Siskiyou Sled Dog Races canceled due to trail conditions.

This just in…

The Siskiyou Sled Dog Races planned for this weekend at the Deer Mountain/Chuck Best Memorial Snowmobile Park this weekend, January 22 and 23 have been canceled due to unsafe, low snow conditions.

Recent warm weather and rains raised concerns about the conditions of the Siskiyou Sled Dog Race trail systems for the Siskiyou Snow Dog Sporting Association (SSDSA).  A volunteer went out on a snowmobile early Sunday to check conditions.  The volunteer reported to the Board of Directors that trail conditions were badly deteriorated and slushy and that even the start/finish line conditions would not make for a good spectator experience. Upon hearing this, Doug Hake, Director of the SSDSA, drove to the park to confirm the volunteer’s report.  Doug reported to the group that even the contingency trails and the start/finish line area conditions were so compromised by the warm rains that there was no way the trails would be “good-to-go” next weekend.  Unseasonable warm and sunny weather is forecast through the race weekend and gave no hopes for the kind of snow storm needed to pull off the races.  He reported late Sunday to the SSDSA Board, and a vote was made to cancel the races around 8:30 Sunday evening.

Over 20 teams were entered, many returning from year’s previous – some coming from as far away as Idaho, Washington and Alaska.  Many more late entries were expected.  Doug Hake, Director of the SSDSA Board states, “The SSDSA’s goals are to hold world-class, quality family events that promote Siskiyou County.  The decision to cancel this year’s races was made with the safety of the mushers and their dogs in mind.  Also, the spectators and our very dedicated volunteers deserve the best experience possible!”

The SSDSA has notified the competing mushers and the race sponsors and volunteers that offer their valuable support each year. They have all expressed their understanding of the race cancellation and offer their support and involvement for the 2012 races. If you have any questions or concerns, visit siskiyousleddograces.com or write to info@siskiyousleddograces.net.

Dance for the Dogs Nov 13th & mark your calendar for Sled Dog Races

Coming up Nov 13th, the Siskiyou Snow Dog Sporting Association will hold its  3rd Annual Contra Dance and Silent Auction for the Dogs from 6-9:30 Pm, in the Mt. Shasta High School Gym, 710 Everitt Memorial Hwy., in Mt Shasta. This fun family evening kicks off the season’s events, which include free kids sled dog rides and the highlight, the Siskiyou Sled Dog Races on Jan. 22-23, 2011.

This year’s dance will be called by a special guest caller, Ruth Lowengart who has been calling contra dances for more than 25 years.  The large and talented band, the Highly Paid Professionals, will return once again with live Irish jigs, reels and waltzes to dance to. A Contra Dance is an English form of dance, similar to square dancing.  Ruth will teach the basic steps in a half hour lesson prior to the dance. Ruth’s dances are always designed to get the most inexperienced of dancers on their feet and keep everybody moving to the music and having fun.

As a fundraiser for the Sled Dog Races, Dance for the Dogs has a silent auction and door prizes, plus root beer floats, and homemade soups and breads to sustain you for the dances.

Tickets will be available at the door. Doors open at 6 pm. $10 for adults, $15 for couples, 18 years and under are free.  Gather friends and family for this fun evening that supports a great winter event in Siskiyou County.  Be sure to mark your calendar for the 4^th annual Siskiyou Sled Dog Races will be held January 22-23, 2011 at the Chuck Best / Deer Mountain Snowmobile park just North of Weed off Hwy. 97.  This event brings mushers and dogs from all around the country for sprint and distance races, skijoring (where dogs pull a skier), demonstrations and opportunities to meet the mushers and animals.

Also on the calendar is the first free kids sled dog ride day, set for Dec 18th at the Dogsled Express Tours trailhead on Ski Park Highway. The kids get a short free ride, and the family can bundle up together for a longer ride through the woods below Mt. Shasta. A number of these free rides are offered throughout the season along with the regular dog sled tours.

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.

Howling good times to support Siskiyou Sled Dog Race

Get your groove on at the “Dancing for the Dogs” contra dance November 15th in Mt. Shasta. This a “fun”draiser for the Siskiyou Sled Dog Race coming up January 22nd-25th. The contra dance and benefit auction will bring people together for a fun evening with contra caller Annie Kramer and the band Highly Paid Professionals.

Contra dancing is described as English Country dancing, similiar to square dancing, but set to Celtic-Irish acoustical music. Don’t worry if you don’t know the steps. Kramer will be walking you through the basic steps and moves in a half hour lesson from 7-7:30pm that evening. Then you’ll be all set burn up the dance floor to Irish jigs, reels and waltzs by the Highly Paid Professionals.

As a fundraiser for the Siskiyou Sled Dog Race, the evening will include a silent and live auction, along with desert, beverage (non-alcoholic) and root beer float sales.  Presale tickets are available at the Woodsman Hotel and Chamber of Commerce in Mt. Shasta, and at Scott Valley Bank offices in Yreka, Mt. Shasta, Weed, Etna and Fort Jones. Tickets will also be sold at the door – $10 for individuals, $15 for couples and $25 for families.

For more info check the Siskiyou Sled Dog Race website.