Derek Konga, right, with fellow musher Garrick Schmidt. (Image Credit: Submitted photo/Derek Konga)

By Derek Cornet

local musher

Konga enters Canadian Challenge six-dog race

Jan 27, 2026 | 4:48 PM

La Ronge teacher and musher Derek Konga will be participating in the Canadian Challenge Dog Sled Race for a second time.  

He made his debut in 2025 in a six-dog, 96-kilometer race and will compete in 2026 in a six-dog 113-km race. Last year, Konga took second place and finished about one hour after his one and only competitor in the category.  

Since his inaugural race, Konga explained he has learned a lot including how to stay warm, watching the dogs for soreness, and when to give them rest or a snack break. 

“It was a huge learning curve, but the mushing community is so welcoming and everyone helps each other,” he said.  

“I’m really lucky to have Garrick, Moe, Dex and Sid as people to ask for advice. Garrick also put a new brake on my sled, so I can actually slow the dogs down this year.” 

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Konga will once again be competing as part of Eagle Ridge Sled Dog Kennels based in southeast Saskatchewan. It is an eight-hour drive from La Ronge, but Konga has managed to make the trip a few times already. He’s been focusing his attention on learning a chest harness system and toggles, and running new hilly trails.  

Challenges so far have been low snow depths, extreme cold and training without his former mentor Ragnar Robinson.  

“It’s tougher not having Ragnar here to work with, but Moe (Monroe Mondor) has been more of a mentor this year, building on her confidence and successes this season,” he remarked.  

“I’m excited to run some great dogs and meet some of the veteran mushers. It’s just a great event to be a part of.” 

Konga is also relieved the Canadian Challenge is going ahead this year, considering organizers warned mushers last month the event could be cancelled due to low registration numbers. He noted there aren’t many dog sled races to compete in, so he hopes support continues in the coming years. 

“It has a long, storied history and pays respect to the freight trails of the old days coming up from the south,” Konga said.  

“Mushing is a piece of Indigenous history that needs to keep going. It’s an expensive endeavour to keep dogs but a very fulfilling one.” 

In total, there are 11 mushers registered to compete in the 10-dog 322-kilometer race and two in the six-dog 113-km race. All races will take place between La Ronge and Weyakwin. 

larongeNOW reached out to Canadian Challenge Vice-President Dan Kirkup for an update on the event, but didn’t hear back by publishing.  

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derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com