"I wanted to be in the top 10, so I finished in the top 10,” said Normand Casavant.

For a first time Quest runner, Casavant didn't waste any time to prove himself last year with his top 10 finish, and this year he's set his sights on an even loftier goal – the top five.

The former river guide says that in the sport, first year guides are called rookies, and second years are the terrible twos.

"This year I'm a terrible two,” he said. "I will try to do something better than the terrible twos.”

Even if Casavant repeats his turnout of last year, he'll be doing pretty well for a second year Quest competitor.

Casavant has been training 24 dogs, 20 of them serious competitors, for his Quest run.

"I have a good bunch of dogs this year on my main team,” said Casavant.

The majority of his dogs are from his home province of Quebec. His dogs have a special skill that many of the Whitehorse bred dogs don't.

"They know English and French now, it's fantastic,” said Casavant.

Training is going extremely well for the musher.

"Everything is perfect right now,” he said.

Casavant relocated to Whitehorse from his home in Quebec just to have the chance to run the world-class races.

"I came for the Quest,” he said. "In Quebec we don't have that kind of race.”

While other veteran mushers swear every year it will be their last, Casavant sees no end in sight to his racing career.

"If I can keep doing (this) I hope it would be because of some good sponsor,” he said.

Casavant is hell-bent on reaching his top five goal.

"I'm going to work as hard as I can to finish in the top five,” he said.

Casavant's climb from unknown to top 10 last year could be an indication of the rookie, and 2010's terrible two's potential to hit the number one spot in years to come.