The Yukon Quest – A Goose Eve
Never let your dreams die…..
I fell in love with the Yukon Quest in 2009 when I glimpsed it passing through Dawson City during coverage of another Yukon race. All I wanted was to be shooting the Quest. I came back in 2011 on another project which was exciting but still not the Quest, so I managed to shoot the start but no more.
When the email came into my inbox in late 2011 for a photography team for 2012, I could not write my proposal fast enough. It took me roughly about 30 minutes to put together my pitch, send emails to possible team members and finalize my project. This process was simple and I executed it as if it has been developing in my head since 2009.
The project was to capture the race with GoPro cameras as well as traditional photographs. GoPro is a relatively new HD camera that comes in a case not much bigger than a matchbox. The image quality is quite amazing, but the camera’s real strength is that they it can be attached almost anywhere and comes with a plethora of fittings making the job even easier.
I had a vision for how I wanted the Yukon Quest filmed. It’s a powerful race with great dog sled racers competing over 1000 miles. The mushers are some of the hardest competitors and human beings I have seen but different from other high performance sportsmen. They have a presence about them and a human spirit that really slaps you – in short they care. They care about their dogs, they care about their fellow competitors, and they care about life. Each one of them has a story either with mushing or a story with life.
When it came to my team, I wanted one that looked past the pay cheque. I advertised for an editor and tweeted for an intern or young photographer who would pay their own way as our budget was small and barely covered expenses. I secured a young photographer quickly. Her name is Ariel Body. For the editor position I needed someone who understood GoPro, understood my vision and did not bring a conventional filming mind-set. Along came Tom Barber. The connection was instant: within five seconds I knew he would work.
The Yukon Quest’s started in Fairbanks, Alaska on the 4th February. Scott Chesney, Tom Barber, Ariel Body and I set off with them. We photographed the start and had GoPro’s set out everywhere: three on Brent Sass – one looking back up at him, one on his head and one on the front of the sled.
We also has two on the track and one in the track for the sled and dogs to run over. The first sled went over the camera brilliantly and in my excitement I thought I’d leave it for one more. Big mistake! The second sled had the brake on and took the GoPro out of the track. I thought I had lost both the camera and footage. I walked down the trail about a kilometre and to my delight, found the camera lying in the snow. I was elated. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=kfZIHhAlXtI )
As the race continued, so did we. We focused on recharging batteries and also ourselves which was not easy as we were up at all times of the night to shoot, travel or eat. After a 1,600 km drive through Whitehorse, we eventually arrived in Dawson City. Our time in Dawson was beautiful. My wife had arrived to help and we filmed the mushers coming and going. http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=gC76OEYI3TM
I watched as each musher copes with the challenges of such a gruelling race, all dealing with it in different ways. But one musher grabbed my attention: Canada Goose ambassador, Lance Mackey. Lance is an extraordinary man in many ways. He has battled life with cancer and overcome the worst. His passion for life, his dogs and his whole being is undeniable. He comes into checkpoints always available for a quick chat no matter how exhausted. He sleeps little and moves on at the earliest possible time. He laughs a lot and enjoys his followers. His passion for his team and his dedication to their well-being is strongly felt by anyone who meets him. He grows on me and I understand the Goose relationship more.
As the race reaches Pelly Crossing, it really heats up into a battle involving Allen Moore (in first place), Hugh Neff (in second) and Lance (in third). I ask Lance again about his chances, “one in 20” he replies with a laugh. When I asked him in Fairbanks he said one in 24.
By the time we left Braeburn, the race was down to Allen and Hugh. Allen pulls out first and looking very strong. We do what we can to photograph them and we get GoPro’s on Hugh for the first time. At this time our editor, Tom, was putting together the third video and I can see his mind working with the footage.
We eventually arrive in Whitehorse to a hotel room and shower which is such a relief. We watch our screens closely to see who is in the lead. As they approach they are clearly within meters of each other. We hear that from Takhini Springs Hugh takes the lead in a last minute sprint – that is a sprint of 2 hours to the finish. Waiting at the line we see that both teams are 50 meters apart which is so rare after 1000 miles. The atmosphere is electric and as the first team rounds the corner to the final 200 meters we see it is Hugh. Hugh has never won before. He crosses the line and is pretty speechless but not for long. Hugh Neff wins. Allen came in 26 seconds behind Hugh and although a great achievement, the disappointment is deep.
Lance Mackey comes in third and I find it hard to hold back the tears for what I know this man has endured. He is gaunt and exhausted but still smiling. He is pleased even though in third place. He is Lance Mackey and a great ambassador of life.
In Whitehorse, the mushers spend time relaxing and regaining their energy for day-to-day life, which can be so tough after a race like this. As for my team, we will compile our images, negotiate for future work, enjoy Whitehorse and Canada’s beauty and eventually fly home. For me I will see my daughter, Emily, for the first time in 3 weeks. She is 12 years-old and will one day visit the Yukon. I will keep my dreams, make some more, relive the last few weeks, and hopefully come back next year with new ideas for this great race.
Mark Gillet led the official media team for this year’s Yukon Quest.
