The Siskiyou Sled Dog Races are coming up!

Dog lovers, snow lovers and folks thinking about a trip to Siskiyou County – this is your event. The Siskiyou Sled Dog Races offer four days of outdoor, doggie-related good times at the only Iditarod-qualifying race in California. Join teams of mushers January 22-25th for two distance races, two days of sprint race exhilaration, and the chance to talk with mushers and meet the dogs.

The mushers and their dog teams come into town Thursday, and will be giving demonstrations at area schools before the Musher & Race Sponsor Reception. This opening night event is from 6:30-8:30pm at the Woodsman Hotel (1121 South Mt. Shasta Blvd., Mt. Shasta) where you can pick up a full race schedule at the reception. Schedules are also available at the Mt. Shasta Visitors Center on the corner of Pine and Lake Streets or by visiting www.siskiyousleddograces.net

Races get underway Friday with the Vet Check and Public Viewing at the Deer Mtn./Chuck Best Memorial Snowmobile Park outside of Weed from 8:30 am to 1:30 pm. 12-dog distance teams that will be racing around Mt. Shasta will receive a full health inspection by race veterinarians and vet tech students. Enjoy watching as mushers prepare their teams for the big race then cheer them on at the 1:30 start of the 220-mile race, followed by the start of the 110-mile race at 2pm. You can drive to the first check point on Ski Park Highway where teams will be arriving between 4:30-5:30 pm for snacks.

Sprint races get underway Saturday as the long-distance teams continue to run. Siskiyou Sprint Race Opening Ceremonies are at 9am at the snowmobile park, followed by distance team progress announcements. Sprint races begin at 9:30am.
Enjoy the competitive camaraderie as teams challenge each other, compare times and strategize for the Sunday races.
Saturday race schedule:
9:30 am – 4 dog Sprint Races – 5.1 miles
11:00 am – 6 Dog Sprint Races – 5.1 miles
12:30 pm – 8 Dog Sprint Races – 8 miles
2:00 pm – 6 Dog Mid–Distance Race – 18 miles
2:30 pm – Skijor Race – 5.1 miles

The sprint and skijor races are a high performance blast for spectators with teams leaving and returning to finish quickly throughout the day. As teams rest you can talk with mushers and meet the dogs. Wrap up the day at the Sprint Musher Reception at The Woodsman Hotel in Mt. Shasta from 6-8pm.

Sunday brings another full day of sprint races and skijoring at the Deer Mtn./Chuck Best Memorial Snowmobile Park with long-distance teams coming into the finish between midnight and 5pm that day. Updates will be given on distance teams and sprint race standings from Saturday will be announced.
Sprint races begin at 9:30am.

Sunday race schedule:
9:30 am – 4 dog Sprint Races – 5.1 miles
11:00 am – 6 Dog Sprint Races – 5.1 miles
12:30 pm – 8 Dog Sprint Races – 8 miles
2:00 pm – 6 Dog Mid–Distance Race – 18 miles
2:30 pm – Skijor Race – 5.1 miles

The 2009 Siskiyou Sled Dog Races ends with a banquet and awards ceremony that will kick off at 6pm at the Weed Mercantile Building at 590 Main St. in Weed. The dinner buffet will be rigatoni with homemade pasta, bread, salad, dessert and beverages (no alcohol). $10 per person, tickets at the door. Over 65 and under 10 receive discount. For more info call 530-939-3229.

This is a big weekend with lots going on at the snowmobile park, and out along the distance race course, where dog lovers can check in to see how mushers care for their dogs over these long events. Be sure to take the time at the snowmobile park to listen in as mushers talk about their dogs (and talk, and talk) to learn more about the sport. Get the complete calendar online www.siskiyousleddograces.net

Musher to talk about Iditarod run on Sunday in Mt. Shasta

Breaking news from the Siskiyou Snow Dogs Sporting Assoc –

Sunday evening the Siskiyou Snow Dog Sporting Association is bringing Iditarod Distance Musher, Liz Parrish (The Littlest Musher), to the Woodsman Hotel for a presentation about her 2008 Iditarod run. Liz will be speaking and showing pictures from her 2008 Iditarod run this Sunday, Nov. 30th at 5 PM, in the lobby of the Woodsman Hotel, 1121 S. Mt. Shasta Blvd. to help promote the 2009 Siskiyou Sled Dog Races – California’s First Iditarod Qualifier.  Liz competed in the 2007 Siskiyou 135 Sled Dog Races and has supported the efforts of the Siskiyou Snow Dog Sporting Association since its inception in 2005. 

Liz enjoys a life full of challenges, surprises and more than a few twists and turns.  Her inspiring talk, Lessons from the Dogs: Speak Your Dreams and Your Passions, addresses what it took for her and her team to reach their twin goals of finishing the Iditarod and having fun in the process.  Liz’s team finished the 2008 Iditarod in 14 days with 14 dogs, an extraordinary achievement for a rookie, especially in light of the severe injury Liz suffered early in the race.  Liz will speak to the decade-long effort it took to reach this goal, highlights of the race itself, and share stories from training and the trail.  She will be available after the speech for autographs, questions and answers and will share with the audience what’s next in store for “The Littlest Musher”.

This event is a teaser for the 2009 Siskiyou Sled Dog Races, to be held January 22^nd – 25^th. Admission to see Liz is a suggested minimum donation of $5 for adults and $3 for kids 10 and under. Coffee, tea, and desserts will be available for donation as well.  2009 Race T-Shirts designed by Catherine McElroy will be available.  

 For more information on the presentation by Liz Parrish call the Woodsman at 530-926-3411.  The Woodsman Is the official Inn of the Siskiyou Sled Dog Races.  There will be two musher receptions at the Hotel during the race weekend.  For more information and a race weekend schedule visit www.siskiyousleddograces.net or write to  info@siskiyousleddograces.net or call 530-467-3009 or 530-598-0466.