Registration for the 34th Buckwheat International Ski Classic will open Wednesday and the event will be held on the Log Cabin ski trails north of Skagway on March 7.

This year’s race is dedicated to the memory of race founder Buckwheat Donahue, who died last October. The race is earlier in March than usual, so as not to conflict with the Arctic Winter Games in Whitehorse during the middle of the month.

"After he passed in October, it was automatic that the race was going to honour him," said Jeff Brady, a friend and one of the race organizers. "The race was his hallmark event since 1987.

"It will be all about the man. It will celebrate everything people remember about Buckwheat."

The race typically draws around 400 participants, marking the end of the racing season in Alaska-Yukon-B.C., with a popular theme, snow carvings, banquet, and lots of fun for all ages. This year’s theme is all about the howl, and race organizers hope to see many Buckwheats out there, and/or his old dog Leo, or just be your favourite character from a previous race.

Buckwheat's signature howl is known to many; it's how he signalled the beginning of the race.

"I'll encourage people to howl, but I don't think I'll really need to; howling just happens," said Brady. "There will be a big howl at the beginning of the race."

Brady said the Buckwheat Classic was an idea born in a bar as a way to get more women to Skagway in the winter.

"It's a fun event and that's how Buckwheat wanted it to be," said Brady. "It's about having a good time and bringing people to Skagway. It's exceeded his wildest dreams. He'd be thrilled."

One of the big draws of the race is the snow sculptures. Brady said the sculptors are working on creating different hallmarks of his life.

After the race, the fun will move down to Skagway for an awards dinner at the Skagway Recreation Centre. There, Brady said people are encouraged to share their stories of Buckwheat.

"We heard great stories at the wake," said Brady. "At the banquet, we are going to have a Buckwheat tree so people can write things down about him or people can get up and say a few things about him."

The celebration will shift downtown after the awards dinner where there will be music at local establishments.

The race is a fundraiser for the Log Cabin Ski Society (LCSS), based in Skagway, whose volunteers groom and set track on about 30 kilometres of ski trails in the cross-country skiing recreation area managed by Recreation Sites & Trails BC. The trails are located on the South Klondike Highway, 27 miles (43.5K) north of Skagway.

The LCSS was formed in 2012 to continue the ski race founded by Donahue and keep these trails maintained for the benefit of all users. Updates on trail conditions are posted weekly on the website through the winter. The LCSS also is raising money for a series of warming huts on the trails.

The Buckwheat International Ski Classic will again have 50K, 25K and 10K classic cross country ski races, as well as a 5K kids race, with prizes for the top three by sex in all races.

Racers can sign up by clicking on the Race Entry tab on the website, www.buckwheatskiclassic.com, and following the registration link. There is a discount for registering before the end of January. Racers also have the option of joining the society for $10 per year and donating to the Log Cabin warming hut fund.

There is a $10 late fee for registrations received online after March 1. Late registrations will be accepted at bib pick up locations in Whitehorse on Thursday, March 5 and in Skagway on Friday, March 6 until 6 p.m. ADT, the final cutoff time for all registrations.

There will be a Best Costume Prize, a coveted overnight package to Skagway’s Upper Dewey Lake cabin presented by the Skagway Recreation Center, Temsco Helicopters, and Packer Expeditions.

Keep on howling.