This year's Yukon Adventure Ultra brought victory for several Canadian competitors and a new record in the 100-mile event, earned by Whitehorse's Justin Wallace.

Dubbed, ‘the world's coldest and toughest ultra,' the three-part event includes a marathon, a 100-mile class and a grueling 300 mile section.

Racers left Whitehorse on Feb. 4, with the final 300 milers entering Pelly Crossing on Sunday afternoon.

The race is one of the most extreme North America has to offer.

The 26-mile marathon section begins in downtown Whitehorse and finishes at the Takhini River. Racers in the 100 mile section continue on from Whitehorse to Braeburn, while the 300 mile racers head all the way to Pelly Crossing.

Modeled after the Marathon de Sables, a six-day trek across the Sahara desert in Morocco, the Yukon event is popular among ultra enthusiasts worldwide.

This year's racers hailed from England, Ireland, Germany, Denmark, Austria, Switzerland, France and as far away as Australia.

Thirteen Canadians, including six Yukoners competed in this year's ultra.

"There is not one type of person who competes in this event,” said Robert Pollhammer, event founder and organizer. "As far as age, sex or profession is concerned, the event draws on a broad spectrum. The one thing they have in common is a desire to have some adventure in their lives.”

Pollhammer, a native of Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, started the event 10 years ago, with just one year off for the 2010 winter Olympics in Vancouver.

The ultra coincides with the Yukon Quest and uses the same trail system, beginning at the opposite end of the trail, depending on which side the dogsled race starts.

On years when the race begins in Whitehorse, a 430-mile section to Dawson is also included, which tends to draw more competitors.

"To be honest, it's quite a challenge to manage the 430-mile,” said Pollhammer. "I am kind of happy I didn't have to this year.”

It was an unconventional year for the ultra.

This year just 37 people signed up, a low turn out for an event that has drawn up to 80 competitors in years past.

The event allows competitors to walk, run, bike or cross country ski. This year all competitors, except Ben Crimp, a cross country skier from Prince George, B.C. chose to walk or run.

Seven competitors took part in this year's marathon.

First place in the event was claimed by Australia's Johann Burger, with a time of three hours and 17 minutes. Second place went to David Bohn of Kanata, Ont., with a time of 3 h, 24 m. The third place finish was shared by David McGahon and Henry Grant, both of England, who arrived at 4 h, 08 m.

The 100-mile event drew 20 racers this year.

The race was a major victory for Canadian competitors, who claimed the top two positions.

First place went to Yukoner, Justin Wallace, who completed the event with a time of 22 h, 21 m, setting a new record for the 100-mile class.

"Justin is a good guy. One of these local guys, who hasn't done any international races,” said Pollhammer. "All I noticed was that he was in a good mood and ready to go to the start line and he pulled ahead and now he has the record, and he's not even an ultra runner.”

Second place went to Derrick Spafford of Yarker, Ont., with a time of 23 h, 18 m while the third place finish went to Verena Koenig, a Whitehorse resident, who is originally from Austria and arrived in 28 h, 57 m.

Three competitors did not finish the 100 mile.

In the 300 mile, Filippo Genucci of Switzerland took home top honours.

Tim Williams of England came second while Réjean Moreau, of Varennes, Quebec took third. Tallied results for the 300-mile were not available by press time.

Six racers did not finish the 300 mile event.

The ultra faced challenging conditions, with unseasonably warm weather throughout much of the competition softening the trails, making an already grueling journey all the more arduous for competitors.

"Leading up to the race we warned that it was going to be too warm,” said Pollhammer. "The first and second night were -30 C, which was good, but it got much warmer and like the Quest, that makes it much harder for us. Soft trails drag you down and warm weather causes you to sweat more, which makes you much colder.”

Despite the challenges, this year's race was a success, and next year should be even bigger, said Pollhammer.

He expects the 2013 event to draw more competitors, including a South African mountain bike team, and a team of German scientists, who will be analyzing the race to test the effects of extreme conditions on the body.

"As always,” said Pollhammer, "we have to thank the Yukon. The Yukon is a great host for the event. Yukoners are so friendly and hospitable to our competitors and they appreciate that.”