How far would you go to test your limits? For some, the answer is “all the way North”. Tuktoyaktuk is an Inuvialuit community, with a population of just under 1,000 nestled on the shore of the Arctic Ocean. It is also the finish of 6633 Arctic Ultra, one of the toughest and coldest ultra distance foot races on the planet. Every year, the event attracts endurance athletes from all over the world. The race starts in Eagle Plains, Yukon, a remote truck stop near the Arctic Circle, and leads up the Dempster Highway to Inuvik, Northwest Territories, and then on to the ice road to Tuktoyaktuk.
The participants face extreme weather conditions, cold injuries, exhaustion, and sleep deprivation. When shooting the race, I wanted to step outside of the box of standard sports photography; I wanted to capture the journey not just as a sports event in a scenic setting, but also as a true test of physical ability and human spirit.
