With much regret, race organizers have canceled the Canyon Sled Dog Challenge scheduled for this weekend. With not enough snow in the forecast and possible freezing rain, the trail will not be safe for teams to travel. Thanks to Mary Beth Logue for her efforts in putting this together. Maybe next year.

Race Details

Start: Marsh Creek Access Rail Trail
1551 Marsh Creek Road, Wellsboro, PA 16901 (Ansonia PA)
Turnaround: Tiadaghton (inaccessible except for race personnel)

Fees

SATURDAY FEBRUARY 23
18 MILE MID DISTANCE RACE
NON-SANCTIONED
Pro Class - $65.00
Registered Breed Class - $65.00

SATURDAY FEBRUARY 23
18 MILE SKIJOR RACE
ISDRA SANCTIONED 1-DOG & 2 DOG
Pro Skijor Race - $40.00
Sportsmans Skijor Race - $30.00

Purse: TBD

Classes

8 Dog: Pro & Registered Breed
6 Dog: Pro & Registered Breed
Pro Skijor
Sportsmans Skijor

Trail

Pine Creek Rail Trail
Wide groomed rails to trails in the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon. Out and back with a small tear drop loop turnaround at the mid distance point.
Downgrade out, upgrade return, 2% max grade.
Trail help will be available at the turn around but otherwise the trail is inaccessible to help, handlers or spectators beyond the start/finish chute and spectators area.
Trail Links

Registration

Tentative Schedule

January 2019 Registration Opens
February 20, 2019, 5:00PM - Registration Closes
February 20, 2019, 5:00PM - All Registered Breed Paperwork Deadline
February 22, 2019, 6:00-7:15PM - Meet the Mushers, open to the public. Dinner available to purchase. Will be held at the Burnin Barrel, 5440 Route 6, Wellsboro.
February 22, 2019, 7:30PM - Driver's Meeting, Bib distribution, parking assignments (based on start order), trail report, rules summary, registered breed documentation check.
February 23, 2019, 7:30AM - All drivers on site (parking assignments based on start order)
February 23, 2019, 8:00AM - Mandatory Driver's Meeting, Bib distribution, trail report, rules summary, registered breed documentation check.
February 23, 2019, 9:00AM - Start. 8 dog class followed by 6 dog class. 2 minute start intervals.
February 23, 2019, 1:00PM - Award Ceremony, open to the public. Lunch available to purchase. Will be held at the Burnin Barrel, 5440 Route 6, Wellsboro.

Race Officials

Organizer: Mary Beth Logue
Marshall: Dan Rehak
Registrar: Mary Beth Logue
Chief Timer: TBC
Trail Boss: TBC
Chute Judge: Johnn Molburg
Registered Breed Official: Dan Rehak

Musher Information (Sled & Skijor)

All participants must be a member in good standing with the Pennsylvania Sled Dog Club (PSDC). Each participant must sign a waiver agreeing to hold PSDC, Wellsboro Area Chamber of Commerce, Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), event sponsors and other contributors and all volunteers harmless from any claim, demand, or injury based on any alleged action or inaction by the driver, his/her dogs or others acting in his/her behalf.
All participants agree to abide by all regulations of the Pennsylvania Sled Dog Club as set forth by its officials, Board of Directors and published in the club’s ByLaws and the club’s Policies and Procedures. Participants agree that they are subject to the PSDC Privacy Policy. Club ByLaws, Policies and Procedures and Privacy Policy are available on the PSDC website: z
A musher must be 18 years old to compete unless written parent/legal guardian permission is obtained. Please contact the registrar for information and the form. Mushers under the age of 18 must wear a properly fitting helmet.
The required drivers' meeting will be held on Saturday, February 23, 2019 at 8:00 AM. Drivers must be on site by 7:30 AM.
A Meet the Mushers event will be held on Friday, February 22, 2019 in Wellsboro, PA (will be held at the Burnin Barrel, 5440 Route 6, Wellsboro) starting at 6:00 PM. A non-required drivers' meeting will also be held at 7:30 PM.
Organizers may limit the number of teams. Mushers and teams will park and start at the Marsh Creek Access Rail Trail (1551 Marsh Creek Rd, Wellsboro, PA 16901). Parking will be assigned. A full refund will be provided to any team that registers and exceeds the entry field size limit. Spectators will be at the Darling Run Access.
The course is the on the Pine Creek Trail (Rail-Trail) from Ansonia to Tiadaghton and back to Ansonia for a total of 18 miles. A tear drop shaped loop will turn the teams around. Teams exiting the turnaround have the right of way and entering teams must yield to them. A no over taking passing zone is declared from 100’ before entering the turnaround until 100’ after exiting the turnaround. Mushers and teams need to be comfortable with passing other teams both head-on and over taking from behind. Drivers need to be aware that there is no trail access for handlers and spectators except at the start; access to the turnaround is limited to trail help. There will be no trail help at any other point along the trail and no dogs can be dropped at any point along the trail. Mid distance sled teams and skijor teams will be on the course at the same time.
The Canyon Sled Dog Challenge mid distance teams will follow ISDRA Speed Rules (2008) with the additions/modifications described in this document. Please review these rules at the following link: CLICK HERE
The Canyon Sled Dog Challenge skijor teams will follow ISDRA Skijor Rules (2008) with the additions/modifications described in this document. Please review these rules at the following link: CLICK HERE
Start order will be selected by the organizers and presented at the drivers' meeting on Friday, February 22, 2019.
Entry fee ($65.00 mid distance race, $35.00 skijor race) must be paid and the participant must be a PSDC member in good standing. Registration deadline and payment is due Wednesday, February 20, 2019 by 5:00 PM. If the event is cancelled, it will be announced on Wednesday, February 20, 2019 by 6:00 PM. Registration is online only; payment is via PayPal only. All race fees paid will be refunded if the race is cancelled by the organizers. Exhibition day will proceed if the race is cancelled.
You must have proof of current immunizations for rabies, distemper and parvovirus for all dogs brought to the race site. Acceptable proof includes certificate for rabies and either certification, titer result, or receipt of purchase for distemper and parvovirus will be accepted. The vaccination report must be completed and due to registrar by 7:30 AM February 23, 2019.
All mushers in the registered breed class must complete the registered breed form and submit any required documentation by the race registration deadline. Registration information for all registered breed dogs will be checked. Please use this link to the registered breed form: https://tinyurl.com/y75eecgn
Any concerns should be brought to the attention of the event marshal. The marshal shall resolve disputes among drivers and interpret the rules in regard to infractions and penalties. He/she shall also have the authority to establish rules to cover special or unforeseen situations.
Driver’s bib must be worn at all times. Mushers may be required to display sponsor banners on their sleds during the race.
All sleds must be equipped with a sled bag meeting ISDRA requirements capable of safely restraining dog(s) for no dog drop is available.
All sleds must have a snub line meeting ISDRA requirements.
Mushers may not be attached to their sled by any means. No wrist wraps.
All mid distance mushers must have the following required gear on their person or in the sled— knife, first aid kit, a cable cutter (if using a cable gangline) and four booties per dog is required at the start of the race, but not required at the finish.
The minimum number of dogs for the 8 dog class is 6. The minimum number of dogs for the 6 dog class is 4. All dogs shall be in harness and on the gangline at the start.
The minimum number of dogs for 2 dog skijor is 2. The minimum number of dogs for 3 dog skijor is 1.
Awards ceremony will take place that afternoon (approximately 1:00 PM) at the Burnin’ Barrel Bar/Ansonia Valley Inn. Mushers must be present at the ceremony to receive any awards and purse checks.

Accommodations & Local Information

Wellsboro Chamber of Commerce: http://www.wellsboropa.com/

Spectators

Spectators are welcome. Separate spectator parking will be available on a first-come basis at the Darling Run Access Area. Limited spectator parking. No spectator parking in the start area. Spectator's dogs not permitted anywhere.

Attention Drivers

PSDC requires a properly fitting helmet for anyone under 18 year of age in all classes (rig, bikejor, scooter, sled, skijor) except canicross.

This is an addition to our requirement for a properly fitting helmet and eye wear for all drivers of any age in all wheeled classes.

Registered Breed Group

Open to Northern Breed dogs: Siberian Husky, Alaskan Malamute or Samoyed. Formal AKC/CKC/… breed registration (no IPL dogs). Dog info must be submitted prior to registration deadline. Breed registration paperwork must be presented for all dogs before the race. Dogs previously entered into the PSDC RB list do not need to be reentered.

Registered Breed Data Entry

Pennsylvania Sled Dog Club Canyon Sled Dog Challenge Exhibition Day

Sunday, February 24, 2019

Exhibition Day Entry Fee - $15.00

Driver Information

The race course on the rail trail will be open for teams to run from 9 AM to Noon on Sunday. Run your team two to eighteen miles. Mushers will be responsible for turning their teams around. Limited help will be available at the start/finish chute. Start whenever you wish, the event is not timed. Run as many times as you want before Noon. Open to sleds, skijor, fatbikes or canicross. If there is no snow, the exhibition will still go on with dryland for rigs, bikes, scooters, canicross. No kicksleds on snow. No ATVs (with/without motor). PSDC membership and registration fee required; bibs will be assigned. Helmets required for all participants except canicross. PSDC Membership Required.