The total purse for the races sits at $25,000. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

By Derek Cornet

premiere race

Excitement grows as Canadian Challenge nears

Feb 14, 2022 | 2:45 PM

With the Canadian Challenge Sled Dog Race set the begin in one week, organizers and volunteers have been busy ensuring the event will run smoothly.

Veterinarian checks will be held Feb. 21 and the main 10-dog, 200-mile race will still start at Elk Ridge at noon on Feb. 22. 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.

“Things are looking good,” Canadian Challenge president Anna Bolvin said. “We had a few problems with overflow on some of the lakes. On the southern trail, we’re going to have to bypass Montreal Lake because of too much overflow. The lake is flooded and we can’t go across it.”

After leaving Elk Ridge, mushers will travel to checkpoints in Weyakwin, one along Highway 969, La Ronge and Missinipe. They will then return to the finish line in La Ronge, while those looking to qualify for larger races will travel to Missinipe a second time and return to La Ronge for an extra 100 miles.

The eight-dog race starts in La Ronge and have a mandatory layover at Missinipe before coming back to La Ronge. The six-dog race will be held between Missinipe and La Ronge.

Riderville

Now for the Hard Part

Dec 10, 2025

Grey Cup!!!

Everything you wanted and more

Nov 21, 2025

open house

Surplus forecasted for 2026 La Ronge operating budget

Nov 17, 2025

“We’ve had some teams pull out due to personal reasons,” Bolvin said. “We still have a big field of mushers. We still have lots of mushers going in for the qualifying part of it. We are all excited about that.”

She explained Canadian Rangers and volunteers have been busy ensuring the trails are ready. Work still needs to be done packing and the trail needs to be marked with stakes. Bolvin noted the trails have plenty of snow, maybe even too much in some areas.

With the provincial government no longer requiring residents to show a proof of vaccination, those participating won’t need to show their status to organizers. As a precaution to prevent COVID from spreading, mushers, handlers, volunteers and anyone else involved in the Canadian Challenge will need to undergo rapid testing. Testing will be done at the vet checks on Monday and upon arrival in La Ronge and Missinipe.

“We always welcome volunteers in any type of capacity,” Bolvin said. “If people want to volunteer, they can access our website and there’s a link to sign up or just contact one of us who is listed directly either on Facebook Messenger or phone.”

–

derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: @saskjourno