NATUASHISH, N.L. — It's an accomplishment just to cross the finish line in the grueling Cain's Quest snowmobile endurance race across Labrador.
For the Innu Hawks, second place finishers in 2018, the goal is to win this time around.
They came close in 2014, too, losing an eight-hour lead by hitting water.
Aaron Poker says they’ve learned a lot.
“We know what works, what doesn’t, what needs to be done,” he said. “We’re ready. We want to win it.”
Poker and his partner, Len Rich, both of Natuashish, have been logging some long days scouting and preparing the last few months. Poker said he isn’t looking forward to the punishment on his body the race will bring.
He pushed through an injury near the end of the last race, close to Churchill Falls.
“They asked if I wanted to see someone and I said no because then I’d scratch and we’d be out,” he said. “I wanted to finish it.”
The communities of Sheshatshiu and Natuashish have rallied behind the Innu teams each race, with large numbers of cheering fans holding banners with the team names at some stops. Poker said it’s great to see people come out and support them and they want to bring home first place for the fans.
Poker said he thinks this will be a fun race, with a lot of racers using Ski-doo X-RS snowmobiles this time.
“They’re really fast machines, it seems half the people are using them. It’s going to be really fun. People have been taking it more seriously each race, learning more, adjusting. It’s going to be good.”
Meanwhile, as the start date drew new the team was getting all the final items ready, and deciding what they absolutely needed to take with them.
One thing that’s definitely coming along, is a little friend Poker made on the last race.
“Last race when I parked my machine someone put a little seal on the hood,” he said. “I still got that little seal, I don’t know who put it there but it’s going with me on a long trip.”
RELATED:
- N.S. RCMP officer and N.L. safety instructor teaming up for first run at Cain's Quest
- Stephenville, NL area veteran and rookie ready to take on Cain’s Quest
- Steady Brook photographer ready for the challenge of Cain’s Quest
- Newfoundland cousins full-throttle for Cain's Quest snowmobile endurance race across Labrador
- Mighty Haulers ready to race