by Delta Discovery Staff
Schouviller Wassillie Jr., a rookie from Akiachak, age 16, is the new 2024 Akiak Dash champion, congratulations to the Wassillie Family! He finished the race at 4:52pm in Bethel with eight dogs in a close finish. His lead dogs were Tiffany and Morris. Coming in second was Mike Williams Jr. of Akiak. He crossed the finish line at 4:54pm with seven dogs.
Third place musher was Charlie Chingliak of Akiachak, his time was 4 hrs. 59 mins.
Schouviller Wassillie Jr.’s dad Schouviller Sr. is also a past champion of the Akiak Dash. He won in 1996, his total elapsed time was 6 hours 10 mins.
Dashers began their race with a mass start on the Kuskokwim River in front of Bethel on Saturday, January 27, 2024 at noon with no more than 8 dogs and no less than 5. They headed up Straight Slough and then to the Gweek River, then overland to Akiachak and back to the Kuskokwim River to Akiak. At Akiak racers mushed around the island and then back to Bethel on the same trail. Race officials were at the halfway point. This year like last year the Akiak Dash had no layover in Akiak or official checkpoint.
Wassillie Jr. was welcomed by his family and fans with hugs and congratulations. He said that he was proud to follow in his father’s footsteps to win this race. He mushes with his family’s Underdog Wassillie Kennels.
Mike Williams Jr. of the Williams Family Kennels of Akiak was also welcomed by his fans and family at the finish line.
“I’m happy with how the dogs did,” he said. He finished with one dog in the sled.
Third place finisher Charlie Chingliak is also of Akiachak. He wore a red fox malaggaayaq.
“Nice cold race,” he wrote. “Didn’t mind the cold cause I was warm the whole way. Some tough spots with no snow, dogs did good.”
There were 14 teams running the Akiak Dash this year. All teams finished by Saturday evening with Maurice Andrews winning the Red Lantern.
2024 Akiak Dash Race Results
January 27, 2024
Place/Musher Time In Dogs
1 Schouviller Wassillie Jr. 16:52:00 8
2 Mike Williams Jr. 16:54:00 7
3 Charlie Chingliak 16:59:00 8
4 Darren George 17:04:00 7
5 Byron Pasitnak 17:07:00 8
6 Michael Demientieff 17:16:00 8
7 Aaron Alexie 17:19:00 8
8 Robert Charles Jr. 17:28:00 7
9 Herman Phillip 17:30:00 8
10 Leighton Wassillie 17:57:03 7
11 Thomas Carl 17:57:45 7
12 Solomon Olick 18:20:00 6
13 Kenneth Snyder 18:20:24 8
14 Maurice Andrews 18:33:00 8
The top 15 mushers will partake in the $40,000 race purse for the Akiak Dash with first place winning $5,500. Good job dogs and mushers!
