Musher Brent Sass is itching to get going.

Sass kicked off opening day for the 2011 Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race by becoming the first person to sign up for the fifth consecutive year.

That's nearly six months before the race is set to start, on Feb. 5 in Whitehorse.

Sixteen mushers signed up opening day, Aug. 7.

Sass is one of seven veterans returning to compete; nine rookies, including mushers from New Jersey, Ontario, Quebec and Colorado, also signed up on opening day.

Two of last year's top five finishers were among the names signing up last week.

Hugh Neff, who finished third in the 2010 Yukon Quest, will return to take part in his 11th Yukon Quest. In the past 10 years, Neff has only missed running the Yukon Quest once, in 2004.

Joining Neff from last year's top five finishers is Ken Anderson, who will be competing in his third Yukon Quest, finishing second and fifth in his previous two years on the Quest trail.

"Opening day is the point on the calendar when the race starts to feel close,” said Marti Steury, executive director in Alaska. "The 16 mushers signed up to-date are sure to provide a highly competitive race. We can't wait for February!”

The 16 mushers who registered last Saturday to compete in the 2011 Yukon Quest are:

1 Brent Sass

2 Kyla Durham

3 Mike Ellis

4 Josh Cadzow

5 Peg Harpham

6 Clint Warnke

7 Terry Williams

8 Hugh Neff

9 Jerry Joinson

10 Kurt Reich

11 Denis Trembly

12 Ken Anderson

13 Dave Dalton

14 Hank DeBruin

15 Kim Darst

16 Wade Marrs