By Derek Cornet

Mushers from across Canada registered for Canadian Challenge

Jan 17, 2019 | 11:00 AM

With the start of Canadian Challenge only one month away, organizers are excited to have mushers from across Canada registered in the event.

The main 12-dog race features more than 500 kilometers of trails, which pass through dense forests, frozen lakes and the rocky landscape of the Canadian Shield. So far, eight mushers have signed up for the contest with the furthest participant coming all the way from New Hampshire in the United States. Last year’s champion Gerry Walker from Pierceland will also be looking for his fifth win.

“The Canadian Challenge has a special atmosphere,” organizer Anna Bolvin said. “I’m not sure if mushers come back because they want to visit or run the dogs on the trail. There’s a lot of visiting happening at the checkpoints amongst the mushers and handlers. We have a lot of fun too; it’s not just racing.”

In all, 18 mushers signed up for one of three races in the Canadian Challenge, which start Feb. 19 at noon. While the 12-dog race starts in Elk Ridge, passes through La Ronge, Stanley Mission and Grandmother’s Bay before returning back to La Ronge, the eight-dog 286-kilometer race starts in Elk Ridge and end in La Ronge. The shortest race is 72 kilometers with six dogs and consists of a loop which starts and ends in Elk Ridge. Six mushers, including La Ronge’s Sid Robinson, are registered for the eight-dog race and two so far in the six-dog race.

Bolvin said all mushers will be in Prince Albert the day before the races begin to be checked over by several veterinarians. She noted it’s important all dogs are in a prime state of health, adding later that evening there will be a meet and greet for the public to visit with the mushers and their dogs. After the race starts Feb. 19, it will take three or four days for mushers to complete the longest route and an award’s breakfast will be held the morning of Feb. 23.

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“We’re happy to have people come and visit with us or see the dogs,” Bolvin said about the checkpoints in Elk Ridge, Grandmother’s Bay, La Ronge and Stanley Mission. “For those who don’t want to leave the warmth of their home, they can follow the race online. We have live GPS, so they can go on our website and follow each musher on the map.”

derek.cornet@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @saskjourno