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11/17/09 Please go to the link below, and place your vote for the Open North American as the #1 event - to be inducted into the Alaska Sports Hall of Fame for 2010. 2010 marks the 65th Anniversary of the ONAC. It is the oldest, continuously run sled dog race in the world, and deserving of recognition! 65 years is a tribute to Fairbanks, and the dedicated members of the Alaska Dog Mushers Association who continue to make it happen year after year. Struggles have been many, but we continue to persevere. Anyone can vote, but you can only vote once. Forward this on to friends and family members, so all of the mushing fans out there can show their support by voting! HURRY, the deadline is November 25. http://www.alaskasportshall.org/ 11/9/09 Yukon Quest Thanks the Canadian Rangers for 17-year Partnership November 9, 2009 (Whitehorse, Yukon) – The Yukon Quest was notified by the Joint Task Force North that it is no longer possible to provide the trail support it has in the past through a formal partnership with the Canadian Rangers. Joint Task Force North supports and encourages individual Rangers to volunteer their time and effort in the same manner as the rest of Yukon Quest trail volunteers. The Yukon Quest would like to express its sincere thanks for the incredible service and presence in the Yukon communities along the Yukon Quest trail that the Canadian Rangers have been a part of for the past 17 years. “The Yukon Quest is proud to have had the Canadian Rangers partner with us for the past 17 years.” said Wendy Morrison, Executive Director of the Yukon Quest International Association Canada. “They have done an amazing job and have helped us set a high standard for the Yukon Quest Trail.” Already, the Yukon Quest has started working on plans for the 2010 YQ Trail through the hiring of Yukon Trail Coordinator. While all the details have not been finalized, the coordinator will focus on connecting with past trail volunteers including individual Rangers throughout Yukon communities where the Yukon Quest passes through and using the incredible expertise that exists in the Yukon. Plans for the Yukon Quest Trail in Alaska are also in the planning stages. Similar to last year, the Yukon Quest will hire an Alaska Trail Coordinator to work with volunteers and connect trail sections from Fairbanks through the Alaskan communities along the Yukon Quest Trail. The 2009 Yukon Quest Trail, nicknamed by some as the “super highway,” was due to a combination of great trail work by our volunteer and Canadian Ranger teams as well as great snow and weather conditions leading up to the race. “While we cannot control snow and weather conditions, we are confident that the teams being put in place for 2010 will make for great trail work,” said Morrison. Please visit www.yukonquest.com for up-to-date information and news on the Yukon Quest. 11/4/09 A field of 40 teams have signed up for the 2009 Sheep Mountain 150 sled dog race A field of 40 teams have signed up for the 2009 Sheep Mountain 150 sled dog race. Entries are still being accepted until the race limit of 50 teams is full. The Sheep Mountain 150 is a 150-mile sled dog race to be held December 12-13, 2009. The race starts and finishes at Sheep Mountain Lodge at mile 113 of the Glenn Highway and has two, five-hour layovers at Eureka Lodge. Some of the race can be viewed directly from the highway and fans can watch and meet the mushers at the Eureka lodge checkpoint Saturday night. This year’s race features top distance mushers such as current Iditarod Champion Lance Mackey, Aily Zirkle, Paul Gebhardt and defending Sheep Mountain 150 Champion, Jessica Hendricks. The race kicks off the beginning of the Alaska distance sled dog racing season and is now an official qualification race for Iditarod rookies. Race updates will be posted to: www.sheepmountain.com/SheepMtn150.php This will be the best source for current race updates and final results. For more detailed information about the race please contact Zack Steer, race director, at 907-745-5121. 11/4/09 Australia's leading broadcaster, the SEVEN network, is looking for sled dog families Australia's leading broadcaster, the SEVEN network, is looking for sled dog families to host two teens from Australia for one week for a documentary series highlighting great families of the world. If you are interested, please email Adair at AdairKaiser@mac.com or call 615-497-1949. There is compensation for the chosen family. Taping will happen this year! Thanks 10/5/09 East Meets West Dryland Sled Dog Race Gears Up to Welcome Mushers Clearwater, MN – The organizing committee for the East Meets West Dryland Sleddog Race is swinging into high gear in preparation for the November 14th &15th debut in Clearwater’s Warner Lake Park. Race Coordinator Monica Jendro is excited about all that will be available to mushers and the public: “We will have a smorgasbord of concessions throughout the two days as well as a “Meet the Mushers Dinner” on Saturday evening where anyone and everyone can mix and mingle with competitors and find out more about this exciting aspect of sled dog sports.” Events will begin at 10:00 A.M. on Saturday and 9:00 A.M. on Sunday. Of course, the public is welcome to come and see for themselves as the dogs and mushers ply the trails on Saturday and Sunday. In fact, the public can even participate and get their feet wet in dryland racing by entering a canicross “Fun Run” event to be held on Saturday! All you need is a dog and a leash. If you have the specially designed canicross belt and a sled dog harness, all the more power to you! Canicross is essentially running with your dog in harness and attached to the musher via a line and a specially designed belt. However dryland racing offers a variety of new sled dog sports. Bikejoring is done with one or two dogs and an experienced musher on a suitable bike. Scootering is also done with one or two dogs and specially designed ‘mountain scooters’. Then there are rig races, where mushers ride a light-weight, wheeled cart pulled by a team of dogs, typically two to six. Dryland sled dog racing is a relatively new aspect of sled dog sports, but it has caught on rapidly throughout Europe and now, also in North America. The East Meets West Dryland Championship is sponsored by the Clearwater Travel Plaza, National Dog Food, Appert’s Food Service, Bernick’s Beverages & Vending and Ronnoco Specialty Coffees. Additional support is being provided by Stearns County Parks, the City of Clearwater, St. Cloud Convention and Visitors Bureau, Warner Lake County Park, KVSC of Saint Cloud, C & L Distributing of Sauk Rapids and the Hilpipre Auction Company of Cedar Falls, Iowa. Over 100 competitors from throughout North America are expected to be competing for a $10,000.00 purse in 12 classes of racing. The event is sanctioned by the International Sled Dog Racing Association and accredited by the International Federation of Sleddog Sports with collaboration by the North Star Sled Dog Club of Minnesota. The Travel Plaza’s Joel Nelson, himself a former champion musher, can hardly contain his enthusiasm: “What can you say, a $10,000 purse, trophies, free T-shirts for mushers, along with a great meal for participants. Mushers will finally be treated like the professional athletes they are!” For further information please visit www.isdra-dryland-racing.info or call Monica Jendro at 320-282-2824 9/10/09 Don Bowers Memorial Sleddog Race - 200 Miles through the MatSu Valley The Bowers race will take place on the customary last weekend of January if snow and weather allow for a decent trail and musher interest warrants the effort. It will likely be a single event of 200 miles in lieu of the previous 200/300 format; Willow to May's cabin and return to Willow via Morgans camp and Schulin Lake. Food drop, mandatory rest and hospitality will be at the Trapper Creek turnaround as in the past. It will essentially remain a low key training and learning race and will pay a purse based on entry fees minus trail expenses. It will not be an Iditarod qualifier as the new Iditarod rookie report card requirement is incompatible with the Bowers trail topography and the relatively short time frame of the race. There will be veterinary and communications support. Interested mushers are asked to pay a $50 deposit to place their name on the list. If the race is cancelled for lack of snow or interest the deposit will be refunded. The remainder of the entry fee ($150) is payable within a week of the start date. The old rule set and web page will be modified to reflect the new format and will be posted by Nov. 1. Anyone seriously interested please contact Mike Bishop ASAP so we have a preliminary assessment of interest. (907) 495-5737. http://www.donbowersmemorialrace.org/ 9/4/09 Rondy welcomes Jeff King, legendary distance musher, to the Rondy World Championship Sled Dog Races, as a Rookie. Jeff King, celebrity musher and author, often referred to as “Winningest Musher in the World”, has confirmed that he will be running the World Championship Sled Dog Races for the first time. As a champion of multiple distance and stage races, Mr. King is eager to test his skills in the sprint discipline of sled dog racing- “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!” Blayne “Buddy” Streeper, multiple champion of sprint races and reigning three time champion of The Rondy World Championship Sled Dog Races says, “The Fur Rondy is the ultimate dog race. To run through the streets of Anchorage, in such a history filled race, with thousands of cheering fans- I get goose bumps thinking of the event. I welcome Mr. King to The Rondy, and look forward to having him race a Streeper Kennels team for his inaugural race.” Streeper continues, “This year I have the opportunity to become the only musher in history to win four consecutive Rondy titles.” The Rondy World Championship Sled Dog Races are produced in partnership between Greater Anchorage Inc and the Alaskan Sled Dog & Racing Association. Christine Tozier, President of the Alaskan Sled Dog & Racing Association, said “Registration for the race will formally open on November 1; we anticipate strong participation with the continued success of this race.” Ernie Hall, President of the Rondy Board of Directors said “We welcome participation from mushers from other areas of the sport and predict that the trend will continue with our continued elevation of the Rondy World Championship Sled Dog Races and sprint mushing as a whole.” With the recent announcement of a guaranteed minimum purse of $80,000, the Rondy WCSDR continues to solidify its place as the premier sprint event in sled dog racing. Tudor Road Bingo Center and HotWire Electric are the major sponsors for the race. 8/5/09 Yukon Quest Announces Minimum Purse of $150,000 August 5, 2009 (Fairbanks, Alaska) - 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.” 8/5/09 The John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon is full (Duluth, MN) Aug 3, 2009 - The 27th Running of the John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon is officially FULL. Thirty teams are registered to race 390 miles January 31st thru February 3rd, 2010. The 150 mile Beargrease Mid Distance race is expected to fill as 26 teams are registered with 24 places available. Geoff Vukelich, President of the Board of Directors “We anticipate a very competitive and exciting race.” The field of international competitors includes John Barron and Jason Barron of Montana. Both father and son are two time past Beargrease champions. In addition to this year’s family competition, Beargrease hosts teams of men and women and sometimes husbands and wives competing in a race where men and women are considered as equal competition on the trail. “The Beargrease Board of Directors is pleased to have devoted mushers and teams that will race in these tough economic times,” says Vukelich, “many teams will participate for the spirit of the race.” Beargrease events and checkpoints are open to the public Friday, Jan 29th- Feb 4th, 2010. Events include Beargrease Gala Dinner and Silent Auction, Vet Checks, Cutest Puppy Contest, Opening Ceremonies and Bib Draw, Race Start, Mid Distance Race Finish, Marathon Race Finish and Musher’s Awards Banquets. Fitger’s will be the Official Headquarters during the race – fans can visit headquarters during the race for updates. Beargrease checkpoints are uniquely accessible to the public. Beargrease fans and Lake Superior’s North Shore visitors can drive to the checkpoints to experience the race excitement around the clock at the Two Harbors, Beaver Bay, Finland, Sawbill, Trail Center, Gunflint Trail and Devil Track Lodge checkpoints throughout the race. Beargrease has volunteer opportunities available. Please visit
www.beargrease.com
to register.
Westmoreland Flint has designed a new registered logo for the Beargrease. The Westmoreland Flint design team strategically designed the new logo to represent the sled dog as the icon, the Evergreen trees to represent Northeastern Minnesota, the light burst to represent the spirit of John Beargrease, the Sawtooth Mountains to represent the challenging North Shore trail and the Trillium to be representative of Native American flora. The John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon is the longest running race in the lower 48 states. The 390 mile course of rugged, awesome scenery winds its way up the North Shore of Lake Superior and into the primal wilderness along the Canadian border. This race commemorates the courage and endurance of John Beargrease, the intrepid Chippewa dog-driver who carried the U.S. mails to outposts along the North Shore of Lake Superior in the late 1800’s. 8/1/09 Rondy 75th Anniversary For Immediate Release - Anchorage, AK,
July 31, 2009: Rondy World Championship Sled Dog Races purse set Greater Anchorage Inc (GAI) and Alaskan Sled Dog & Racing Association, (ASDRA) announce a guaranteed minimum purse of $80,000 for the 2010 World Championship Sled Dog Races. The purse payout structure has been
changed significantly to pay more to lower finishing mushers to encourage
participation. The entry fees will remain at similar levels as in recent
years. (Details of the purse payout and By announcing a guaranteed minimum purse, entry fees and new payout, GAI and ASDRA confirm their commitment to the growth of the race and sprint racing. This announcement will encourage and give ample planning time to national and international mushers interested in attending. GAI and ASDRA partner to produce this historic and world renowned event that was again voted “Event of the Year” by members of the International Sled Dog Racing Association. The major sponsors for the Rondy World Championship Sled Dog Races are Tudor Road Bingo Center and Hotwire Electric with support from the Municipality of Anchorage. The World Championship Sled Dog Races are February 26, 27 & 28th, 2010 at Noon, 4th & D Street, Downtown Anchorage. 2010 ENTRY FEE for the Rondy World
Championship Sled Dog Races - $ 698.00* 2010 PURSE PAYOUT – Rondy World Championship Sled Dog Races
*In addition, any mushers finishing in
places 21- (tbd upon sign up) will receive a $500.00 finishing credit Christine Tozier, President- ASDRA -
907-230-3970 6/30/09 June 29, 2009: New Mid-Distance Race for Ontario. The Biggest Little Town in Ontario, Kearney is adding another race to its already impressive schedule for the 2010 schedule. Besides playing host to a 2 day event that presents a 4 mile, 6 mile, skijoring and 40 mile race each day. The town has received approval from council to also organize a 120 mile mid-distance. The Kearney Sleddog Race Organization in consultation with the Ontario Federation of Sleddog Sports has been working on setting up a good old fashion mid-distance race. The twelve dog teams will leave town in the late afternoon travel 60 miles through the beautiful hardwood bush and bogs bordering on the west side of Algonquin Park and return back into Kearney. A designated 4 hour layover will be taken at the area baseball field where residence and visitors witnessing the event will be able to watch the mushers perform the dog care duties. Once the layover and starting time compensation is complete, teams will head back out on the same trail in the reverse direction, completing the sixty mile trail back into town. The winning team should be crossing the finish line just as the crowds are arriving for the start of the second day of the other events. The race organizers have set a maximum field entry for the first year of 12 teams. Registration will open on September 1, 2009 with starting bibs being awarded based on when enters are received. Kearney has made arrangements to have experienced sleddog racing veterinarians on site for mandatory pre-race checkups, during the layover and at the finish of the race. The race organizers are working hard on coming up with a suitable purse for this race. Some of the purse money has already been guaranteed to the committee, when the race is established. The committee has been listening to Ontario sleddog mushers and has designed a totally no help race for the mushers. Once they leave the start line, the mushers will have to do all the work throughout the race. That means feeding dogs, caring for the dogs, themselves and any other needs to complete the race. The Kearney Sleddog Races are taking the next step in progressing to the upper echelon of sleddog racing. Last year they added skijoring to their race categories. This year they are stepping up to a longer distance category with the hopes of possible stretching the distance in years to come. They have the prefect location, with great snowfall, picturesque scenery and a great town to back the event. Kearney is helping mid-distance racing to get re-established here in Ontario with sites set to expand into the future. Prepared by: Jim Cunningham, Race Marshal, Centreton, Ontario, Canada. 6/18/09 Mushing History Conference 2009 Our proposal is to hold this program in Alaska late summer or fall. We are soliciting speakers and participants. We hope to decide on the dates & venue in the next few weeks based on the interests of potential hosts and sponsors. History is not out of date or irrelevant. It was from their interest in history that Dorothy Page and Joe Redington Sr. came together to eventually create the Iditarod Sled Dog Race. The first "modern" toboggan sled which I built for the 1974 Iditarod was partly inspired by sleds used by Scotty Allan and Vilhjalmur Stefansson as described in the Baldy of Nome books by Ester Darling and in Stefansson's books recounting his Arctic explorations. We would like to hear from speakers who want to participate in the conference. Please email a one or two paragraph summary of your proposed or tentative subject and content to twhite@boreal.org Write an abstract. These will be circulated to the other speakers so that we can find the best way to integrate them for a coherent program. All topics related to sled dogs can be considered. In fact, most subjects do have an interesting historical context and content. 6/8/09 Jamaican Musher to Sign Up for Iditarod and Train with Champion Lance Mackey June 4, 2009 (Ocho Rios, Jamaica): – Three-time Iditarod and four-time Yukon Quest champion Lance Mackey will be training Jamaica Dogsled Team musher Newton Marshall as he prepares to race the Iditarod in 2010. “I was fortunate to have Hans Gatt train me over the past two years and help me finish the Yukon Quest” said Marshall. “Now I will get the chance to work with another champion – he has won three Iditarods! I know I can do this race.” Marshall successfully completed the Yukon Quest last year in thirteenth place. He was awarded the Spirit of the North Award by the Race Officials of the Yukon Quest. Last week in Jamaica, Marshall was presented with a special award from the St. Ann Chamber of Commerce for his success in dog sledding and the whole team was there with him to celebrate. “We are thrilled to be working with Lance Mackey’s Comeback Kennels as we prepare for the Iditarod,” said Danny Melville, President and team founder. “The new terrain, dog team, training races and style of Lance and his kennels will all help Newton as he prepares for the Iditarod.” Marshall and sprint musher Damion Robb both have an impressive schedule of races planned for 2009-10 that will culminate with the Iditarod in March. “We cannot wait to work with Newton,” said Tonya Mackey of Comeback Kennel, Inc. “He has shown his dedication to the sport of sled dog racing and we are excited to have the opportunity to get him ready for the Iditarod. Plus, we will get to show him some Alaskan hospitality!” The team dogs in Jamaica are rescued from the streets or from the Jamaican Society for Prevention of Cruelty of Animals (JSPCA). A portion of proceeds from the Jamaica Dogsled Tours and DVD sales on the team website benefits the JSPCA. The Jamaica Dogsled Team is sponsored by Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville, Chukka Caribbean Adventures, WestJet Vacations, Alpine Aviation and Annamaet Petfoods. 5/27/09 "From Puppies to Pullers - Yukon Quest Experience" a hit! May 26, 2009; (Fairbanks, Alaska) - The Yukon Quest Experience launched Wednesday, May 20 and has been an immediate hit. The show is presented by Brent Sass and is being held outside the Yukon Quest log cabin in downtown Fairbanks. Sass is a veteran Yukon Quest musher and was awarded the Sportsmanship Award in the 2009 Yukon Quest. He created this attraction to get people excited about the Yukon Quest while they are visiting Fairbanks and to give people a reason to follow the race throughout the year. The show educates and informs visitors of the rich history and exciting future of the Yukon Quest and incorporates displays, puppies, race history and Sass' personal experience with the race. Shows are taking place from 11 AM to 3 PM, Sunday to Thursday. Tickets for the show are $10 per person. Opening day of sign-ups for the 2010 Yukon Quest is August 8th. Opening day events will take place in both Fairbanks and Whitehorse. Check out the event calendar at www.yukonquest.com for more details. 5/15/09 Michael Tetzner reports that Iwan Schmid of Switzerland has passed away. Iwan was involved in sled dog racing since 1976 and placed second in open class at the 2001 IFSS World Championship in Fairbanks and great in many other races. He was a Tour de France driver and since 1976 professional. He was a great man in bike and dog sport. Note: If you have any additional information please send to webmaster 5/11/09 Wife Swap is looking for skijoring families My name is Kristen and I am a Casting Producer for the ABC hit reality show "Wife Swap." We are currently casting for our fifth season and we are looking for families that are really into Ski Joring together or one family member is very passionate about the sport. The premise of Wife Swap is simple: for seven days, two wives from two different families with very different values exchange husbands, children and lives (but not bedrooms) to discover what it's like to live a different family's life. It's an interesting social experiment and a great way to see your family in a whole new light. It is shot as a documentary series, so NO scripts and no set. It's just one camera that is documenting your life. Families that appear on the show will receive a financial honorarium for lost wages, time and commitment. And if you refer a family that appears on the show you would receive $1000. Here at 'Wife Swap' we look for a two-parent home with at least one child between the ages of 6 and 17 living at home full time. If you are interested, please email me your contact information and tell me a little about your family. Or if you would like to refer a family, please email me their contact information and I will be in touch. Thank you! Kristen Phelan 4/14/09 Team Canada Dryland Selection Process Participation at the 2009 IFSS Dryland World Championships is open to any and all Canadian residents. You are requested to download the Mushing Canada 2009 Dryland application form and submit the completed application by no later than May 29, 2009. The team selection will be based on available spaces and past racing experience. We anticipate that there will be enough space to accommodate most applications, however you must list your past race experience on the application form. The team selections will be announced on June 26, 2009. Each accepted applicant will be required to submit their payment of applicable fees to Mushing Canada by July 31, 2009. Quebec residents may apply through their provincial organization. For more information please visit: www.mushingcanada.ca 4/13/09 2009 “Tails from the Trail” Charity Banquet & Silent Auction Two Rivers, Alaska (April 8, 2009) The Second Annual “Tails from the Trail” Charity Banquet and Silent Auction is Friday April 24, 2009 at the Fairbanks Princess Hotel. Social Hour begins at 5:30PM and dinner is served at 6:30PM. Guest speakers include Vern Halter, Iditarod musher and 1990 Yukon Quest Champion, Jodi Bailey, 2008 Gin Gin 200 Champion and Mike McCowan, ONAC and Yukon Quest Race Marshal. Tickets are $35 and are available at Cold Spot Feeds, The Prospector and Pleasant Valley Store in Two Rivers. The Sled Dog Fund, Inc. is a non-profit organization that uses racing sled dogs to promote awareness and raise funding for the support of special needs children. The Sled Dog Fund, Inc. directly supports clinical research on disabilities, funds hospital programs, assists with parental education initiatives and sponsors individual disabled children who wish to compete in races of any kind. All donations to The Sled Dog Fund, Inc. are fully tax deductable. Donations are accepted via the internet or by mail. For additional information, visit The Sled Dog Fund, Inc.’s website at www.sleddogfund.org 4/13/09 Italian Mushers set up Fund for Earthquake Victims The F.I.M.S.S. (Federazione Italiana Musher Sleddog Sport) opened a subscription in order to help some their mushers who suffered the terrible experience of the earthquake that arrived in L'Aquila, Italy, where they live. Fabrizio Filoni, Olivia Piacentini and Giulia Rossetto stay well, but they are without jobs now and their houses cannot be used. In order to support them, you can send a donation using the FIMSS's Paypal account at
this link: 3/20/09 Mush for a Cure raised over $23,000 for the National Breast Cancer Foundation (Gunflint Trail, MN) The 3rd Annual Mush for a Cure Sled Dog Fundraiser on March 14th, 2009 raised over $23,000.00 for the National Breast Cancer Foundation. The Gunflint Trail was blanketed with snow but as aerial photos proved there were splashes of pink everywhere. The highly successful event included 34 dog mushing teams, 4 skijor participants, almost one hundred volunteers and hundreds of happy spectators. Early Saturday morning people and dogs could be seen at Gunflint Pines getting ready for the day. A pancake breakfast, registration and then a Sourdough start on the lake was made even more special by the appearance of a plane dropping pink streamers from the sky during the National Anthem. According to one spectator, "I don't know what came over me, but to see all of those people dressed in pink, getting ready to mush for a cure and then have a plane fly over just brought tears to my eyes." Those tears weren't the only ones seen during the 3rd Annual Mush for a Cure. Tears from laughing so hard at men wearing pink lipstick or at a hat that said, "Save 2nd Base" fell from some eyes. Other tears of joy were seen on Co-Race Founder Mary Black's face during the Awards Presentation, "I am so proud of all of you for raising over $23,000.00 it's so incredible, I just can't believe how awesome all of you are." The day was a special one for many folks including John Stetson and his son Nelson. The 3rd Annual Mush for a Cure was dedicated to Shelly Stetson who lost her battle with breast cancer in January before John's 2nd place finish in this year's Beargrease. John and Nelson traveled the Mush Trail together no doubt thinking of Shelly as many of the mushers did along the way. The Mingle with the Mushers Pasta Feed on Friday night and the Party Pink Post-Race Party were well attended. People received haircuts for a cure, great prizes from the raffles and plenty of food and fun at Trail Center. Plans are already underway for how to make the 4th Annual Mush for a Cure an even bigger and better event. Mark your calendars for March 13th, 2010 because you won't want to miss out on the fabulous fundraising fun. More information can be found at http://www.mushforacure.com 1/12/09 Shelly Stetson, wife of John Stetson, passed away at sunrise this morning (Monday, January 12) after a long battle with breast cancer. A memorial service is planned for Wednesday, January 14th at 4:30pm at the Unitarian Church in Duluth, MN. A potluck dinner will follow the service. The church website and address follow: 1/13/09 12/1/07 Canine rabies challenge studies begin! One of the most important vaccine research studies in veterinary medicine is underway at the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine in Madison. Dr. Ronald Schultz, a leading authority on veterinary vaccines and Chair of the Department of Pathobiological Sciences, has begun concurrent 5 and 7 year challenge studies to determine the long-term duration of immunity of the canine rabies vaccine, with the goal of extending the state-mandated interval for boosters. These will be the first long-term challenge studies on the canine rabies vaccine to be published in the United States. Dr. Schultz comments that: "We are all very excited to start this study that will hopefully demonstrate that rabies vaccines can provide a minimum of 7 years of immunity." This research is being financed by The Rabies Challenge Fund, a charitable trust founded by pet vaccine disclosure advocate Kris L. Christine of Maine, who serves as Co-Trustee with world-renowned veterinary research scientist and practicing clinician, Dr. W. Jean Dodds of Hemopet in California. The Rabies Challenge Fund recently met its goal of $177,000 to fund the studies’ first year budget with contributions from dog owners, canine groups, trainers, veterinarians, and small businesses. Annual budget goals of $150,000 for the studies must be met in the future. Dr. Jean Dodds, DVM states: "This is the first time in my 43 years of involvement in veterinary issues that what started as a grass-roots effort to change an outmoded regulation affecting animals will be addressed scientifically by an acknowledged expert to benefit all canines in the future." Scientific data published in 1992 by Michel Aubert and his research team demonstrated that dogs were immune to a rabies challenge 5 years after vaccination, while Dr. Schultz’s serological studies documented antibody titer counts at levels known to confer immunity to rabies 7 years post-vaccination. This data strongly suggests that state laws requiring annual or triennial rabies boosters for dogs are redundant. Because the rabies vaccine is the most potent of the veterinary vaccines and associated with significant adverse reactions, it should not be given more often than is necessary to maintain immunity. Adverse reactions such autoimmune diseases affecting the thyroid, joints, blood, eyes, skin, kidney, liver, bowel and central nervous system; anaphylactic shock; aggression; seizures; epilepsy; and fibrosarcomas at injection sites are linked to rabies vaccinations. Study co-trustee Kris Christine adds: “Because the USDA does not require vaccine manufacturers to provide long-term duration of immunity studies documenting maximum effectiveness when licensing their products, concerned dog owners have contributed the money to fund this research themselves. We want to ensure that rabies immunization laws are based upon independent, long-term scientific data.” More information and regular updates on The Rabies Challenge Fund and the concurrent 5 and 7 year challenge studies it is financing can be found at the fund’s website designed by volunteer Andrea Brin at: www.RabiesChallengeFund.org 9/12/07 Mush Mon! - Jamaica Dogsled Team Documentary SUN DOGS Released on DVD OCHO RIOS, Jamaica (September 8, 2007) - The feature documentary "Sun Dogs" chronicling the struggle and adventure of the founding of the Jamaica Dogsled Team will be released on DVD by Palm Pictures, October 2, 2007. SUN DOGS is a story of second chances. Rescued from the streets and animal shelters of Kingston, Jamaica, twelve stray dogs are trained to be the stars of Jamaica's first dog sled racing team. The crew, spearheaded by pop superstar Jimmy Buffett, brings the unlikely meeting of a traditionally snow-bound sport to the sand and surf. But it is not just the dogs that are given a second chance. The team's dog mushers are given the opportunity of a lifetime as they cultivate their love of animals while receiving an education and traveling the world. Special Features on the DVD include four mini-documentaries: "Jimmy Buffett and the Jamaica Dog Sled Team" - exclusive footage of Jimmy Buffett; "How to Teach Your Dog to Pull in Harness;" "The Jamaica Dogsled Team Taking on the World;" "The Work of the JSPCA;" plus a "Dog-ography: Meet the Mutts." To purchase the documentary or for more information about SUN DOGS and the Jamaica Dogsled Team visit www.jamaicadogsled.com - Chukka Caribbean Adventures: www.chukkacaribbean.com ; Palm Pictures: www.palmpictures.com ; SUN DOGS www.sundogsmovie.com 7/3/07 Dean Fairburn drowns in Idaho's Payette River Dean was well known among mushers in the west. He was a great friend and a very good musher. He loved his family and the dogs. He won the Eagle Cap 200 race this year, and got Red Lantern in this year's Race To The Sky. He was planning to run the Iditarod next year. Details from the Idaho Statesman: www.idahostatesman.com/531/story/97073.html 6/25/07 Wally Herbert, passed away on June 13th. Wally made an historic 3620 mile unsupported trek from Alaska to Spitsbergen, Norway by way of the North Pole by Inuit Dog team back in 1968. More information at and here: http://sirwallyherbert.com/Profile.html 5/29/07 R. Glendon "Dick" Brunk, February 14, 1945-May 13, 2007 Former Fairbanks resident R. Glendon Brunk, 62, died May 13, 2007, in Santa Fe, New Mexico A memorial celebration will be at 6 p.m. June 9 at the Dog Mushers Hall located on Farmers Loop Road in Fairbanks. Details are at www.glendonbrunk.com If you plan to carry dog food/meat across Canada/US borders check ahead... The situation in carrying dog meat and/or dog food with certain ingredients across the border in 2005/2006 seems to have changed very little from last year. Note that there is now a problem with chicken passing through British Columbia. Thanks to Karen Ramstead for providing the following information on November 22, 2005:
Please be sure to include an appropriate Subject line in your messages to SDC. Any mail that appears the least bit suspicious--that is, without a subject line or with a subject that doesn't specifically refer to SDC or a dog topic, without a return address, unusually large size--is deleted without opening. You can prevent accidental deletion of your message by including a relevant subject and making sure the email includes your return address. If you have not received a response to email within two or three days, consider re-sending with a more complete subject line.
Most of the current viruses "spoof" the senders address. All that is necessary for the mail to look like it came from Sled Dog Central is for the infected computer to have our address in their email address book. Nothing is impossible, but we run Trend Micro AntiVirus 24/7 and our protection files are updated immediately upon release from Trend Micro. As an additional precaution all of our outgoing email is scanned by our AntiVirus program before it is sent. Thanks, Judy Bergemann
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