Anna Bolvin took over as president from Stefan De Marie in May. (Facebook/Canadian Challenge Sled Dog Race)

By Derek Cornet

race changes

Canadian Challenge confirms minimum $25,000 purse for 2022 race

Aug 3, 2021 | 5:00 PM

Major changes are in store for the 2022 Canadian Challenge Sled Dog Race.

Two out of three of the races will start in La Ronge and Missinipe instead of entirely out of Elk Ridge as in previous years. The longest 10-dog, 200-mile race will still start in Elk Ridge at noon on Feb. 22, while the eight-dog, 100-mile race is scheduled to start in La Ronge on Feb. 24 and the six-dog, 50-mile race will begin Feb. 25 in Missinipe.

Organizers have also confirmed the 2022 event will include a minimum race purse of $25,000.

“La Ronge is going to be a busy place and so will Missinipe,” Canadian Challenge president Anna Bolvin said. “There’s going to be a lot of action up North.”

Registration for the competition opened Aug. 1 and, so far, 22 mushers have signed up. Thirteen are registered for the 10-dog race, six for the six-dog race and three for the eight-dog race. Bolvin explained there has been a lot of interest from Ontario, Quebec and the United States.

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Those competing in the 200-mile race are also eligible to expand the distance to 300-miles to qualify for the Yukon Quest or Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in Alaska. Once those competitors cross the finish line in La Ronge, they can continue on for a 100-mile stretch to Missinipe and back.

“The 10-dog race is a little bit of a change.,” Bolvin said. “In other years, we had an eight-dog, 200 miles and a 12-dog, 300 miles. It seems like the 10-dog, 200 miles is very popular. We did not want to let go of the qualifier part of it. The qualifier is the 300-mile.”

Registration remains open and anyone interested in volunteering is encouraged to contact the board. The Canadian Challenge will end Feb. 26 with a breakfast awards ceremony at La Ronge Hotel and Suites.

The 2021 Canadian Challenge Sled Dog Race was cancelled due to COVID-19.

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derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: @saskjourno