The majority of the teams competing are from Canada. (Image Credit: Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

By Derek Cornet

sled dogs

Canadian Challenge 10-dog race underway

Feb 17, 2026 | 1:05 PM

The main event in the Canadian Challenge Dog Sled Race is underway.  

There are 11 teams competing in the 10-dog, 322-kilometer race, which started at 10 a.m. in La Ronge on Tuesday. Each team left the start line in three-minute intervals with the temperature at -21 C, but feeling like -33 C with the wind.

“I think the dogs will do OK because they are working, so they are warm,” said race marshal Sid Robinson. “It is cold for the mushers, but it is a lot nicer having the wind behind you than having it in your face.” 

Four out of the 11 teams competing are from Saskatchewan, four are from the United States, two are from Ontario and one is from British Columbia. Previous winners Garrick Schmidt and Jesse Terry are among the competitors.  

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This year’s race is occurring between La Ronge and Weyakwin. That’s in contrast to previous years where the trail extended from Waskesiu all the way to Otter Lake.  

“In the course of the race, they have to take at least 10 hours of rest and they can take it at one of two places – at Weyakwin or a wilderness campsite set up about 40 miles south of La Ronge,” Robinson said.  

“They are going to go through the campsite three times, so they can take three hours here, four hours there, and they can take more than 10 hours too if they think dogs need more rest.” 

Mushers are expected to begin crossing the finish line Thursday morning, but they must be back in La Ronge by 7 p.m. that day. The public can keep track of the race online as each musher is fitted with a GPS locator.  

The six-dog, 113-km race will begin at 11 a.m. in Weyakwin on Wednesday. It will feature La Ronge’s Derek Konga and Roger Dalke from Alberta.  

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derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com