It was Sean de Wolski's first time competing in the Canadian Challenge Dog Sled Race. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

By Derek Cornet

winner

American takes Canadian Challenge eight-dog race

Feb 20, 2025 | 5:30 PM

Alaskan Sean de Wolski is the Canadian Challenge winner in the eight-dog, 160-kilometer (100 mile) race.

The eight-dog race began Wednesday at noon and he crossed the finish line at approximately 2:20 p.m. on Thursday. The race was split in two with mushers spending the night in La Ronge on Wednesday, before heading out again on Thursday to finish it.

As the winner, de Wolski will go home with $1,500 in prize money.

“It’s always good to come in first,” he remarked.

“This is my first time here. Last week was my first time ever in Saskatchewan, so I am new to the Canada circuit this year. I am doing most of the Canadian circuit with a little bit in Alaska and the Lower 48.”

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de Wolski described the trail as well groomed, but slower than he expected. He really enjoyed the portions of the trail that ran through the bush more than he liked the parts over Lac La Ronge.

La Ronge’s Ragnar Robinson took second in the eight-dog, 160-kilometer race. (Facebook/Canadian Challenge Dog Sled Race)

La Ronge’s Derek Konga placed second in the six-dog, 96-kilometer race. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

He also said he was happy to start on Wednesday because he was able to avoid the extreme cold the 10-dog mushers had to face on Tuesday.

“The weather was perfect. This is a perfect temperature. It’s good for the dogs, it’s good for the people, and the sun is nice. It’s been great,” de Wolski said.

La Ronge’s Ragnar Robinson took second in the eight-dog race, followed by Jerry Joinson in third and Shellie Torok in fourth. Fellow mushers Trace Drake and Jillian Lawton were scratched out of the race.

The 10-dog main race also came to an end on Thursday with Garrick Schmidt taking first, Dan Kirkup coming in second and Anna Bolvin following in third. Five other mushers part of that 322-kilometer race dropped out by 5 p.m. on Wednesday.

There were two competitors in the six-dog, 96-kilometer (60 miles) race with Unity’s Amanda Grant taking first and La Ronge’s Derek Konga coming in second. This marked Konga’s very first race with the Canadian Challenge.

American Rick Katucki was the only competitor in the six-dog, 160-kilometer (100 miles) race and he ended up dropping out.

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derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com