and $2,000 for each of the sixth to eighth place participants.
The Nunavut Quest is sponsored by the Qikiqtani Inuit Association through a $100,000 allotment that comes from Qikiqtani Truth Commission (QTC) funding, which is dedicated to the qimuksiqtiit revitalization efforts.
"The remainder of the QTC allotment for this year went towards community celebrations, gas for support teams, food for the camps and food for the dogs," the QIA stated on April 14. "Live tracking updates will be available on the QIA website. Award ceremonies will take place once all of the mushers have arrived in Iglulik and times have been calculated."
