Deep snow and low visibility led to hazardous conditions for dog sled teams. (Image Credit: Canadian Challenge Dog Sled Race)

By Derek Cornet

blizzard

Winter storm shortens Canadian Challenge, husband-wife duo in the lead

Feb 18, 2026 | 4:34 PM

Blizzard conditions on Tuesday night have resulted in a shortened race for Canadian Challenge Dog Sled Race competitors.  

Because of reduced visibility crossing Montreal Lake resulting in sled teams going off course, the decision was made to shorten the premiere, 10-dog race by 80 kilometers or a quarter of its original length. Teams also spent the night in Weyakwin and didn’t leave until 8 a.m. this morning.  

Race marshal Sid Robinson said shortening the race is a rare occurrence, but safety for the mushers and dogs is most important. He noted the weather conditions experienced by teams last night was as bad as it gets for a race.  

“It’s on the same track, but the snow has slowed down and it’s not blowing like last night, so I don’t think they are going to have any trouble,” Robinson explained.  

“It’s just slow going for the dogs because the snow can get a little bit like porridge when it’s loose and new like this.” 

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As for the competitors using the Canadian Challenge as a qualifier to the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, an annual, roughly 1,000-mile (1,609-km) Alaskan sled dog race held in early March from Anchorage to Nome, Robinson noted they should be able to count the kilometers they completed this week. 

Dog sled teams were forced to spend the night in Weyakwin. (Image Credit: Canadian Challenge Dog Sled Race)

“It was explained to me the Iditarod says you have to have 750 miles of bush travel unassisted,” he remarked. 

“They will get at least 150 out of this – not quite as many as they hoped – and as the race marshal, I am going to explain to the Iditarods they did really well in tough conditions.” 

As of 4 p.m., most mushers in the 10-dog race are at the Route 66 checkpoint at the Highway 2 junction to Pinehouse Lake for a three-hour mandatory rest. Husband-wife duo Jesse Terry and Mary England of Ontario are currently in the lead, having reached the checkpoint about a minute apart. Teams are expected to begin reaching La Ronge this evening instead of tomorrow morning as originally planned.  

The six-dog, 113-km race will began at 10 a.m. in Weyakwin feature La Ronge’s Derek Konga and Roger Dalke from Alberta. As of 4 p.m., Konga is about 10 minutes ahead of Dalke.

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derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com