YQ300 reaches capacity in less than a week
Less than a week after opening, registration for the Yukon Quest 300 race has reached capacity.
Less than a week after opening, registration for the Yukon Quest 300 race has reached capacity.
Twenty-five mushers have signed up, including former Quest champion Aliy Zirkle, 2011 YQ300 winner Gerry Willomitzer and Quest veterans Yuka Honda and Jerry Joinson.
Usually the YQ300 registration remains open until November.
"It's the quickest it's ever filled up in my time here,鈥� said Marie-Sylvestre Belanger, Yukon Quest operations manager.
"We're extremely happy with the interest and it's from all over North America.鈥�
Belanger credited the increased interest to the 30th anniversary of the Quest and the experience the rookie mushers receive.
"Many said they are running it because they want to qualify for 2014,鈥� she said.
"It's a good training run for their dogs.鈥�
The YQ300 serves as a qualifier for both the Iditarod and the 1,600-km Quest.
Both the Quest and the YQ300 will depart from Whitehorse on Feb. 2.
Fifteen mushers have signed up for the Quest, including four-time champion Lance Mackey.
The first to sign up was local musher, Normand Cassvant, who will be looking to improve upon his tenth place finishes in 2009 and 2010.
Each Quest race has a capacity of 25 mushers and a waiting list has been formed for the YQ300.
"A lot of people sign up quickly and then after they think about it decide to withdraw,鈥� said Belanger of the YQ300.
"So people can still trickle in on the waiting list.鈥�
Six Canadians have signed up for the Quest, including rookie musher Dyan Bergen who traveled from Yellowknife, NWT to register in person.
Currently, there are six rookies signed up, along with 11 veterans.
"I think it's going to be a very competitive race again,鈥� said Belanger.
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