Seven Yukoners are planning to take to the trail of the Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race when it departs from Whitehorse on Feb. 7, 2015.

They were among the 21 mushers who put their names down for the 1,600-kilometre race to Fairbanks during the first two sign-up days over the weekend.

Whitehorse musher Rob Cooke was the first to submit his paper work, with two-time champion (2014, 2013) Allan Moore of Two Rivers, Alaska being the next, signing on to defend his title.

“I have a great deal of faith in the organization, and so, as both a musher and a board member who loves this race, I wanted to be a part of the 2015 race from the start, and that meant being there early on sign-up day,” Cooke said.

“There was a lot of very positive energy around sign-up day, and it will be good for us all – sponsors, staff, board, volunteers, mushers and everyone else who puts so much into this fantastic race – to carry that forward into the 2015 race. This is going to be a very exciting Yukon Quest.”

Other Yukoners signed on for the race include Whitehorse mushers Normand Casavant, Magnus Feren Kalteneors, Olaf Thurau and Ed Hopkins, Mount Lorne musher Tamra Reynolds and Dawson musher Brian Wilmshurst.

Feren Kalteneors and Reynolds are the only two rookies among the Yukon contingent.

Meanwhile, other Canadian mushers in the race include rookie Jason Campeau from Rocky Mountain House, Alta., and veteran Hank DeBruin from Haliburton, Ont.

Swedish musher Torsten Kohnert, a veteran to the race, was the lone entry from overseas as of this morning, while the remaining nine mushers make their homes in Alaska.

Along with Moore, they include Fairbanks mushers Mike Ellis, a veteran to the race, along with rookies Tony Angelo, Alex Buetow and Jimmy Lebling.

Other Alaskans include rookies Ryne Olson of Two Rivers and Kristin Knight Pace of Denali Park; as well as veterans Brent Sass of Eureka; Cody Strathe of Ester; Dave Dalton of Healy and Matt Hall of Eagle.

Meanwhile, the Yukon Quest 300 saw 22 mushers sign on for the 300-mile race along the Quest trail.

The Quest 300 starts hours after the start of the longer Quest race.

Among those signed up for the smaller race is 2000 Quest champion Aliy Zirkle, who was the first woman to win the longer race.

Other mushers signed on for the 300 include Gidget Hagan; Gaetan Pierrard, Lucy Tyrrel; Debbie Moderow; Claudia Wickert; Melissa Schenke; Alexandra Rochet; Alex Serdjukou; Susie Rogan; Jacob Heigers; Peter Reuter; Simi Morrison; Luc Tweddell; Dave King; Michelle Phillips; Jim Bruton; Martine Le Levier; Timosey Gynuntegin; Paul Hamlyn; Gerry Willomitzer; and Tom Schonberger.

Mushers have until Dec. 5 to sign up for the Yukon Quest or Jan. 23 to sign up for the Yukon Quest 300.