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Saving Hamar Sled Dog Club

August 8, 2026
Editor and/or Contributors

The future of one of Norway’s most important sled dog training areas is at risk.

On this episode of the Mushing Podcast, Robert Forto and co-host Kourosh Partow sit down with Blanka Csizmadia to discuss the fight surrounding Hamar Sled Dog Club and the trail system that has become an important training destination for sprint and mid-distance mushers in Norway and across Europe.

For decades, volunteers have maintained an extensive network of groomed trails, a clubhouse, equipment, and an arena that has hosted European and world championship competition. But years of disputes involving the privately owned land have left the club facing major legal costs and a financial crisis that could threaten its ability to continue operating.

Blanka explains how the dispute developed, why the club is now raising money, and what losing the facility could mean for sled dog sports throughout the region. She also shares why support from mushers around the world matters, even for those who may never run a team on these trails.

This episode is about more than saving one sled dog club. It is about volunteerism, access to trails, preserving mushing infrastructure, and what can happen when the larger sled dog community comes together to protect the places that keep the sport alive.