As the Yukon Quest kicks off, some young mushers see bright future for the sport

The Yukon Quest sled dog race — which kicks off on Saturday in Whitehorse —  isn't quite the epic race it used to be, and some young mushers say they're just fine with that.

The annual event has changed dramatically in recent years, with the end of the 1,000-mile (1,600-kilometre) international race between Whitehorse and Fairbanks, in favour of shorter races held within the Yukon.  

Some mushers also say that challenges keep mounting for people who want to participate in the sport, but what they see happening at a community level has contributed to a sense of optimism about the future.

From the perspective of Quest organizers, though, mushers want their old race back.

"The Quest has a long and storied epic history of the toughest race on earth, traveling from Fairbanks to Whitehorse, or Whitehorse to Fairbanks — and that's what the mushers want to compete in," said Benjamin Smith, executive director of the race.

"They want to have that challenging race that rivals the Iditarod and really honours the tradition." 

Yukon musher Louve Tweddell, 23, grew up watching her father compete in the Yukon Quest 1000. She said not getting to do the full race herself was a hard thing to accept.

"That being said, last year I ran the Yukon Quest 450, so all the way to Dawson City, and I was very happy with my experience," she said.

"I think the Yukon Quest made a really great decision by having smaller races, as well as the fact that nowadays, mushers are actually having a smaller number of dogs due to financial difficulties."

Tweddell, who has 21 dogs, says due to housing challenges in the Yukon, most mushers have kennels with just six to eight dogs.

This year, she'll be racing in the YQ 250, between Whitehorse and Pelly Crossing.

Twenty-year-old Mayla Hill is the only competitor under 30 in the race to Dawson City this year. Tweddell says she's not concerned that there are mostly older mushers competing.

"I believe the future generations will orient more around sprint races," Tweddell said.

"Two weeks ago there was a Knik 200 [sled dog race in Alaska] and the person who won that was actually a 16-year-old girl. I see that and think that the future is getting brighter. Five years ago I would have said it was a bit dimmer."