Ragnar Robinson will be preparing this weekend for the Canadian Challenge next week. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

By Derek Cornet

father and son

Robinson enters Canadian Challenge main event for first time

Feb 18, 2022 | 1:28 PM

Ragnar Robinson, 28, has trained his dogs the best he can ahead of next week’s Canadian Challenge Sled Dog Race.

Robinson, who is the son of long-time La Ronge musher Sid Robinson, has for the first time entered the challenge and has done so in the 200-mile, 10-dog main event. He grew up around dogs and assisted his father throughout the years, but he has never signed up for such an enduring race.

“I just moved back to La Ronge and I thought it would be cool to give it a try,” Robinson said. “I think my main goal is just to finish. I don’t know if I trained them enough to be competitive, but I think if we finish, it will be a success.”

Robinson has been training the dogs since September. At first, he used a quad to run them, but once there was enough snowfall, he hooked them up to a sled and started mushing.

He explained the dogs are trained slowly to run longer distances with small amounts of rest in between. During the winter months, the dogs are fed more fats and high protein meat.

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“In the race, they usually run and then rest as long as they ran,” Robinson said. “You might run for six hours and then rest for six hours. They are not usually ready for that, so we need to get them trained for that.”

The Robinson family train sled dogs just south of Air Ronge. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

Sid Robinson will miss his second Canadian Challenge this year since 1998. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

During the next few days before the race on Tuesday, Robinson will be preparing snacks for the trail and ensuring his sled is packed. The only element of the race he’s concerned about is the unknown because he doesn’t know what the issues on the trail will be. As of Friday, Environment Canada is forecasting minuses in the mid-teens during the day and the mid-twenties at night.

Robinson, who is one of 18 mushers currently registered for the 10-dog race, is thankful for all the assistance he received from his dad.

“I couldn’t do it without him since he has the dog yard here and all the dogs,” Robinson said. “He helps out big time. I’m more of a tourist in this race if anything. He’s done the main work of feeding them year-round and keep them cared for.”

After leaving Elk Ridge, mushers in the main race 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.

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derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: @saskjourno