The Canadian Challenge Sled Dog Race will be held between La Ronge and Missinipe in 2025. (Facebook/Canadian Challenge Sled Dog Race)

By Derek Cornet

winter sport

Canadian Challenge announces full slate of mushers

Oct 7, 2024 | 1:34 PM

Although the Canadian Challenge Dog Sled Race is more than four months away, all 25 available spots have already been filled.

“This is a little bit earlier than we’ve ever been full,” said President Dan Kirkup.

“The last time we had a lot of interest this early was in 2022, which was just after the race had been cancelled when COVID was going on. I think there was a little extra demand at that point with people looking for races that were available.”

There are four races scheduled for the 2025 Canadian Challenge with the major 10-dog, 321-kilometer (200 miles) race set to start Feb 18. There are 10 mushers registered in that race with another 10 signed up for the eight-dog, 160-km (100 miles) race, two in six-dog, 160-km race, and three in the six-dog, 96-km (60 miles) race.

The premier 10-dog, 321-km race is a qualifier for the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race and Yukon Quest Dog Sled Race. The 10-dog race always proves to be popular among mushers.

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“I am really excited about this year,” Kirkup noted.

“We’ve got four different race categories, which is a little bit different. We added a couple of different options for people to try out in addition to the regular popular ones that we’ve had.”

As for local mushers, Ragnar Robinson will compete in the eight-dog race while newcomer Derek Konga will be take part in the smaller 96-km race. Konga is one of several mushers who will participate in the Canadian Challenge for the first time.

“It is great to see people are progressing in the sport and trying things a little bit more challenging and pushing themselves a little more,” Kirkup added.

The Canadian Challenge will once again be held between La Ronge and Missinipe. Organizers have yet to determine what the total purse will be and are in the midst of signing on more sponsors.

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derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com