4 Time Iditarod Champion, Martin Buser aims to study canine CO2, heart rates & more!

Mile 101 will become a checkpoint for the 2010 Yukon Quest!

40 Mushers Set to Run Sheep Mountain 150

Norman Vaughan Serum Run Changes Event Schedule

The Norman Vaughan Serum Run is now a biennial even,t running in the odd years, with the next event taking place in Feb. 2011. However, in the even years starting in Feb. 2010 we plan to hold a" Serum Run Boot Camp" for those interested in the Nenana to Nome Serum Run. The Serum Run is looking at holding the Serum Run Boot Camp on February 12- 15 (tentative dates), 2010 where interested mushers and snowmachiners can get a better idea of what the Serum ’25 Run is all about.

The trip is limited to 15 mushers and 25 snowmachiners. Serum Run veterans are encouraged to apply, but future, first-time Serum Runners will be given priority.For more information visit the Serum Run web site.

Mushing History Conference

Party on with the Jamaica Dogsled Team in Toronto!

Enter to win a 2010 Iditarod print or poster!

Art is Jon’s life and Alaska, all Alaska, has been his inspiration. Artist Jon Van Zyle has seen more of Alaska in a much more unique way than most can ever hope to experience. Jon has twice completed the 1049 miles of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race between Anchorage and Nome. From these adventures he has created the yearly Iditarod poster series commemorating the race and his involvement. In 1979 he was made the official Iditarod artist, a title he still holds today. In 2004 he was inducted into the Iditarod Hall of Fame.

His acrylic paintings go beyond the race though, and encompass so much of the Alaska beauty. Jon's reputation as a storyteller through his art is further enhanced by his prints, posters and stone lithographs. Dog teams, landscapes, wildlife, Alaskan faces from native to newcomer, portray an intimacy with the land and it's people. He touches on history with studies of Alaskan pioneers and native traditions and lore recording the Alaskan spirit. Public acceptance of his shared feeling through his art has been his greatest reward.

Jon's art career has spanned over 3 decades. Prolific artist, he produces numerous paintings a year for one man exhibitions in the United States as well as Europe. Illustrating at least two children's books a year since 1993 for prestigious publishers has earned him a reputation with a younger audience as well as many awards for his children's art. His limited edition prints and posters sell out regularly with well over 300 editions in the last 30-plus years.

IFSS Announces Training Camp in Scandinavia 2010

Melbourne, Australia, October 15, 2009 – The International Federation of Sleddog Sports (IFSS) has announced that a designated amount of money will be allocated for 12 people from IFSS member federations to attend a training camp to develop their abilities and the sleddog sport in their country and region. Only one person from each federation will be accepted. All transportation and accommodations will be paid for by the joint contributions of IFSS and the Scandinavian national federations, Norges Hundejörerforbund (NHF) and Svenska Draghundsportförbundet (SDSF).

For 10 days, from 26 February to 7 March, 2009, 12 individuals will have an exciting opportunity to participate in an extensive training course, emphasizing Nordic pulka and skijoring but also including training with Nome sled, to take place in Norway and Sweden. Participants will first travel to Mora, Sweden, on February 26th and then go on to Orsa Hamar, Norway, March 4th to compete in the Trail World Championships.

The purposes of the camp are two-fold: (1) to help improve abilities of international competitors who wish to compete in the IFSS World Championships in Norway in 2011 and (2) to educate and train people who can teach others in their home country or region. Practice and theory will be taught with particular emphasis on skiing technique, waxing material and organization and cooperation in sleddog sports. The training leaders will be Ulla-Kari Pontén of Sweden, who will lead in Nordic; Malin Sundin, who will instruct in long distance sled; Sara Sundin, trainer for Nordic and sled; and Bengt Pontén, IFSS president who will work with Nordic skills. Present will also be several instructors from the local sled dog club in Sweden and the Ski College in Mora.

Prospective applicants are invited to apply by requesting application form and materials from Darren Watson, IFSS Vice President for Development (darrenwatson01@gmail.com) or Sally O’Sullivan Bair, IFSS Secretary General (sbair@tds.net). Completed applications must be received by IFSS (Darren Watson) no later than November 7, 2009, so that the selection process can be completed and selected participants will have time to make appropriate arrangements.

Live Streaming Audio of the International Sled Dog Symposium

Paint the Rink Pink!

Torch River Run - Iditarod Qualifier

The Torch River Run will start on March 3 and finish March 6, 2010.  It will be ran as an Iditarod qualifier, but will not be a qualifier this year.  It will be a “points race” for Ma Mow We Tak members. Race officials want to keep the race as simple as possible; therefore it will be a wilderness race.  The Torch River Run will run approximately 200 miles with no more than 10 and no less than 8 dogs, and must finish with no fewer than 5 dogs in harness and on the towline. Read more...

3 Time Iditarod Champion joins up with the Livestrong Foundation

Gin Gin 200 & Taiga 300 have new starting dates

IFSS Seeks Bids for 2013 Winter World Championships

Monticello, Minnesota USA, October 1, 2009 – The International Federation of Sleddog Sports (IFSS) is seeking bids to host the 2013 IFSS Winter World Championship. IFSS Winter World Championships are generally held in the winter of the year over a 2-week period.

Interested parties are encouraged to apply through their respective National Federation, which will forward the bid to IFSS. Deadline for bids to be submitted to IFSS is August 1, 2010. The final decision rests with the IFSS Council, which will make its decision no later than 30 days after the 2010 IFSS General Assembly, scheduled for September, 2010. Winter World Championships include classes in Nordic style and Nome (sled) sprint, long distance and mid-distance. IFSS prefers that all events be located in the same general area.

Interested applicants are also invited to make a presentation to the 2010 IFSS General Assembly. However, this is not required. The timing of the final decision is to allow the accepted bidder to come to the 2011 IFSS World Championships in Norway to observe and gain information regarding hosting such an auspicious event.

Interested applicants are requested to send a Letter of Intent, specifying the place and tentative dates and main contact information, to IFSS Secretary General Sally O’Sullivan Bair (email: sbair@tds.net; tel: +1 763 295 5465 – in the USA) by June 1, 2010. For questions and information regarding the contents that must be contained in the bid, please contact IFSS Secretary General Bair.

Major Sled Dog Organizations to Hold Unification Talks in Sweden

Borlänge, Sweden, September 29, 2009 – Kiruna, Sweden, in the latitudes of northern Sweden, will play host to talks between the major international organizations in sled dog sports. Bengt Pontén, President of the International Federation of Sleddog Sports (IFSS), Lars Svanfeldt, President of the European Sled Dog Racing Association (ESDRA), and Dave Steele, Executive Director of the International Sled Dog Racing Association (ISDRA), will meet together the weekend of 2-4 October in Kiruna to discuss aspects of the unification process proposed by the major players in the sport.

The process, outlined in a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and signed by the organizations in late 2008, has as its goal the merger into one international governing organization for sled dog sports to better serve the sled dog community worldwide. Although the process involves many steps and is due to take a few years until completion, the parties involved are optimistic that a positive result can eventually come. Commented IFSS President Pontén: “Each organization brings strong accomplishments and has contributed in a major way to the development of the sport, but it is time to come together into one worldwide organization that will better advance the whole sport and diffuse the current rifts that exist.” 

Already each organization has completed an analysis of its strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats – SWOT) and a tentative model of what a bona fide international organization could look like. However, there is still much work to be done. After the organizations’ leaders reach tentative agreement on a structure, there will follow a period of public comment before final approval can be made.

Copper Basin 300 Makes Changes

The Copper Basin 300 board has been hard at work, meeting over the past two months getting another awesome race together. This year there are some exciting changes.

• The race course has been changed this year. The race will begin in Glennallen, in front of KCAM radio station. The race will then head WEST along the highway to Tolsona (the way the race finished in 2006). The race will continue along in a clockwise direction around the route. Once back in Glennellen, the trail will loop behind Glennallen along the firebreak trail (the route used in last year's race to bypass Glennallen.) The race will end at Tolsona Lodge. Currently we are planning to cut out the following trail section: the run up the Denali Highway, down the bank, across Summit Lake, across the highway and down the pipeline. Instead we will cross at 1 Mile Creek. (This is the reroute of 2007.) The race will go directly East to the Gakona River from there. This should give the race right at 300 miles.
• The mandatory time this year has also been changed. There will be an 8 hour mandatory plus start differential lay over taken at any checkpoint. The remaining 10 hours of mandatory time can be taken at any checkpoint in half hour increments. This is a change from last years rules of 12 additional hours of mandatory time.
• The entry fee has increased to $400. The fee increases to $450 past December 31.

Be sure to sign up early!!This year's race starts on Saturday the 9th of January in front of KCAM in Glennallen. Race check-in starts Friday the 8th from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM at Race Central (The American Legion). The race drawing and Musher's meeting will be held at the Brownbear Rhodehouse at 5:30PM on Friday the 8th of January. The 2010 race will run clockwise around the route from Glennallen, finishing at Tolsona Lake.

The Copper Basin 300 web site has been recently updated. Be sure to check it often for trail reports and race information as we draw closer to race day.

A fun CB300 factoid: both the Yukon Quest and Iditarod Champions had numerous teams in the Copper Basin last year.

The Copper Basin 300 Board looks forward to seeing you on race day!

Denali Doubles Invitational Sled Dog Race

2009 Gin Gin Sign-up Begins

Newton Marshall named "Sports Ambassador" for Jamaica

After placing 13th in the Yukon Quest, Newton Marshall has qualified to compete in the 2010 Iditarod, a grueling 1000+ mile race across Alaska! Newton will be training for the next eight months under three-time Iditarod and four-time Yukon Quest champion Lance Mackey in Fairbanks, Alaska. But that’s not all Newton has to be proud of…he was just appointed the new Sports Ambassador for Jamaica! CONGRATULATIONS NEWTON!! Go to their web site to learn more about Newton Marshall and the Jamaican team.

Martin Buser goes to Norway

Four time Iditarod Champion, Martin Buser was invited to speak at the annual HAKADAL SEMINAR near Oslo, Norway September 5 & 6.Martin showed his video of "walking" 20 adult dogs off leash. He discussed the efficiencies in kennel operations and his racing philosophy. Below is a short clip of his time there.

Four Time Iditarod Champion Jeff King Sprints to Fur Rondy!

Distance musher Jeff King, known for his racing in the Iditarod and the Yukon Quest, now looks to add the legendary Fur Rendezvous World Championship to his list of accomplishments. The Fur Rondy, held in February in Anchorage, Alaska is one of the most exciting sprint races in North America. Jeff said "Running the Rondy has long been a goal of mine and will be a welcome challenge, giving me the ultimate experience in sprint racing. I am beyond excited and am shopping for Spandex."

Fur Rondy Trailer 2010 from susan l trussell on Vimeo.

14 Mushers Sign Up for 2010 Yukon Quest!

4 time Yukon Quest Champion, Lance Mackey is back for the 2010 Yukon Quest. Lance was one of the first to sign up for the 2010 Yukon Quest. After sitting out last years race Lance said "It's good to be back. I am looking forward to this years challenges." Fourteen mushers are signed up to date. The line up includes veteran musher Ken Anderson, Zack Steer, Normand Casavant, Mike Ellis and Becca Moore. This years rookies are Jennifer (Brown) Raffaeli, Abbie, Cindy Barrand, Peter Fleck and Katie Davis.

Yukon Quest Appoints New Executive Director

August 7, 2009 (Fairbanks, Alaska) - The Board of Directors in Alaska for the Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race are pleased to announce the appointment of Marti Steury as the new Executive Director in Fairbanks.

“The Board's near-term priorities for the Executive Director are growing local and international partnerships, building sponsorship relations and ensuring fiscal responsibility,” said Julie Estey, Acting President of the Board of Directors. “Marti brings the experience, skills and relationships to make that happen. We are confident she is the best person to move the Yukon Quest forward.”

Steury's history with the Yukon Quest goes back to its inception in 1983 when she became the first director for the organization. In 1987 she moved on to work with a sponsor of the race, remaining an avid fan and supporter of the Yukon Quest.

Most recently, Steury was a Manager with Festival Fairbanks and managed all activities including special events and ongoing projects. She was also formerly the Owner, President and CEO of The Great Alaskan Bowl Company where she won numerous awards including Small Businessperson of the Year for the State of Alaska in 1996.

“I am excited at the opportunity to work at seeing the Yukon Quest achieve its potential,” said Steury. “I have been involved with the race at various levels over the years and have always believed this race is a true celebration of the sport of sled dog racing and am honored to help it move forward.”

Steury will be in Fairbanks this Saturday for Opening Day of signups. Mushers can sign up in person on August 8th either at the log cabin in Fairbanks from 9 am – 1pm or at the White Pass Depot in Whitehorse from 10am – 2pm.

2010 Seppala Heritage Grant Recipient Announced

Yukon Quest Announces Minimum Purse of $150,000

The Board of Directors in both Alaska and the Yukon of the Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race are pleased to announce a minimum $150,000 USD purse for the 2010 race. “We are thrilled to be able to announce a guaranteed minimum purse at this early stage of the year,” said Al Doherty, Yukon Board President. “We are incredibly excited about our new sponsorship programs for 2010 and we have already seen enough positive reaction to our efforts that we are able to make this commitment.” Sponsor solicitation is well underway for 2010 and the current response has enabled the Boards to guarantee a purse at this level so early in the season. The Boards and staff continue their work to meet and exceed sponsorship and fundraising targets for 2010. The total purse for 2009 was $154,000 and despite the current economic downturn, sponsor confidence in the Yukon Quest has allowed the Boards to set a guaranteed purse comparable to last year’s final purse. The announcement comes just days before Opening Day of signups. Mushers can sign up in person on August 8th either at the log cabin in Fairbanks from 9 am – 1pm or at the White Pass Depot in Whitehorse from 10am – 2pm. There will be an incentive draw held on August 14th for all mushers officially entered on or before Opening Day with the winner receiving a prize of $1,000 USD. The Yukon Quest is pleased to offer the same low entry fee of $1500, which includes food drop, vet check, straw and methanol. The non-refundable portion of this entry fee has been set at $500 for 2010 in order to reduce the effect of late withdrawals on race revenues. “We’re looking forward to an excellent field of mushers in 2010,” said Tania Simpson, Executive Director in Alaska. “We believe we will prove yet again why the Yukon Quest is one of the world’s premier sled dog races.”

For more information or to book and interview please contact:
Dee Enright - Outside the Cube p) 867-456-7483 ext 224 c) 867-334-5203 dee@outsidethecube.ca

Bootie Up for Life!

With the purchase of a pink dog bootie from dogbooties.com, 5 cents will be donated to the American Cancer Society to benefit breast cancer. ACS has invested more in breast cancer research grants over time than any other voluntary public health organization - $352 million since 1972! And, it was the American Cancer Society that established mammography as the gold standard for the early detection of breast cancer. Click Here for more information.

With the purchase of the purple dog bootie, 5 cents will be donated to the American Cancer Society's Bark For Life. This event honors our canine caregivers while raising money to "take a bite out of cancer". Thanks for giving the gift of life! Click Here for more information.

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