Mushers compete in three days of sprint races in Akiak. - Akiak, Alaska 
Akiak Holiday Weekend Mushers Face it All
It was mushing and more mushing in Akiak during the Christmas holiday.
The Frank Nurauk Kawagley Sled Dog race produced three days of tough sprint conditions. Thirteen teams encountered trails with a little bit of everything. This proved to be too much for Nicholas Ayapan’s team, which scratched.
Mike Williams Sr. says that the race took place on the same 25-mile stretch of trail that has been used by the community for decades. The first day was slow going.
“We had three different trail conditions,” Williams Sr. said. “The first day was cold with deep snow. The second day Mike [Williams] Jr. went out to groom it the night before the race, and it was a perfect trail the second day with no winds and cold conditions.”
Then the wind picked up, blowing snowdrifts over the groomed trail for the third and final day of the race. The community tried to groom it as best as they could.
George Manutoli came in with the fastest time: 4 hours, 43 minutes, and 24 seconds for the three-day sprint race, winning the $2,000 purse. Greg Larson came in second with a total time of 4 hours, 45 minutes, and 36 seconds. Raymond Alexie was third, with a time of 4 hours, 52 minutes, and 23 seconds.
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