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California Iditarod Qualifiers and Sprint Races

September 24, 2008
Editor and/or Contributors

The Siskiyou Sled Dog Distance Race, set for Jan 23-25th, 2009, has become the first Iditarod qualifying race held in California. The event boasts the new 220-mile distance sled dog race, along with a110-mile race set in the vast forests of far Northern California. Mushing teams from the western US and Canada will converge to race in the shadow of 14,162′ Mount Shasta for over two and half days. While distance teams are racing through the wilderness on the east side of the mountain, sprint distance teams will be competing at Deer Mountain Chuck Best Memorial Snowmobile Park. Sprint races will include 4-, 6- and 8-dog classes as well as a 6-dog mid-distance and skijoring. Bill Daugereau, Race Marshal from Washington’s, 220-mile Cascade Quest, will be the 2009 Distance Race Marshal. The Siskiyou Sled Dog Race has been a 135-mile race in past years, with the increase in distance coming this May when Siskiyou Snow Dog Sporting Association’s race was accepted as an official Iditarod qualifying race.For more information about the race, contact SSDSA director Pat Campbell at 530-467-3009 or info@siskiyousnowdogsports.net, or view the race website at www.siskiyousnowdogsports.net.Set around Mount Shasta, the event draws visitors in for a host of winter activities, including ice skating, downhill skiing and snowboarding, sledding, Nordic skiing, and snowshoeing. The towns of Mt. Shasta, McCloud and Weed will play host to visitors and mushers coming in for the event. For more info about the area, including lodging and dining options, go to www.visitsiskiyou.org.