A good crowd came out to greet the mushers in the 2024 Yukon Quest.

Meet the Mushers took place Thursday evening at the Sternwheeler Hotel.

The Quest start, of course, has now been changed to Saturday at 2 p.m. at the Suncatchers Inn Cattery on Takhini River Road.

That road branches to the left off the Takhini Hot Springs Road, past the Yukon Wildlife Preserve.

Joanne and Paul Richardson made the annual trek from Australia to take in the Quest.

Joanne said they follow the race every year. They come up for the race and stay at Muktuk Kennels.

“We’ve been doing it for quite a few years,” she said.

The Richardsons, from Far North Queensland, have been coming up to the Yukon since 2016.

“We haven’t come every year,” said Paul, adding that they missed the COVID years.

Paul said they come from a tropical climate.

“The rainforest and the reef. That’s where we are,” said Joanne.

“Plus 36º C,” added Paul.

The Richardsons explained what makes a couple from tropical Australia come to the Yukon to watch the Quest.

“We first started coming to Muktuk for the sledding,” said Joanne. “And we’ve really enjoyed the sledding. And very much enjoy the company of the people and become good friends with other people around Whitehorse as well, the other mushers.

“So just the whole package. Canada is a little like Australia. It feels comfortable being a long way from somewhere.”

Paul described where they live as “very rural, very country.” He said there are about 800 people in the town where they live.

“We live on the beach,” said Joanne.

As for how they feel about the upcoming race, Joanne said, “We watched them all during the year, particular mushers, their training, all that sort of stuff, so Michelle (Phillips) Cody (Strathe), Paige (Drobny).

When asked if they have any favourites, Paul replied, “Not really.”

Joanne said, “It depends who’s racing.”

Paul added, “We just hope it’s a great race.”

Silas Godber, 18, is a Quest rookie and the youngest in the race this year. He’s entered in the YQ100.

“I’m not too worried. I’ve been racing since I was 16. The mushing community is really, really welcoming, especially to younger people.”

Godber is originally from Prince George, B.C. He’s part of Aaron Peck’s Elevation Sled Dogs Kennel.

Elevation is based out of Grande Prairie, Alta. but now has another kennel in Carcross. Godber is part of that kennel, along with young Quest veteran Mayla Hill and Crystal To. Hill is running in the YQ450 and To is in the YQ250.

“I moved up here four months ago for tours,” related Godber. “Definitely better conditions up here this year.

“Conditions haven’t been great, but I think they’ve been pretty bad all over Canada. We’ve been pretty lucky to get the snow we have.”

Godber explained how he became connected with Elevation.

“I’ve been in contact with Aaron for a few years. Last year, I reached out to him asking him if he had any space for this winter and he said he did. This was the year he was planning on moving up here for tours.”

Godber ended up coming up to the Yukon to take part in the dog sled tours.

When asked how he was feeling going into the race, Godber replied, “I’m pretty confident. Got some good dogs definitely. We’re cutting it close with dog numbers but now that everybody’s starting with eight I think we’ll be pretty good.

“Because I was just planning on taking eight. They’re all solid dogs. I’m not sure, maybe have around two, maybe 3,000 miles on ’em. They’ve all been solid.”

Godber said his dogs are all pretty healthy.

“They’re all gonna pass the vet check, I think. They’re all gonna be pretty excited at the start.”

As for how he’s feeling about being at the start gate, Godber responded, “Sounds like it’s gonna be pretty icy. But I’m from B.C. It’s pretty much icy all winter. So I’m pretty used to ice.”

Regarding the changes to the start, Godber said, “I guess it’s just the best they can do with the conditions.

“Having it be 30 miles shorter, it will definitely be a lot faster than I was thinking it would be.

“It’s gonna be a sprint. Definitely looking forward to it.”

Godber’s Elevation running mate Hill brought the Star up to speed on recent developments with the Elevation kennel.

“Since last year, we actually relocated the kennel up to Carcross. So we’ve been training here and doing some tours.

“Actually, the Quest is the only race we’ll be doing this year. Cancelled the Iditarod just for the time being; revisit it next year. Just with the whole move and just everything getting going again, it’s just an extra stress that you don’t need.”

Hill explained why they located the kennel to Carcross last April.

“Tourism wasn’t expanding too well in Alberta. It just wasn’t going very well. It’s just very slow and then up here it was a boom. Lots of market up here, so that was nice.”

Hill said she’s excited to have three teams running in the Quest this year.

“Chrys (To) is actually taking the big group of puppies so we’ll see how she does out there. They’re super-fun.”

As for the start situation, Hill said, “We always gotta adapt. There’s always challenges but yeah, it’s just the weather we’ve had all year. We’ve always had to just go with the flow and do the best we can to get through it.”

Hill said their dogs are doing well.

“We’ve been really preoccupied with tours, not training as much as I would like to but that’s every year’s challenges, just finding the time away from trying to make the money, so it’s always a fighting battle there. With the conditions I’ve been not going super-hard on the training to keep them sound and everything.”

Hill added, “I’m excited for the other two teams I have. It’s been neat because Aaron hasn’t been present throughout the whole year. He’s been in Grande Prairie, whereas thethree of us, it’s been on us to get the dogs through, and get them trained and get it all prepared so I’m really excited for those two teams.

“It’ll be their longest races for them as well. And of course the 450, I’m super-excited,” Hill said.

Meanwhile, Ilana Kingsley of StinkyPup Kennel has dropped out of the YQ450. Instead, Vico Fauveau is running in the YQ100. Fauveau explained the reasoning behind the decision to make the change.

“It was a collective decision with Ilana. Last year, we were talking about it – ‘hopefully we have enough dogs to both do the 100.’

“And then, due to the weather, the condition of the trail, we ended up looking at it as we’re safe to do a small race with a smaller team and why not give me the opportunity to do it, ’cause it’s probably my last year handling for Ilana.”

Fauveau is looking at running with only seven dogs.

She said she’s running the 100 because “It’s my first big race. I don’t think I have the experiences to do the 450.

“The dogs could have done it. Me, it’s another story.”

Fauveau said the dogs are doing great.

“They’re itching to go. They haven’t been running since the Carbon Hill, which I won, by the way; I was the only one running the Carbon Hill (in her category), but I still won.

“It’s been like five days, and the dogs are ready to go.”

Fauveau said they’ve been doing a lot of training this year.

“We’ve been going camping, putting on new trails, maintaining the trails, taking all the dogs as much as we could. It’s a little sad to see that after all the effort we put in, Ilana can’t do the 450, but at least I’m gonna be on the trail for the Yukon Quest.”

Regarding the start change, Fauveau said, “Starting from town is a big part of the excitement. I’m gonna be disappointed that it’s not gonna happen, but at the same time, it’s the safest decision.

“We don’t want to put the dogs in danger, and so I’m glad the board decided to go on the safe side. It’s sad, but, maybe another year. It’ll give me a reason to come back.”

Kingsley explained why she decided to pull out of the race.

“In my 30 years of mushing, we have the most training miles ever, even though the season was horrible for mushing. We didn’t get on our sleds until January.

“I got pretty down when the weather was crappy and the trail started melting and my dogs are on the older side, between eight and 10, and I was going seven miles an hour and I said, ‘I don’t know if the dogs want to do this 450 miles.’

“So I figured, ‘go ahead and give Vico a chance to go ahead and do it.’ She’s been handling for me. It’s her second year, and it’s a great opportunity for her.”

Kingsley is convinced that the dogs can do the 450, but said, “If everyone else is going faster, like 10 miles an hour and I’m going seven miles an hour, it’s not fair for the volunteers and everyone.”

Regarding Fauveau taking over, Kingsley said, “It’s awesome. I’m really excited for her.”

Kingsley added, “The cold is going to make it really challenging for her.”

Kingsley will also be a handler for Fauveau and the dogs.

There are only 18 mushers left in the race now due to various issues, including musher injuries.

Two of those mushers, Cody Strathe and Paige Drobny, were coming from Alaska and their truck broke down on the way. They are still hoping to make it in time to race in the YQ450.