The Yukon Quest is 15 weeks away, but for the local mushers the season never really ends.

So far this year, the Yukon Quest Society Canada's executive director Wendy Morrison has received 18 entrants and only one withdrawal for the 1,000 kilometre race that begins Feb. 6.

A purse of $150,000 has been secured for the race's winner.

"This year we're guaranteeing $150,000 and hoping for more,” said Morrison.

The economic downturn has been hard on the Quest, and the mushers (See page 16 for story). Two years ago the Yukon Government pledged $50,000 towards the purse bringing it to $200,000, but budgetary restraints have not allowed their contribution this year.

New this year will be a check stop at Mile 101that will replace the stop that was previously only 40 miles into the race.

Morrison says this spot is an important stopping point for the mushers, but will prove a challenge for race organizers.

"Most of our check points are run by communities,” she said.

Mile 101 is just a collection of shacks. Organizers will be sending a lot of their time trying to get the spot ready for mushers in February.

"It will definitely be an area where a sizable chunk of our pre-race work will be,” said Morrison.

A big change this year is that the race has been moved up a week earlier, and Morrison says it is to help those mushers that compete in both the Quest and the Iditarod with a little more than a week in-between races.

"Its a big change for us to have moved our race up a week,” said Morrison.

The change is also due to scheduling conflicts with other events happening in the host communities. Last year many mushers were unable to get hotel rooms in Dawson City.

"We hope that it will work out for as many people as possible,” said Morrison.

Behind the scenes the Yukon Quest Association has been holding their early incentive draws to entice racers to sign up for this year's Quest.

Musher Hugh Neff won $1,000 cash to help out with his entry fee; Peter Fleck won cash as well and Mike Ellis took home $500 worth of booties.

Rumors have been pulsing through the Quest community that there would be no race marshal, race director or trail coordinators this year, but Morrison says an announcement on those officials is forthcoming. Contracts for those positions are being finalized.

In other Quest news, Morrison is waiting to hear whether the Yukon Quest has won a national award for tourism excellence for event of the year from the Globe and Mail.

She will travel to New Brunswick on Nov. 3 for the announcement at Canada's Tourism Leadership Summit.

"We're pretty hopeful and excited about the possibility of the award,” Morrison said.

The Star sat down with four of the Yukon Quest's returning challengers on Friday afternoon, including 2009 champion Sebastian Schnuelle and Gerry Willomitzer, Hans Gatt and rookie Normand Casavant, who did his first Quest this year, to see how training is going heading into the dog sled racing season.