FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEJanuary 12, 2010Only 28 days to race start, and the interest is building. We have six entries to date, including one junior musher, but the phone calls are coming in and we expect many more this week. The lack of snow has made it hard to train, and mushers were having difficulty getting enough miles on their dogs. Not much could be done on the trail either. That’s all changed now with fresh snow over the weekend. Trail volunteers are out preparing the trail – cutting some fast-growing willows, packing a base, and smoothing out some rough areas. The local Neckbone race this coming weekend will prove up some parts of our northern trail and see where we need to put in additional effort.Tickets are now available for the Musher’s Banquet in Prince Albert on Tuesday Feb. 9, and for the Awards Breakfast in La Ronge on Valentine’s Day, Feb 14. Contact either of the above offices for your tickets. Banquet tickets are $25, breakfast tickets $15. Our guest speaker at the banquet will be Darryl Hickie, MLA for Prince Albert-Carlson. Unfortunately, because of our date change, His Honour the Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan finds that he and Her Honour will be unable to attend this year’s race after all. We will miss him, and hope he’ll be back next year.The total potential race purse has been posted at $25,000, divided between the 12-dog, 8-dog and Junior races. The actual purse will depend on monies raised; sponsorships and donations are still coming in.We would like to suggest that spectators consider following the race this year, learning more about the northern part of our province as well as experiencing the adventure of dog team travel, the conditions experienced by the teams and mushers, and the great atmosphere at the checkpoints. The teams and volunteers are out all night; why not you? There are good hotels at Land of the Loon, Elk Ridge and La Ronge, or perhaps you have friends you can visit; from La Ronge you can travel to Grandmother’s Bay and Stanley Mission to experience real northern hospitality at the checkpoints there. This year we will have maps available on the website which give a clear indication of the best places to watch the race – points where the teams run along or intersect the highway. Volunteers neededWe still need many volunteers, and this is the time to give us your name if you’d like to help, whether before, during or after the race. Staying up all night in the cold waiting for dog teams to arrive is an experience not to be missed. It makes you one of the chosen few, and you’ll be amazed by the people you meet! Call us today!- 30 -For more information:Gill Gracie, President Daryl Minter, Vice-PresidentNorthern Race Office Phone (306) 953-2322 W Phone (306) 425-3826 Cell (306) 961-4516Cell (306) 425-7280 Email: minter@gotgeek.caEmail: aurora@sasktel.netPrince Albert Race Office (open Dec 1 but leave messages any time)Phone (306) 763-1539Fax (306) 763-1584Email: race@canadianchallenge.com
