6th time's the charm for Randy Malleck, newest champion of Cain's Quest

Sheshatshiu's Team 99 have been crowned champions of Cain's Quest 2024.

Father and son duo Randy and Sebastian Malleck crossed the finish line on Tanya Lake in Labrador City early Thursday afternoon after four days in the Labrador wilderness.

It was Randy's sixth time running the race, but the first time he's crossed the finish line. 

"I love it. I'll never forget it," Randy told CBC News after crossing the finish line. "We done it!"

It's also the third time Randy has raced with Sebastian, who will split a $50,000 prize with his father.

"It feels amazing," Sebastian added.

Last Thursday, before the race began, Randy said he was nervous for this year's race because of less than ideal weather conditions and below-average snow totals. But he planned to drive as fast as he can and go for it all.

WATCH | See Randy and Sebastian cross the finish line, then take off their helmets and celebrate:

Randy's daughter, Manipia Madeleine Malleck, stood at the finish line. She said she was "really, really proud" of her father.

"I was a little girl when he first started, now I'm a grown adult. And this is a one-in-a-lifetime moment," she said.

Team 73, comprising Spencer Robinson and Kevin Willmott of Labrador City, crossed the finish line second, securing $30,000.

Last year's event was cancelled just two days into the race, after a team that travelled from Finland went through the sea ice near Port Hope Simpson in southeastern Labrador. Poor racing conditions also altered this year's race, prompting a route change that cut out the south coast of Labrador around 18 hours before the start of the race.

Between weather conditions and the COVID-19 pandemic, Thursday marks the first time a race team has crossed the Cain's Quest finish