Julie Schultz/Courtesy picture
For what might be the very first time in more than twenty years, dog sled races will be hung on the Dillon Reservoir.
The town of Dillon will host Mountain Musher Dog Sleds on Saturday, Feb. 25, with lots of groups anticipated to contend in a variety of dog-sledding occasions. The occasion is totally free to go to. There is a registration charge for those preparing to race.
“The reservoir used to be used for dog sledding,” said Suzanne Phillipson, Dillon’s marketing and interactions supervisor. “Back in the ’70s, over 100 teams would compete.”
With the occasion now back at the tank, “people can look forward to seeing dog sled racing and dog sled mushing up close,” Phillipson said.
She included that individuals can likewise eagerly anticipate, “hanging out with dogs.”
Molly Cushing, the race offering organizer and vice president of the Mountain Mushers’ board of directors, said the group’s sibling club utilized to host races on the Frisco side of the tank drawing back in the 1960s.
These days, the sport has actually changed as rural mushers efficient in raising and training big groups of dogs have actually ended up being rarer and metropolitan mushers with simply a couple of dogs have actually ended up being more typical, according to Cushing.
“What you’re going to see then at the Dillon race is not just these big teams,” she said. “You’re going to see what we call ‘mushing today,’ which includes a bunch of different classes.”
Julie Schultz/Courtesy picture
So, in addition to occasions with sleds pulled by 6 dogs or 4 dogs, there will be skijor and bikejor — occasions where dogs pull individuals on skis or bikes — along with canicross, where individuals run as their dog pulls them, Cushing said.
Moreover, it’s not simply huskies that will be racing.
“Sled dog sports doesn’t just mean husky,” Cushing said. “It’s every kind of dog you can imagine that has an interest in running — who has an interest in pulling.”
She said that’s most likely to consist of Alaskan huskies, Eurohounds, Labradors, Australian shepards, possibly a Samoyed or 2, and possibly even a corgi.
In addition to races for adult mushers, there will be races available for those under the age of 12 and ages 13 through 17. Registration for racers starts at 7 a.m. The races start at 9 a.m.
Cushing said the most interesting part of the races is the start, when the dogs blow up with energy. And take note of the connection in between the dogs and the musher, she said, due to the fact that a lot enters into that relationship.
“It’s more than trust,” Cushing said. “It’s a friendship. It’s a partnership.”
