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Randy and Sebastian Malleck have crossed the finish line in Labrador City — winning their second consecutive Cain’s Quest and capturing the $100,000 prize.
The father and son duo finished the race just before 10:30 a.m. AT on Friday, being swarmed by friends, family and fans.
There were tears, cheers and plenty of smiling faces as they came across the finish line.
“I feel amazing coming into the finish line with my son,” Randy Malleck told CBC News. “What an amazing feeling.”
Randy and Sebastian — hailing from Sheshatshiu Innu First Nation in central Labrador — also won the last race in 2024. They were hours ahead of the competition on Friday morning, leaving Churchill Falls at 6 a.m.
It was a particularly gruelling race this year — as evidenced by the frost burn on Randy and Sebastian’s cheeks at the finish line.
Of the 18 teams that set out on the first leg of the race, only eight remained as of Friday morning.
The Mallecks said they plan on celebrating once they get back home in Sheshatshiu.
Randy Malleck later told CBC News he plans to donate a portion of the winnings to IWK Halifax, a women’s and children’s hospital and trauma centre that helped his daughter. In 2024, the pair donated part of their winnings to the Janeway children’s hospital in St. John’s.
Cain’s Quest chairperson Todd Kent said the race has been all he could hope for, and was thrilled to see the fans welcoming the champions back to Labrador West.
“It kind of makes the hair stand up on the back of your neck. You know, to see everybody come out. It’s just, I don’t know how to explain it. It’s just exciting,” Kent said.
Teams spent the night in Churchill Falls before beginning the journey to the finish line in order for the race to have a daytime finish.
They’ve done it again! Randy and Sebastian Malleck from Sheshatshiu, Labrador, are the winners of Cain’s Quest 2026. The father-son racing team defended their 2024 championship to win the world’s toughest snowmobile race twice in a row.
Race officials expect all remaining teams to cross the finish line by 4 p.m. AT.
The second-place finishers, Joshua Rose and Mike Elliott of Happy Valley-Goose Bay, crossed the finish line at 11:50 AT. The pair of rookies took home $15,000.
“All of our guys out in the field were spot on. Couldn’t ask for a better support crew,” Rose said after he finished.
His mother, Roxanne, said the race made for a stressful few days, but she knew he would be safe — and that his late father, Edmond, would be there the whole way.
“I knew the day would come that, you know, Joshua would do this. And I know his dad was with him. I know it,” she said.
“He has the strength and the perseverance and the dedication, I knew he could do it.… I’ve never seen him smile so much, actually.”
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