USFSS
News:
2013 World Championship Wild
Card Qualifying Races
December 7, 2012
USFSS is
proud to announce the 2013 Wild Card qualifying races. These events will be
held in regions across the US. In the event any or all of the races are
cancelled, the remaining US Team slots will be selected based on an applicant’s
qualifications. However, each region will have at least one additional
selection per event. In the case of skidog events, 1 women and 1 man will be
selected because in a WCh men and women race separately.
The classes
will be: 1 dog skijoring junior, age 17-20; 1 dog skijoring; 2 dog skijoring;
Junior 4 dog, where a 4 dog is not offered we will use 3 dog, but the racer’s
age must be 14-16; and 4, 6, and 8 dog sled. Where an 8 dog is not offered we,
we will use a 10 dog class to determine selection. Because of the limited
number of open races in the lower 48, ALL additional open class slots will be
selected based on your qualifications. We apologize for this, but there was no
way to make it fair, without asking you to drive all over the country. If you
have already applied, your application will automatically be considered. You
will need to have your USFSS dues current. The additional open slots will be
selected on January 9, 2013.
The rules to
make the team are simple. Place higher than anyone else who has applied for
selection, who is currently not on the team. There will only be 1 additional
selection per region, per event except in the case of skidog, which is explained
above.
ALL
interested qualifiers must be USFSS members by January 7, 2013. You will also
need to submit an application for entrance into the IFSS WCh. Both these forms
are on the
www.usfss.org.
There will be No exceptions to this rule. We need to know in advance of the
race, who is participating to earn a berth on the team.
QUALIFYING
RACES
1/12-1/13 LANGLADE COUNTY TRAILBLAZERS CHALLENGE, Antigo, WI
1/19-1/20 KALKASKA WINTERFEST, KALKASKA, MI
1/19-1/20 SU VALLEY CHAMPIONSHIPS, Montana Creek, AK
1/26-1/27 GRAND MESA SUMMIT CHALLENGE, Cedaredge, CO
1/26-1/27 TAMWORTH SLED DOG RACE, Tamworth, NH
2/02-2/03 NATIONAL SKIJORING CHAMPIONSHIP, Minneapolis, MN
You can find
out additional information on all these races by visiting
www.isdra.org.
Any questions contact Mike Marsch: 715-797-5622
2013
WCh Team
Selections - 2nd round
October 21, 2012
It’s with great honor for USFSS to announce our 2nd
round selections to Team USA. We thank all of you for committing the time and
resources to this WCh. We have an awesome team, and we still hope to add to
it. USFSS realizes there continues to be controversy surrounding this WCh with
regards to dog care and doping control. Rest assured, USFSS nor IFSS intends to
put dogs at risk nor make doping control more than it was intended to
accomplish, keeping dogs safe and humans from enhancing performance. Thanks
again, see you all in North Pole.
SKIDOG CLASSES
1 Dog Skijor – women
1.
Stephanie Dwyer
2.
Rebecca Knight
3.
Kriya Dunlap
4.
Jamie Johnson
5. Rebecca Voris
6. Theresa
Heckart
1 Dog Skijor –
men
1.
Mike Christman
2.
Kale Casey
3.
Greg Jurek
4.
Scott Aimone
5.
Jason Sperry
6. Chuck Pratt
1 Dog Skijor – RNB
1.
David Ballard not
qualified for purebred, races an Alaskan
1 Dog Pulka – women
1.
Kiersten Lippman
1 Dog Pulka – men
1.
Scott Aimone
2.
Jason Sperry
3.
Kale Casey
4.
Mike Christman
2 Dog Skijor- woman
1.
Stephanie
Dwyer
2.
Rebecca Knight
3.
Rebecca Voris
4.
Kriya Dunlap
5.
Jamie Johnson
6. Christina Turman
2 Dog Skijor- men
1.
Kale Casey
2.
Greg Jurek
3.
Chuck Pratt
4.
Andrew Warwick
Nordic Combined – women
1.
Rebecca Voris
2.
Jamie Johnson - withdrew
3.
Sunnifa Deehr
4. Kristen Lippmann
Nordic Combined- men
1.
Scott Aimone
2.
Jason Sperry
3.
Kale Casey
4. Mike Christman
SLED CLASSES
Junior Sled
4 Dog Junior
1.
Dakota Schlosser
2.
Lilly Stewart
RNB SLED
4 Dog – RNB
1.
Debra Castro
4 Dog Mass Start/Pursuit
1.
Jay Olmstead jr
2.
Stephanie Dwyer
3.
Kourosh Partow
4.
Jennifer Sterling
5.
Lilly Stewart
6. Amy Maclean
7. Jennifer Probert
6 Dog Sled
1.
Amy Gjetson
2.
John Perry
3.
Jessica Doherty
4.
Kimberly Wells
5.
Beverly Stevens
6.
Jamie Dittmar
7. Grace Bailey
8 Dog Sled
1.
Jennifer Probert Erhart
2.
Evelyn Beeter
3.
Grace Bailey -
withdrew
4.
Jan Bootz Dittmar
5. Ed Arobio
6. Kris Racey
7.
Jennifer Sterling
Unlimited Sled
1.
Arleigh
Reynolds
2.
Nathan
Sterling
3.
Greg Sellentin
4. Ken Chezik
5. Jason Dunlop
Mid-distance Sled 8-12
dog
1.
Jeff Conn
Mid-distance Sled 6-dog
1.
Peter Franke
Once again, congratulations to all of you. A race packet will be
sent out shortly with hotel, airfare and other logistical information. There
will also be list of approved animal care products, information on where to
review the prohibitive substances for both dog and human and a TUE exemption
form, both dog and human, if you need it. You will also receive a race uniform
order form. We will work closely with you through this process. Don’t hesitate
to contact us with your questions or comments. If you would like to volunteer
your time to some of the preliminary work activities, let us know. Thanks for
being on the team.
2013
WCh Team Selection Round 1
It’s with great pleasure and honor for the US to announce Round 1
selections to the US team. We were privileged to have such an awesome group of
athletes to choose from. IFSS was gracious in allowing Team USA to select all
applicants we determined to be the top athletes in their class. In some events,
we made all 6 of our selections, in other events we will wait till round 2
before making our final selections. As you can see, there are still
opportunities to apply in some events. If you’d like to be considered for Round
2 selections, your application must be received/postmarked by October 1. We are
still hoping to offer the Wild Card races this winter, but that will be
contingent on number of slots the US still has available, and whether we can
plug into the ISDRA race circuit. Congratulations to everyone selected in the 1st
round. Team USA truly appreciates your willingness to commit the time and
resources necessary to compete against the best Sleddog racers in the world.
SKIDOG CLASSES
1 Dog Skijor – women
1.
Stephanie Dwyer
2.
Rebecca Knight
3.
Kriya Dunlap
4.
Jamie Johnson
1 Dog Skijor – men
1.
Mike Christman
2.
Kale Casey
3.
Greg Jurek
4.
Scott Aimone
5.
Jason Sperry
1 Dog Skijor – RNB
1.
David Ballard
1 Dog Pulka – women
1.
Kiersten Lippman
1 Dog Pulka – men
1.
Scott Aimone
2.
Jason Sperry
3.
Kale Casey
2 Dog Skijor – women
1.
Stephanie Dwyer
2.
Rebecca Knight
3.
Rebecca Voris
4.
Kriya Dunlap
5.
Jamie Johnson
2 Dog Skijor- men
1.
Kale Casey
2.
Greg Jurek
3.
Chuck Pratt
4.
Andrew Warwick
Nordic Combined – women
1.
Rebecca Voris
2.
Jamie Johnson
3.
Sunnifa Deehr
Nordic Combined- men
1.
Scott Aimone
2.
Jason Sperry
3.
Kale Casey
SLED CLASSES
Junior Sled
4 Dog Junior
1.
Dakota Schlosser
RNB SLED
4 Dog – RNB
1.
Debra Castro
4 Dog Mass Start/Pursuit
1.
Jay Olmstead jr
2.
Stephanie Dwyer
3.
Kourosh Partow
4.
Jennifer Sterling
5.
Lilly Stewart
6 Dog Sled
1.
Amy Gjetson
2.
John Perry
3.
Jessica Doherty
4.
Kimberly Wells
5.
Beverly Stevens
6.
Jamie Dittmar
8 Dog Sled
1.
Jennifer Probert Erhart
2.
Evelyn Beeter
3.
Grace Bailey
4.
Jan Bootz Dittmar
Unlimited Sled
1.
Arleigh Reynolds
2.
Nathan Sterling
3.
Greg Sellentin
Mid-distance Sled 8-12
dog
1.
Jeff Conn
Once again, congratulations to all of you. A
race packet will be sent out shortly with hotel, airfare and other logistical
information.
Due to changes in IFSS antidoping concerns, USFAA requests that
each team member refer to the link on the IFSS website:
http://sleddogsport.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=103&Itemid=69
to keep up with the antidoping requirements for the world championships.
Specific requests can be made to USFSS and our antidoping board members will
work with the IFSS antidoping committee to help resolve them.
You will also
receive a race uniform order form. We will work closely with you through this
process. Don’t hesitate to contact us with your questions or comments. If you
would like to volunteer your time to some of the preliminary work activities,
let us know. Thanks for being on the team.
The
Latest World Championship Update
North Pole Economic Development
Corporation, the WCh RGO, has asked the USFSS board to extend the application
deadline. Last night the USFSS board approved their request. The application
deadline will be extended to October 1, 2012.
Out of fairness to the
applicants who submitted their paperwork prior to the original September 1
deadline, MUSA will make its first 3 selections for each event out of this
pool. The applications received before the September 1 deadline that were not
selected, will become a part of the next round of selections.
The good news is this extension
will allow more of you to participate in the WCh. We do expect there to be
additional slots made available to the US because of our willingness to approve
the extension. Once again, the 1st round selections will be made by
September 21, 2012. The 2nd round selections will be made by October
26, 2012.
One last thing, I have asked the
new Continental Director of IFSS North America, Dave Steele, to look into the
doping issue. Dave is USFSS’s new representative to the IFSS and as such, is
the person responsible to take our voice to the IFSS. I know he’s looking into
the proposal process to see if anything can be done to change the doping
regulations before the WCh.
Thank you
Mike Marsch
USFSS Doping Policy Statement
1. General
IFSS Antidoping policy for Humans and Canines:
The link on the IFSS antidoping for humans and canines can be found on this
link on the IFSS website under anti doping:
http://www.draghundsport.se/dbpage.aspx?PageNr=236
. Once at that site, choose
Anti-Doping Regulations and Prohibited Lists.
If you click on
Athlete Education
on the index page you will find very useful information about
antidoping rules and lists.
2.
Human Athletes
a. TUE - Therapeutic Use Exemption
To determine IF you need a TUE (therapeutic use exemption) you can go to the
website, The US Antidoping agency:
www.usada.org/tue/. In particular, the link to the wallet card
which describes prohibited and non prohibited substances is very useful:
http://www.usada.org/uploads/2012_wallet_card.pdf.
b. USFSS would like to replace the statement “You have to have a TUE for all
meds” with: As a human athlete you only need a TUE for
medication containing a substance on “the List” There are
products which you can buy OTC (over the counter) in most countries,
containing substances on “the List”, for example some kinds of nose drops
which is not a prescription drug yet is on the list. You can check your OTC
medications as well on the USADA website or at
www.globaldro.com. If you use the
globaldro.com
site, you, the human athlete, will need to select a sport. At present sled dog
sport is not an option. Carin Ahlstedt, the IFSS antidoping chair person,
recommends selecting ‘skier’ for the skiing competitor, and ‘equestrian’ for
the sled driver, as they are the closest equivalents.
The IFSS TUE Committee is made of medical doctors. But TUEs can be handled by
the NADO which, In the USA is the USADA. Carin has suggested that the TUEs of
US competitors be handled by the USADA, and USFSS will contact the USADA to
discuss that.
3.
Confidentiality
Section 5.3 Confidentiality of the International WADA (World anti doping
agency) TUE International Standard can be found at
http://www.wada-ama.org/Documents/World_Anti-Doping_Program/WADP-IS-TUE/2011/WADA_ISTUE_2011_EN.pdf
. It states:
“The members of the TUECs, independent experts and the staff of the
Anti-Doping Organization involved, will conduct all of their activities in
strict confidence and will sign confidentiality agreements. In particular they
will keep the following information confidential:
a. All medical information and data provided by the Athlete and
physician(s) involved in the Athlete’s care. b. All details of the
application including the name of the physician(s) involved in the process.
4.
Canine Athletes
Regarding the issue of medicine prescribed by a physician or veterinarian, and
the previously issued USFSS
statement “If you and any of your dogs are taking any prescription medication,
you will need proof of this from your physician or veterinarian….”,
IFSS never wants to see “proof” of any medication –
except, when you treat a dog according to one of the general
exceptions on the dogs’ list. If such a dog happens to be selected, you have
to be able to show a record of that treatment, as you can read there.
www.draghundsport.se/upload/dokument/Antidoping/IFSS_Prohibited_List_for_Dogs_2012.pdf
USFSS realizes that this is a
substantial amount of information to digest but we are willing to work with
each competitor and answer questions, or you can contact Carin Ahlstedt
IFSS (International Federation of Sleddog Sports)
Anti-Doping chair person.
Acting ESDRA (European SledDog Race Association) Anti-Doping chair person
Anti-Doping responsible in SDSF (Svenska DraghundSportFörbundet, Federation of
Sleddog Sports in Sweden)
Rörosvägen 121, SE-84095 FUNÄSDALEN, Sweden
+46 684 211 79,
+46 70 511 64 19 (mobile phone)
antidoping@draghundsport.se
Application Deadline Update
Thanks to all of you who have
joined USFSS, and have become a part of Team USA. Your membership will help us
finance the obligations a WCh requires of the federation. MUSA also appreciates
your decision to apply for the privilege of representing Team USA at the 2013
WCh. I hope you will be able to participate. We’ll have to wait and see how
many competitors are coming from the other countries. Please remember, whether
you receive the right to race or not, you’re still on team. MUSA will make its
first 3 selections for each event by September 21, 2012. Everyone who applied
will be notified of their status.
For those of you still
contemplating submitting an application, you have 1 week remaining before the
application process is closed. After September 1 the only way you can make the
team is to race your way on in January by participating in the wild card races.
(Details are in the works) This is a tremendous opportunity to be a part of
something truly special. Please don’t miss out!
There’s been a tremendous amount
of chatter on the blogs the past few weeks, and although USFSS appreciates all
the hype, we need to be certain our fears are real and not imagined. USFSS has
done and will continue to do all we can to help you get through the process of
drug testing, micro-chipping, transportation expenses, and all the other
obstacles which might get in your way. We will have a team working on each of
these issues. In May right before the application deadline for this event, I
tried my best to talk NPEDC out of submitting a bid. I was not certain the
United States would rise to the occasion and deliver an event that exceeded what
Norway put together in 2011. I don’t like doing things half way. NPEDC made
the decision to go forward, and since then Helen Lundberg from IFSS/ISDRA and
all of us from USFSS have committed a lot of time and money to make this event
special not only for the USA, but for all the other countries with plans to come
this way. Let’s all work together to change the things we can, accept the
things we cannot, and have the wisdom to know the difference.
I’ve attached a correspondence I submitted through
ADMA pertaining to drug testing. The debate over cheating is centuries old.
One of my skiing buddies Bode Miller once said, “We should allow people to put
in their bodies whatever they want if it improves the quality of the sport.” I
must admit the homerun battle between Mark McGuire and Sammy Sosa was pretty
awesome. 70+ homeruns WOW! But what about the people who didn’t cheat by
taking supplements, which have been proven to increase performance. You, I, and
the sport of Sleddog racing aren’t going to be the group of people resolving
this debate. The sole purpose of IFSS is to provide a racing structure and
format that may someday allow this sport into the Olympics. Drug testing is a
very big part of this process. I do believe however, doping measures may need
to be adjusted for the distance racing dogs. I don’t know if that’s possible
for this WCh or not, but going forward definitely.
Once again thanks for your decision to get on
board and to be a part of something special. We are still very short on
applications for Juniors, Distance, and Open events. All the best with fall
training as you prepare your team for competition.
Sincerely,
Mike Marsch
Hi All
I want to thank Jeff for establishing a bit of rational
thinking to the discussion of doping. I know we all have the welfare of our dog
athletes at heart when nursing them back to health from injury or sickness. I
also know what’s really cool about Nome and Distance Sleddog sports, old people
like me can still race and be competitive, but at my age, I’m perhaps taking
substances that are on the banned list in order to walk, talk and get out of bed
in the morning. In our element of Sleddog sports, the performance of the human
athlete is not as important as it would be in Nordic events, we get on the
runners and go. In Nordic events, the athlete in most cases comes back from the
race more exhausted than the dogs. Hence, competitors in Nordic events would
receive far more benefit from doping than competitors in sprint racing. In
Distance events drugs to keep you alert might have some benefit, but the
performance of the racer will usually not be as paramount as the performance of
a skier in Nordic events. However, it is difficult to discriminate between
events. That would open up a debate with NO possible conclusion.
Within the anti-doping rules, there’s a process of
foreclosure that allows all racers to indicate the drugs they are taking, and to
then obtain an exemption, and yes the privacy/confidentiality of this
information needs to be assured and will. MUSA has board members who will work
with every selected athlete, to make certain the process and steps involving
doping control measures for humans and dogs are implemented with fairness and
integrity.
On the IFSS website under anti-doping rules, the IFSS
provides a fundamental rationale for the code and the enforcement of anti-doping
rules. “Anti-doping programs seek to preserve what is intrinsically valuable
about sport.. The intrinsic value is often referred to as the spirit of sport,
it is the essence of Olympism, it is how we play true. The spirit of sport is
the celebration of the human spirit, body, and mind and is characterized by the
following values”:
. Ethics, fair play and honesty
. Health
. Excellence in performance
. Character in Education
. Fun and Joy
. Teamwork
. Dedication and commitment
. Respect for rules and laws
. Respect for self and other participants
. Courage
. Community and solidarity
Doping is fundamentally contrary to the spirit of the
sport.
I realize all of us follow this code to the letter, but
this gives athletes from around the world the assurance that establishing fair
play is important and necessary. Unfortunately, the spirit of cheating is
rampant in most sporting events today. One of my heroes,
Lance Armstrong was just stripped of all his
acclaim. Did he or didn’t he? The people with the knowledge to know said YES. In
baseball cheating has been a part of the sport forever, you steal bases and
signs, but there’s something fundamentally wrong with artificial production. I
don’t think we’ll ever have every athlete clean, but until we decide it’s OK to
cheat, don’t we want to provide assurances to the non-cheaters that were doing
everything we can to ensure fair play?
Please don’t let your medical routine get in the way of
competition in the WCh. There are provisions within the process to deal with
your circumstances. I realize it’s an uncomfortable process. I know I wouldn’t
want my current prescriptions disclosed to the general public. If you apply to
race as a representative of Team USA, your privacy will be protected, and we
will work with you through the process.
Whether Sleddog sports finds its way into the Olympics or
not, the concept of fairness should be pursued in ALL areas, especially within
events involving competitors from all over the world. This helps remove the
doubt that cheating has occurred. A WCh should not be just another dog race, or
we are doing a lousy job of marketing an event that would help us standout.
Thanks for expressing your concerns. Discussion leads to
the truth. You may still not agree with the anti-doping rules, however I hope
you have a better understanding why IFSS has implemented them into the
organization.
All the Best,
Mike Marsch
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 2013 Update
I have
heard from many of
you
over the past few weeks
with questions and comments about the upcoming 2013 World Championships. I feel
compelled to address answering your questions and conveying your comments to a
larger audience. I truly hope the following information will help you make the
right decision concerning your MUSA membership and application to the 2013 WCh.
First of
all, how awesome the past couple of weeks have been watching Olympic athletes
from all over the world compete for their countries in the 2012 summer games. I
marvel at what these awesome athletes in so many different venues can do. I
can’t wait for the day when Sleddog sports find its way into the hearts and
minds of a larger audience.
The
majority of questions and comments concerning the WCh have been about
selection. How do I make the US team? MUSA is honored to have so many of you
desire to race for Team USA. During my racing career I participated in 3 WCh.
Each of the 3 opportunities had different selection criteria. My first 2 WCh
selections we’re earned on the race circuit. MUSA had developed a series of
IFSS sanctioned races in the Midwest, the winter before the WCh, which I raced
in and won. I earned an automatic berth. The 3rd time was 2005
Dawson City, Yukon. My first WCh in 1995 in Lake Placid, NY was memorable,
but disappointing. I expected more than a top 10 finish. My 2nd WCh
in Fairbanks was horrendous. The team I took up to Alaska, was not the team I
qualified with. A lot changes in 1 year. My racing partner Josh Kooiman ran
the hot team, and did very good, top 10 finish. I finished next to last.
Worst race I ever ran, almost earned the red lantern award. The 05 WCh was
absolutely awesome, all good memories and a 5th place finish. Why am
I telling you about my WCh race history? It helps illustrate the difficulty
associated with selecting a team. I earned the right to be on the US team based
on the criteria MUSA followed back then, but my performance at 2 out of 3 WCh
was not very good. I don’t think there’s a perfect selection process, but I
promise we will do our best to make team selection unbiased. We will look at
mph, quality of competition, race conditions, race location, anything and
everything available in order to select the most deserving applicants.
It will be
much harder to make the US team this year. The quality and competiveness in our
sport is unbelievable. As of now the classes with the most applications are the
Nordic events and the Nome 4 and 6 dog. We need Junior, Distance, and Open
applications. The only way you will be able to race in the WCh, except for ONAC
and Two Rivers, is to apply and be selected. Please don’t make your support of
MUSA and the WCh about whether you do or don’t make the team. It’s about all of
us involved in this great sport getting behind our country. I have really
enjoyed the camaraderie fellow Olympic athletes have demonstrated towards each
other at the summer games. We’re counting on you to help MUSA accomplish what
Team USA accomplished in London.
I’m going
to say this again, we are going to be as open minded as possible when judging
your applications. We will look at your entire resume of races, not just IFSS
or ISDRA races. We do not want the selections to be popularity or politically
motivated. There will be some extremely competitive classes because of the
number of applicants, and some difficult decisions are inevitable. It’s like
when you show up for the drivers meeting of a race, and you look around or go
through the start sheets. There’s usually 4-5 racers you think could win, but
we only have 3 slots.
Hopefully
we will obtain at least 6, and hopefully 9 slots per class. Going forward with
the wild card races in January will help us finalize the team, and provide
everyone who was not selected an opportunity to make the team based on race
performance. We haven’t worked out all the details, but it will be important to
have races in as many regions as possible. I’d like to provide as equal of an
opportunity as possible to everyone still competing for 1 or 2 slots. ISDRA and
MUSA will work together to ensure a fair process. The only thing I can assure
you is we’ll do the best possible job, but as hard as we try it won’t be a
perfect system. Some of you will be disappointed. Hopefully by the time
another WCh opportunity comes to town, we’ll have a better selection system in
place.
The final
point of clarification has to do with the ONAC and Two Rivers events. In order
to race for Team USA you will need to be a MUSA member and fill out a race
application form. No different than any other class in the WCh. If you are
selected to represent the US you will comply with the same requirements all the
other classes adhere to such as team uniforms, team meetings, drug testing, dog
chipping, promotional obligations, etc. etc. If you are not selected to the US
team, you can still be a participant in either race by simply paying your entry
fee and complying with the normal standards of each race. When ONAC and Two
Rivers agreed to host the open and distance races for the IFSS WCh, they didn’t
want to limit participation to just IFSS entries out of fear there would not be
many entrants from other countries. As of right now, we don’t expect that to be
a problem with the other classes. ONAC and Two Rivers race will be no
different than in the past, except the racers in uniform will be representing
their respective country and be racing for gold, silver or bronze.
In closing,
we are going to do everything in our power to make this WCh special, and not
only for those individuals selected to the team, but for the entire sport. As a
collective group of dog racers, we will all benefit by the exposure our sport
receives. If the WCh succeeds, I hope all of us can take some credit for how
this event impacted the future of Sleddog sports. If it fails, all of us will
have to take some credit for that failure also. If you’re not in the team
pulling the sled, you’re probably in the dog box wishing you were. This is your
WCh, let’s work together to make it a good one. Thanks in advance for all you
do.
All the
Best,
Mike Marsch
2013 World Championship
MUSHING
USA, MUSA, is proud to announce the application process for the 2013 World
Championship in North Pole, Alaska is now open. All events will take place in
the North Pole/Fairbanks area and be held February 22 through March 17, 2013. A
tentative schedule of events and race dates is listed here on the MUSA website.
This schedule is subject to change, but will give you some idea when your race(s)
will be held. It is quite an honor for Team USA to be the host country. A
tremendous amount of work went into planning for what will be a spectacular
event. A special thanks to NPEDC for their effort in developing an awesome
proposal and to IFSS for recognizing their ability to carry out this event.
MUSA will do whatever we can to assist in the implementation of this WCh so you
the musher can enjoy a truly great experience.
This WCh will offer races in
all recognized Nordic and Nome classes. Both sprint and distance race
categories will be offered. Separate classes for Registered Nordic breed will
be offered for all categories with awards. There will be junior events in both
Nordic and Nome classes, and separate men and women Nordic events. All
applicants must be MUSA members. You will need to submit your $25.00 membership
fee with your application. Animal and human drug testing will take place in all
events. All dogs will need to be micro chipped. MUSA is looking into the
possibility of having on site chipping available at the WCh. We will know the
details of this service by early fall. We anticipate the cost of chipping to be
around $10.00 per dog if we purchase bulk. If you would like MUSA to offer a
chipping service, indicate that on the application. In either case, it will be
the participant’s responsibility to have their dogs chipped. The cost of entry
(entry fees) will be determined by the IFSS by September 15, 2012. All
applicants selected to the US team, upon notification, will have 15 days to send
in entry fees to MUSA or forfeit their selection to the team.
The deadline by which to
submit applications to MUSA will be September 1, 2012. There will be a 1st
round selection of 3 US team members per class by September 21, 2012. A 2nd
round of qualifiers (number of qualifiers to be determined based on other
country entries) will be selected by October 26, 2012. There may also be an
additional opportunity for WCh qualification through participation in a wild
card race circuit in January of 2013 in all regions in cooperation with ISDRA,
but the details for this potential race series has not been worked out. The
racing community will be notified well in advance if we can develop this option.
Prior to submission of an
application please consider your responsibilities to Team USA. You will be
required to wear the Team USA uniform. Attend scheduled team meetings. But
most importantly, demonstrate an all for one, one for all team attitude. No
matter what the outcome of the medal standings or your individual success, we
want the other countries to see team USA as a supportive and cohesive unit.
This WCh is not only about you, it’s about us. We hope to offer a purse in each
class or racer stipend, but your decision to apply should not be based on this.
We will need a successful fund raising campaign for this to happen.
MUSA
will put together a fair and honest selection criterion. Our decision will be
based exclusively on your past performance, with special consideration given to
your most recent accomplishments. There will be at least 5 MUSA board members
on the selection committee. We want the integrity of the selection process to
be upheld and free of any bias.
In closing, I want to thank
you for becoming a member of MUSA and supporting Team USA. Competing at the
International level provides an experience like no other I have enjoyed over
many years of racing. The best of the best from around the world coming
together to determine an individual and country winner. It’s an awesome
feeling. I believe by supporting the US team, we can all win. Not everyone who
submits an application will be selected to compete for the team, but if MUSA
does this right, everyone who submits an application will be a part of the
team. We will do our best! We’ll be paying close attention to the summer
Olympic Games in London to see what we can learn. Thanks again.
Click here for the 2013 IFSS
Application
Please submit both your IFSS
2013 WCh application form and MUSA membership application to Mike Marsch N6510
Cty Rd G Neillsville, WI 54456. You can email applications, but membership check
must be received before your WCh application will be considered.
All the Best,
Mike Marsch
MUSA
President
IFSS Application for
Enrollment for Nordic Training Camp for juniors and leaders
Sandviken, Sweden • August
7-10, 2012
The International Federation
of Sleddog Sports (IFSS) invites applications from member federations to attend
a Nordic Training Camp for juniors (ca 16-22 years) and leaders in Sweden August
7–10 2012. The site for the camp is in Sandviken, 150 km from Stockholm airport
(Arlanda). The camp will be dryland, for there is no snow in August in Sweden.
-
The intention of the camp is
to:
-
Inspire, educate and train
juniors who want to develop their skills in Nordic style. They will also meet
juniors from Sweden and other countries.
-
Inspire, educate and train
leaders who can teach youngsters/juniors in their home country or region.
-
At the camp the participants
will develop an action plan for their development work in their home country
or region.
-
The focus of the camp is
Nordic style, but there will also be some training in Dryland/Sled.
-
The training camp will be
carried out at an annual training camp for Swedish youngsters and juniors.
-
The international camp will
be led by experienced national leaders. The activities at the camp will be led
by young leaders in training, 20-25 years old.
The Swedish Federation
kindly offers accommodation and meals for all participants at the camp.
IFSS has allocated a limited
budget for travel support for international participants. You are asked to send
to Sara Vanderwood (pulka4u@yahoo.com)
no later than May 10, 2012, your application. Application can be found attached
and also available on the mushing USA website: www.mushingusa.org.
Since the number of places
is limited, the IFSS and the Swedish Federation reserve the right to limit the
number of places allocated to each national member. The financial support
offered by the IFSS will be announced after the deadline date for submission of
the applications.
Click here for the Nordic
Training Camp Enrollment Form
New Board
Member
Board member John Perry (Colorado) resigned his position,
and the MUSA board elected Natalie Harwood (Wisconsin) to replace him. She is
excited about again being able to serve MUSA.
USFSS
Committees
Canine Legislation Committee:
Sara Vanderwood: The canine legislation committee will
gather information/resources of other affiliated groups such as national animal
interest groups, AKC, sportsman’s groups, etc. to create a repository of ideas
in an acceptable form on the MUSA website. This would be open to only the
mushing community and not the general public. As different bills affecting our
sport hit different states, the info would be available on our website. MUSA
would need to create action groups that would be willing to be the “eyes & ears”
at municipal and state levels, willing to contact other animal welfare groups,
and able to understand the legislative process, and the difference between
animal welfare vs. animal rights.
Media Committee
Board members Diane Locotos and Amy Cooper presented their
ideas for promoting MUSA. They have made several suggestions. They feel MUSA’s
“brand” is outdated and needs a makeover. They suggested a new logo design and
adopting MUSA’s former name, United States Sled Dog Sports Federation, which
better reflects the organization’s purpose. They would also like a Facebook
presence.
USFSS Holds Biennial
Congress, Elects New Board
USFSS, the national governing body of sled dog
sports in the USA, held its Third Biennial Congress in conjunction with ISDRA’s
annual Conference in Green Bay, Wisconsin, June 25th. The main order
of business was to elect a new board. However, several other issues were
discussed as well.
With a mandate to elect the four officers, four Active
Athlete board members (those who are currently competing), and four At-Large
board members, MUSA had a nominee pool of seventeen, well-qualified and
outstanding people. Sara Vanderwood has relinquished her president’s position to
Mike Marsch of Neillsville, Wisconsin. However, she stays on the board as its
Past President. Bud Rice (Eagle River, Alaska) takes on the job of Vice
President, and Rebecca Knight (Wasilla, Alaska) fills the slot for MUSA’s
Secretary. Sally O’Sullivan Bair (Monticello, Minnesota) was re-elected as
MUSA’s Treasurer.
Elected as Active Athlete board members were Jocelyn
Bradbury (Oxford, Maine), Mike Christman (De Pere, Wisconsin), Janet Saxon
(Golden, Colorado), and Diane Locotos Stewart (Ipswich, Massachusetts). The
At-Large board members elected were Lindy Howe (Stockholm, Maine), Joe Fessler
(Hamel, Minnesota), John Perry (Sterling, Colorado), and Jamie Spaulding
(Abrams, Wisconsin). Kevin Murphy (Lino Lakes, Minnesota) was approved as the
board member representing the Affiliated Organizations. These capable
individuals will serve four-year terms with the exception of Janet Saxon, who
was elected to fill a vacancy that expires in two years. The MUSA board also
includes Amy Cooper (Holmen, Wisconsin) and Chuck Gould (Isabella, Minnesota),
both of whose four-year terms expire in 2013.
All board members have equal voice and vote. The Active
Athlete category is a requirement from the US Olympic Committee (USOC), whose
guidelines MUSA adheres to. The specific ramifications of this category
guarantee that a sufficient percentage of a national federation’s governance is
represented by those who are actually practicing the sport.
President Mike Marsch, a sprint musher, was MUSA’s Vice
President and comes from a business background (University of Denver). He is
currently employed by the Wisconsin Taxpayers Association, which has given him
experience with political processes and lobbying. He keeps a kennel of around
twenty dogs and has competed in the sprint classes for over twenty years.
Vice President Bud Rice began as a cross-country skier who
took up skijoring. He has competed extensively in Alaska, where he has won many
trophies and awards, in skijoring events as well in the 2005 IFSS (International
Federation of Sleddog Sports) World Championships in Dawson City, Yukon Canada.
He has a B.S. in Forestry and Conservation from the University of California and
a M.S. in Natural Resources Management from the University of Alaska Fairbanks.
He currently is an Environmental Protection Specialist in the National Park
Service Alaska.
Secretary Rebecca Knight is new to the board and comes with
a background in distance recreational mushing and more recently in skijoring.
She competed in the recent IFSS World Championships in Norway and is excited to
contribute her insights and experience to a new endeavor in MUSA.
Treasurer Sally O’Sullivan Bair has held this position
since its inception. She also serves as the IFSS Secretary General and is the
editor for the Tugline of North Star Sled Dog Club, Minnesota’s local
organization. She is a product of (and retired from) the limited sprint classes,
having garnered local awards with a small kennel of around ten dogs. She also
serves as the chair of MUSA’s Anti-Doping Committee and is herself an IFSS-certified
canine doping control officer. A graduate of Colorado Women’s College (now a
part of Denver University), she is a retired high school special education
(learning disabilities, remedial reading) instructor. She has completed graduate
certification and work in special education, counseling, and computer graphics.
Jocelyn Bradbury graduated from college in 2003. At the
same time she also “graduated” to a mid-distance team of her own. She has since
worked for a touring company and now runs in the sprint and dryland events. This
past winter she ventured to the IFSS World Championships in Norway as a
spectator and thoroughly enjoyed herself.
Mike Christman loves skijoring. His goals are to compete in
the next IFSS World Championships and is anxious to help others get into the
sport and grow the sport for future generations.
Janet Saxon has two skijor dogs in her kennel and competed
at the IFSS World Championships in Norway this past winter. She, too, is
interested in growing the sport. This talented athlete also skis, participates
in mountain biking, road biking, and running – sans dogs.
Diane Locotos Stewart is already a part of MUSA. With her
Ph.D. in chemistry, she serves on MUSA’s Anti-Doping Committee. A strong
competitor in skijoring and dryland events, she also has background in legal
issues, especially contracts.
Joe Fessler is the technology expert. This man runs at
ninety miles an hour. His background is mainly in skijoring, but he also has
handled for distance mushers, Blake and Jen Frekking, Minnesota Siberian
mushers. He has a B.S. degree in Computer Science from the University of
Minnesota.
Lindy Howe comes from the Down East Sleddog Club and
distance and mid-distance racing. She is a registered guide in Maine and through
this avenue is able to promote our sport. She operates out of Heywood Kennel
Sled Dog Adventures, offering adventure packages for ice-fishing, wildlife
sightings, and photography tours.
A musher well known among the sleddog world is John Perry
(Sterling, Colorado), who has earned eleven ISDRA medals and an IFSS gold medal
(Dawson City, Yukon Canada). An educator by profession at the high school and
college level, Perry’s passion is dogs – sled dogs and hunting dogs. He looks
forward to “working with other members of the MUSA board to improve sled dog
sports in the USA.”
Another Wisconsonite is Jamie Spaulding. She brings to the
board the Nordic purebred experience as well as the knowledge earned from an
Animal Science degree from Michigan State. Her specialty is nutrition and animal
husbandry. She has been active in the sport since 1997 when she was still in
high school. She maintained a kennel of rescued dogs. Now she has taken on
Siberians as her mainstay, competing in the sprint and dryland circuits.
Affiliated Organization board member Kevin Murphy got his
start in skijoring and is the past president and founder of Midwest Skjorers.
Currently he serves as president of Skijor USA, a new group formed in the last
year but with an impressive record, having staged the first USA Skjoring
Championship in Minneapolis this past winter. He earned his college degree from
Century College and an MBA from St. Thomas University. He works at Wells Fargo
Banks as a wholesale technology manager. A go-getter, Murphy has spent a lot of
his energy over the years organizing skijoring races in the Minneapolis area.
Past President Sara Vanderwood (Oxford, Maine) saw MUSA
through its formative years. She came into the sport through her mother, who
owns a sleddog equipment business. Vanderwood has many trophies and awards to
her credit in skijoring and currently serves as the USA representative to the
IFSS council. A graduate of the University of Alaska, she now works as the Chief
of Staff for the Maine State Senate. Her background in legislative issues has
been a natural fit for MUSA’s Canine Legislation Committee.
In other actions, MUSA passed a resolution supporting the
cooperative North American Cup agreement between ISDRA (International Sled Dog
racing Association) and IFSS. Dave Steele, ISDRA Executive Director, shared with
the MUSA membership perspectives on the agreement and answered questions. The
agreement will be in effect for one year, for the 2011-2012 season. After that,
it will be re-evaluated.
Skijor USA was approved by the Congress as an Affiliated
Organization member with Kevin Murphy as its MUSA board representative. Such a
classification is required by the USOC. An Affiliated Organization is a USA
sports organization that has programs in mushing. Other examples might be NCAA
groups or any of the armed forces, should they initiate programs in sled dog
sports.
Other discussions focused on the IFSS Dryland World
Championship in Borken, Germany, in early November and the MUSA Committee on
Canine Animal Rights Legislation. Amy Cooper will handle any application from
USA teams that wish to compete in Germany. Pete Curtice, distance musher from
Michigan, submitted his committee’s outline to tackle the animal welfare bills
that plague almost every state legislature and many local municipalities.
MUSA is seriously considering a National Championship in
2013 or 2014. A prospective sponsor has stepped onto the scene, but plans are
sketchy at present. Various aspects of such an event were discussed.
MUSA was able to complete all of its business on Saturday,
allowing attendees to participate in ISDRA’s program. Mushing USA congratulates
its new board members and looks forward to some very exciting activity.
IFSS 2011 Dryland World Championship
Borken,
Germany
November
12-13, 2011
The
International Federation of Sleddog Sports (IFSS) will be holding its Dryland
World Championship in Borken,Germany, November 12-13, 2011. Mushing USA is
accepting applications for Team USA. Deadline to apply is August 1, 2011. If you
wish to be on Team USA, please begin planning now, especially if you wish to
take a dog(s).
The application
is now available online. Go to the main menu, click on World Championship. You
will then be linked to the page on which is the application (MS Word).
Probably the
best airport to fly into with direct flights from the USA is Amsterdam,
Netherlands (Schipol), which is about a two-hour drive to Borken. It is a major
airport. There is also a smaller airport in Dortmund, about an hour SE from
Borken. Düsseldorf, Germany, is also about an hour from Borken (south).
Please contact
Mike Marsch, MUSA Vice President (dogdaze@badger.tds.net), or Sally Bair, MUSA
Treasurer (sbair@tds.net), if you have any questions.
CALLING NOTICE
3rd USFSS Congress
June 25, 2011
Green bay, Wisconsin
Days Inn Downtown
406 North Washington Street
(Washington & Main)
Tel: 1-920435-4484
TO ALL USFSS MEMBERS
Dear USFSS Member,
In accordance with Article 8.3 of the USFSS Bylaws, I have
the pleasure of sending you the formal Calling Notice for the 2011 MUSA Congress
to be held at the in Green Bay, Wisconsin, June 25, 2011, beginning at 10:00 AM.
According to this article, “The Calling Notice shall
contain a request for any items which any member may wish to have included on
the agenda, including proposals for Bylaw changes. Such items for the agenda are
to be sent to the President or Secretary at least six weeks before the
Congress.” The six-week deadline for agenda items to be sent to the President
or Secretary is May 14, 2011. After May 14th, subsequent items for the agenda
must be sent to the President or Secretary and should eventually be approved by
the Congress.
In accordance with Article 8.3.4 of the MUSA Bylaws, the
Agenda will be sent to you by June 11th along with any working papers, Bylaw
changes or other proposals, and résumés of nominations from the Nominating
Committee. Further nominations will be accepted until June 19, 2011.
In accordance with Article 11.3 (Active Athletes Council),
the Active Athletes Council will hold its election meeting after the election of
the Mushing USA officers (president, vice-president, secretary, treasurer) and
before the election of at-large board members. This Council elects positions to
the MUSA board so that the total Active Athletes representation is at least five
(5) of the MUSA Board.
Team USA Savors Norwegian
Hospitality at IFSS World Championships
April
7, 2011
Team USA came
home from the IFSS World Championships in Norway with feelings of gratitude and
an appreciation of the camaraderie and learning that comes from competition that
offers the best in the sport. The sled long distance events took place in Røros,
Norway, February 3-10, under the auspices of the Femundlopet, and the Nordic and
sprint events were held in Hamar and Holmenkollen March 18-27th.
Temperatures in all of the venues were warm. However, the terrain of the
Femundløpet long distance race site saw temperatures drop during nights and in
more mountainous areas and winter storms brewing. The first day at Hamar
experienced snow, but subsequent days were sunny with temperatures in the upper
30’s and lower 40’s. Holmenkollen temperatures were also very warm.
Rachael Scdoris
(Oregon) competed in the Long Distance 400k in Røros, the only American entered.
In a line-up that sent off over 150 teams from the start line, she finished 72nd.
Already a veteran of Alaska’s Iditarod, she was happy with the performance of
her borrowed team and is glad to have this race under her belt. Simply finishing
such a grueling race is an honor. And for a gal who is legally blind, it is an
accomplishment to be proud of. There were plenty of rough spots along the trail,
but she is grateful to the organizational skills of the Femundlopet and IFSS for
making the race a success.
John Thompson
(Minnesota) was the first America to take to the trail in the Nordic events,
skiing to a 4th place finish in the Nordic men’s skijoring 2-dog
race. He was just 14 seconds off the pace for a bronze medal, having lost time
(15 seconds?) in the start chute the second day due to icy conditions when
donning his skis. Thompson also competed in the 17k 1-dog men’s skijoring, but
took a wrong trail and had to drop out of the competition. Competing in Norway
was a dream come true for him, and he relished every minute of it.
Rebecca Knight
(Alaska) placed overall 10th in the Nordic women’s 2-dog skijoring.
Competing in Norway at such a prestigious event as the World Championships was a
dream come true for Rebecca, and where she finished was not important. Getting
her two dogs to Norway provided for some hectic moments, but all in all, she
enjoyed every minute in Norway. Celebrating her 50th birthday in
Norway brought special meaning to the trip. But there is sad news, too, for her
nine-year-old dog, Gypsy, raced her final race, and Rebecca will be retiring
her. Janet Saxon (Colorado), competing at Holmenkollen in the Nordic women’s
1-dog skijoring, came in last, but, she commented, “We were just slow in our
race, and Barclay was a bit timid throughout the whole course, and decided not
to work very hard! I had a great experience regardless, and had no expectations
going into it - so all was good.” Knight and Amy Cooper (Wisconsin) also
competed in the Nordic women’s 1-dog skijor, placing 20th and 21st
out of 23 teams. Like Rebecca, Janet and Amy learned a lot and were happy to be
at the World Championships regardless of how they did.
Jason Sperry
(New York) and Scott Aimone (Colorado) competed in the Nordic men’s 1-dog
skijoring, placing 16th and 21st, respectively, out of 23
finishers. These two able athletes also entered the Nordic men’s combined
(combining the pulka and skijoring), placing 13th and 15th
respectively.
Young,
15-year-old Alexandra Vedeler, running for Team USA, took home a gold in the
junior sprint 4-dog. She lives in Norway, where her parents are her best
handlers and supporters. She wants to be as good as her idols: Hege Ingebrigtsen,
Lena Boysen Hillestand, Venke de Lange and Nina Skramstad. “They are sooo good
with the dogs,” says Alexandra. She thinks it is exciting to be a contestant in
the same competition as some of her idols.
Eighteen-year
old Dillon Gast (Vermont) turned in a splendid performance in the sprint
unlimited competition. His first day was his worst, and he had to drop a dog
because its health papers did not comply with the rabies titration requirements.
However, on day two he came up from 9th to a day time of 5th.
On day three, he had the 6th fasted time, placing him overall in 7th.
He has been training with Uli Kuehn (Germany) since July and ran his dogs. He
plans to stay on with Uli until this summer. He will be bringing home a virtual
encyclopedia of knowledge. Dillon also competed in the junior men’s 1-dog
skijoring, placing 8th. Dillon is truly an all around mushing
athlete!
Scandinavians
ran away with most of the medals. As one Team USA member quipped: “Figuring out
how to beat the Norwegians is hard. They start their athletes so young over
there.”
Scott Aimone
summarized the experience: “The event was simply first class. The Norwegian
organization should be applauded for the work that they did to put this event
together. It showcased our sport in a way that I have not seen before. The
course was incredibly selective, winnowing out the most talented and prepared
athletes (both canine and human). There were no fluke results.”
Mushing USA
thanks these athletes for their contribution and dedication. They are worthy
representatives for the USA. They did us proud.

Team
USA Selected for 2011 IFSS
Winter
World Championships in Norway
December 6, 2010,
Monticello, MN – Mushing USA (MUSA),
the national governing body of sled dog sports in the USA, has made its final
selection for competitors to represent the USA in the IFSS (International
Federation of Sleddog Sports) Winter World Championships in Norway in February
and March, 2011. The Long Distance events will be in February in Røros, and the
Nordic and sprint sled classes will be in March in Hamar and Holmenkollen, near
Oslo.
Selected are the
following athletes:
•
John
Thompson: Shoreview, Minnesota – men’s Nordic 1-dog skijoring, men’s Nordic
2-skijoring, men’s Nordic combined (skijoring and pulka)
• Scott
Aimone: Divide, Colorado – men’s Nordic 1-dog skijoring, men’s Nordic pulka,
men’s Nordic combined (skijoring and pulka)
• Jason
Sperry: Mexico, New York – men’s Nordic 1-dog skijoring, men’s Nordic pulka,
men’s Nordic combined (skijoring and pulka)
• Jim Benson:
Blaine, Minnesota – men’s Nordic 1-dog skijoring, men’s Nordic 2-dog skijoring,
men’s Nordic pulka
• Jake
Robinson: Morris, Minnesota – men’s Nordic 2-dog, men’s 1-dog skijoring junior,
men’s Nordic Combined (skijoring and pulka)
• Rebecca
Knight: Wasilla, Alaska – women’s Nordic 1-dog skijoring, women’s 2-dog
skijoring
• Amy Cooper:
Holmen, Wisconsin – women’s Nordic 1-dog skijoring
• Janet
Saxon: Golden, Colorado – women’s Nordic 1-dog skijoring
• Katie
Harris: lliff, Colorado – sled 4-dog sprint
• Jenna
Dittmar: Wausau, Wisconsin – sled 6 dog sprint
• Stephanie
Dwyer: Leadville, Colorado – sled 4 dog sprint
• Dillon Gast:
Randolph Center, Vermont – sled unlimited sprint, men’s Nordic junior 1-dog
skijoring
• Rachael
Scdoris: Bend, Oregon – sled long distance 8-dog
Some of these
competitors will be transporting their own dogs to Norway, and some will be
borrowing dogs from Europeans. Dillon Gast has been training in Europe this past
winter and will be competing with Uli Kuhn’s (Germany) dogs. Jenna Dittmar is
living in England this year and looks forward to possibly having a few of her
own dogs flown from USA but otherwise borrowing dogs from a Norwegian musher.
Rachael Scdoris will be leasing a long distance team from Ketil Reitan of Norway
but will be transporting her own leaders, Breeze and Wrinkles. Each musher will
receive a monetary stipend from IFSS for travel and transporting dogs from the
USA to Norway. Many of the athletes are also being sponsored by private
companies and individuals.
Alaska’s skijorer Rebecca Knight is not only
is exhilarated at being invited to be part of Team USA … “a great
honor for me!” She states that “Just to have the opportunity to travel to the
‘cradle’ of Nordic winter sports to experience such a gathering of skijorers,
mushers, dogs and sled dog sport enthusiasts from around the globe is in itself
tremendously exciting. To be able to participate as a racer in the skijoring
class....well, I’d have to say, will most likely be the pinnacle of my years as
a musher…I’m eager to learn and absorb all that I can from others about the
sport of skijoring while overseas and likewise share a bit of my knowledge
gained over my nearly 20 years in Alaska which has provided me with some
opportunities I feel I could not have experienced elsewhere.”
John Thompson, being 100% Norwegian and
looking forward to his second IFSS World Championship, can’t wait to visit
Norway. He is excited about competing against the best of the best. “I also
enjoy meeting competitors from around the world who love dog powered sports.
From past experience, it’s humbling and exciting at the same time.“
Scott Aimone, who has
traveled to South America as well as competed in previous World Championships on
behalf of IFSS, enjoys meeting “new people who are enthusiastic about their dogs
and their sport is always a pleasure as well as an amazing learning experience.
I would welcome the opportunity to go back to Norway, reconnect with old
friends, observe how others in the world are advancing the understanding of
dogs… I think that it is very important for this sport to demonstrate that small
kennels such as mine can be competitive on the world stage. I believe that
success does not come from numbers but rather from having a close
relationship/bond with your dog in combination with a no-excuses, organized and
disciplined approach to preparation and training.”
Long distance competitor
Rachael Scdoris, after competing in the Iditarod, is amazed at how few people
realize that sled dogs even exist outside Alaska. “Competing in and promoting
the Femundlopet would give me one more tool to peak peoples’ interests in sled
dog sports.” As a legally blind person, she will be competing with the adaptive
aid of a companion team from Ketil Reidar’s kennel.
One of the young members
of Team USA is Jake Robinson, who says, “I will be able to fulfill a life-long
dream as well as share my experience with others as I promote the wonderful
sport of mushing.” He is also a previous IFSS champion, having earned a first
place finish in the IFSS 2009 Daaquam (Quebec, Canada) World Championships in
the Junior 1-dog skijoring class.
Dillon Gast, the
youngest member of the USA competitors, is cognizant of the fact that few USA
mushers have been represented in European competition in the unlimited sprint
class. He is proud to be using a team from a very reputable European musher and
previous unlimited IFSS gold world champion. “Allowing me to represent my
country will show the world that the United States does have young competitors
coming up in the near future. I have the knowledge, skill, and the ability to
compete at this level. All I need is the opportunity to compete!”
Jenna Dittmar is equally as
excited about going to Norway. “From this experience,” she comments, “I hope to
gain knowledge of different techniques used in sled dog sports abroad, forage
international relationships, and ultimately be a part of a more unified
organization that governs sled dog sports. A World Championship event of this
calibre is the ideal place to forge international relationships, and advance
sled dog sports globally.”
Katie Harris reflects on
her 2009 Daaquam IFSS World Championship, where she was amazed at “seeing all
the competitors from all over the world, and getting to race against the best.
I had never even been out the USA, and here I was getting to have dinner with
the Norwegian team, learning about dog sledding in Jamaica, and getting to see
classes I had only heard about, like pulka. I was proud of my team’s
performance, but at the same time I came home with plenty of ideas on how we
could do better. I learned a lot in Daaquam that I could bring back and share
with others.” She anticipates bringing home more learning tools and friends from
Norway.
These worthy
representatives of the USA all look forward to going to Norway and mixing with
and learning from their peers from all over the world. Some will be spending
some extra time traveling (and maybe some shopping?) and taking in the sights
that such a beautiful winter wonderland presents.
MUSA congratulates these
elite athletes and knows that they will be worthy representatives of the USA in
competition against the many outstanding competitors from throughout the world.
MUSA wishes them the very best fortune and looks forward to their tales from the
trails of Norway.
USFSS
Extends Deadline for 2010 Norway World Championship Applications
USFSS has extended the deadline for
submitting applications for entry to the World Championships this winter in
Norway from September 15th to October 1st. Application for
entry is online at the Mushing USA website (www.mushingusa.org>Competition>
Competition Entry Form). Anyone wishing to compete in the World Championships
must complete an application even if they have received an automatic berth.
Those not having been granted an automatic berth will have their application
evaluated and prioritized by the MUSA Selection Committee. Competitors will be
notified of their selection by November 1st.
First
Annual National Championship Skijoring Races To Be Held This Winter In
Minneapolis, Minnesota
From
John Thompson, Skijor USA
In partnership with Mushing
USA, Skijor USA will be hosting an USA National Skijoring Championship race on
February 5th and 6th 2011. The nation's top skijorers will compete in
Minneapolis, MN for national titles in one and two dog skijoring. A third title
- combined skijoring - will be awarded to the skijorer who posts the fastest
combined time over the two days of racing. Women and men will compete
separately, and the purse will be divided equally between the classes. Skijorers
outside the USA are encouraged to race and will be eligible for all cash prizes
(national titles awarded to top American finishers only).
The two-dog race will consist
of two laps around Lake of the Isles in Minneapolis with a finish on the
snow-covered streets of the trendy Uptown neighborhood. Race distance will be
7.5k and one or two dogs are permitted. The one-dog race will be held on
the hilly Junior Olympic course in Theodore Wirth Park in Minneapolis. Race
distance will be 14k and only one dog is permitted. To be eligible for the
combined title, a skijorer must use one of the same dogs raced in the
two-dog event the previous day. Racers must agree to possible drug testing. Both
races are being held in conjunction with the City of Lakes Loppet (cityoflakesloppet.com).
Last year the City of Lakes Loppet and race director Kevin Murphy organized the
world's largest skijoring event with over 120 participants.
Final details including purse
size, online race application and contact information will be available online
at the Skijor USA website at www.skijorusa.org.
IFSS 2011 World Championship
Applications Available for Team USA
June 28, 2010
Monticello, MN –
Applications for Team USA participation in the 2011 IFSS World Winter
Championships in Norway are now open. They can be downloaded in MS Word by going
to Mushing USA’s website (www.mushingusa.org) and clicking on “Norway 2011 WCh”
on the main menu at the left. Anyone wishing to compete in the World
Championships must complete an application even if they have received an
automatic berth. Those not having been granted an automatic berth will have
their application evaluated and prioritized by the MUSA Selection Committee.
Applications are due to MUSA by September 15, 2010. Final selections to
represent Team USA will be made and competitors notified by October 10, 2010.
IFSS Anti-Doping
Training Seminar
September 27-28, 2010
May 19, 2010
Funäsdalen,
Sweden, 15 May, 2010 –
IFSS (International Federation of Sleddog Sports) has scheduled a two-day
training seminar for prospective Doping Control Officers (DCO) and Assistants (DCA)
as well as National Anti-Doping
Officials for Monday and Tuesday, September 27-28, 2010, in conjunction with its
General Assembly to be held near Dublin, Ireland, September 25-26, 2010.
All interested persons are welcome to register for this Anti-Doping
seminar. However, participation is limited to
twelve
persons, and reservations must be made to
the IFSS
Anti-Doping
Chair Person,
Carin Ahlstedt, at
antidoping@draghundsport.se
as
soon as possible and at the latest by September 1st. The participants
will then receive a list of documents, mainly from the WADA website, which are
to be studied in preparation for the training seminar. Interested persons are
also requested to copy email IFSS Secretary General, Sally O’Sullivan Bair
(sbair@tds.net) with their reservation.
The seminar
itself is free of charge, but accommodation and travel are at the expense of
each Federation/participant. The trainer will be Carin Ahlstedt, official DCO
trainer for IFSS. The training will conclude with a written test, which is
required for those who wish to gain IFSS DCO certification. Candidates who pass
the exam must officiate as a DCA at, at the minimum, one approved race event
and, preferably under two different DCOs, and upon recommendation from these
DCOs, may then apply for an IFSS DCO certificate.
In the near
future each Federation will be obliged to report on Doping Control of Dogs at
minimum in connection with their National Championships and International
Events and also report educational work aimed at both athletes and race judges.
This means that
each Federation – or a group of Federations together in a Region – must nominate
both an Anti-Doping
Official (Contact Person) and at least one Doping Control Officer (DCO) for Dogs
to be able to meet these obligations. From the beginning those two positions
may be held by the same person as human resources may dictate. However, as
soon as possible, each Federation – or each Region – should have different
people in the two positions for Results Management reasons.
Carin
Ahlstedt is also willing to offer her services to come and hold training
seminars on a national or regional basis as well, possibly together with some of
the other already certified DCOs, if they get travel and accommodation costs
covered by the organizer. However, offering this training seminar in conjunction
with the IFSS GA will hopefully provide the opportunity to coordinate the Anti-Doping
Education and attendance as a delegate at the GA.
IFSS
Council Approves 2011 Norway WCh Schedule
April 22, 2010
Monticello, MN –
The Council of the IFSS (International Federation of Sleddog Sports) has
approved the tentative schedule of events for its Winter World Championships (WCh)
in Norway, 2011. MUSA will soon open up the application process for Team USA. To
get the schedule, please click
here
for a downloadable PDF.
USFSS Appoints Anti-Doping Committee
Oxford, Maine –
Mushing USA, the national governing body of sled dog sports in the USA, has
appointed three members to its Anti-Doping Committee. Previously appointed as
chairperson was Sally Bair, the Secretary General of the International
Federation of Sleddog Sports (IFSS) and member of MUSA’s Board of Directors.
Serving with Bair will be Jerry Vanek, Donna Davis, and Diane Locotos Stewart.
Donna
Davis is a pharmacist (Duluth, MN) who is also a musher. Jerry Vanek (Angus, MN)
is a former musher. Also a veterinarian for such major sled dog races as the
Iditarod, he is certified by the ISDVMA – International Sled Dog Veterinary
Medical Association. Diane Locotos Stewart (Ipswich, MA) is a chemist and
musher. All are very qualified persons with impressive résumés.
Each
national sports federation is required by the mandates of the World Anti-Doping
Agency (WADA) to set up its own anti-doping committee. Presently, the work of
the Mushing USA committee is only minimal, primarily in the sphere of keeping
abreast of any new developments in the world of doping control for both people
and dogs. It is required to provide all Mushing USA athletes with anti-doping
education so that they know their rights and responsibilities with regard to
doping control and the principles of the Anti-Doping Code.
Currently, one of the barriers to more work is the USA Anti-Doping Agency's
hefty price for granting TUEs (Therapeutic Use Exemptions). Dogs do not need
TUEs. When the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and WADA can sort out the
TUE issues, there will gradually accrue more involvement of MUSA’s Anti-Doping
Committee. This will include carrying out and following all the procedures for
drug testing in the USA for MUSA-sponsored competitions such as regional or
national championships.
Mushing USA is pleased to have such an auspicious
team on its Anti-Doping Committee.
IFSS Selects Two USA Skiers for Scandinavia’s
Training Camp
Oxford, Maine –
The International Federation of Sleddog Sports (IFSS) has announced its
selection for a training camp to be in Sweden at the end of February, 2010. Two
skijorers from the USA will be attending: Jason Sperry (New York) and Jim
Benson (Minnesota).
The
primary goals of the camp are to improve the abilities and performance of those
wishing to compete in the Nordic disciplines at the IFSS World Championships in
Norway in 2011 and to give the training camp participants the skills and tools
to enable them to go back to their own countries and educate others, further
helping to develop skijoring and pulka.
Sperry
has competed in many Nordic skijoring races, including the 2009 IFSS World
Championships in Daaquam, Quebec. He is anxious to be exposed to Scandinavian
skijor methods and philosophies. He has organized skijor camps and wants “to
take what I learn in Sweden and Norway and bring that back and utilize the
information at the camps and clinics I have been working on in the US.”
Like
Sperry, Benson is an experienced skijorer but has never competed internationally
against the best of the best. He has developed a training curriculum that is
currently being used by his local Minneapolis club, the Midwest Skijorers Club,
of which he is currently president. The Scandinavian training camp “is a very
unique opportunity to further broaden the spectrum and depth of our training
venues for the benefit of the sport and participants at all levels,” Benson
commented upon learning of his selection.
Both
Sperry and Benson as also anxious to develop their skills in Nordic pulka. They
are both also looking forward to competing in the 2011 IFSS World Championships
in Norway and are grateful to IFSS for giving them the opportunity to further
their skills in such an auspicious venue as the training camp. In all, there
will be twelve participants in the camp, selected from all over the world among
thirty-three, very qualified applicants. Benson and Sperry are proud to have
been selected.
IFSS World Cup
Accreditation &
World
Championship Selection for 2011 Team USA
The Mushing USA Board of
Directors passed a resolution at the June, 2009, Congress that states that IFSS
World Cup points will be used for part of the selection process for Team USA for
IFSS World Championships. What does this means for anyone wishing to go to the
2011 WCh in Norway? Although final selection criteria are not yet established
and ultimately must be approved by the Mushing USA board, it would behoove any
prospective 2011 Team USA athlete to compete in at least one 2010 IFSS World Cup
event in the class in which he/she wishes to be accepted for 2011 Norway WCh
Team USA.
Be aware that Race Giving
Organizations (RGOs) are not required to accredit every class that is eligible
for accreditation. They may pick and choose.
IFSS has set aside
$10,000 to help defray travel expenses to Norway for those traveling from
overseas. How this money will be allocated is yet to be decided by the IFSS
Council. In the past it has been based on a set amount for the musher and an
amount per dog (up to a limited number of dogs).
IFSS:
2009-2010
World-Cup
Series
Sign up now as an
IFSS World Cup Event for 2009-2010!
Winners qualify for IFSS 2011 World Championships in Norway!
What is IFSS World Cup?
The IFSS World
Cup Series offers a worldwide ranking system for mushers. It provides
opportunity for promotion of mushing and mushers and welcomes participation from
race giving organizations (RGOs) in each class from all regions of the world.
2009-2010 World Cup and 2011 World Championships
Entry into the World
Championship is in part based on a competitor’s World Cup ranking for the past
year. The first three finishers in the 2010 World Cup in each class in each
region will automatically be awarded a World Championship berth for the World
Championship to be held in Norway in 2011. In addition, medalists in the 2009
IFSS World
Championship in Daaquam (Canada) will be eligible to enter in the same class.
Each country is also
entitled to three berths in each sprint and Nordic class in the 2010 World
Championship in Norway. However, there is no limit to the number of entries into
the mid-distance and long distance classes. Criteria for selection of the teams
is up to each IFSS National
Federation (IF). Mushing USA has
set World Cup ranking as part of its criteria for Team USA 2011 Norway.
IFSS, together with the
2011 host, the Norwegian Sleddog Federation (NHF), will also be offering travel
money to help defray costs for those competitors traveling from overseas to
Norway.
South America has already
staged its Continental Championships in both dryland and snow, and snow races
are around the corner in the northern hemisphere. Offer your USA mushers
a part of the action in Norway!
Sign up now for
2009-2010 IFSS World
Cup!
Visit the IFSS website at:
www.sleddogsport.com
for the World Cup
application and information.
For additional information
or to apply for your race, you may also contact:
Bernard Pépin
Sally O’Sullivan Bair
Vice President of
Sport IFSS Secretary
General
459
rue des
Moraines 8554
Gateway Circle
Veraz,
01170 Chevry France
Monticello, MN 55362 USA
Tel:
+33 450
410080 Tel:
+1 763 295 5465
Email: bernard.pepin857@orange.fr
Email: sbair@tds.net
Team USA
Picks up Medals at Dryland World Championship
By Sally
O’Sullivan Bair
Saguenay (Quebec) Canada
– Four inches of slushy snow on Tuesday before the start of the IFSS
(international Federation of Sleddog Sports) World Championships didn’t deter
race organizers from having a superb trail at Saguenay (Quebec) Canada. Snow
crews worked hard to clear the trails of the white cover prior to the race
start.
The
event took place over four days, from October 29 through November 1, 2009, in
the LaBaie District of Saguenay (Quebec) Canada. The Bec-Scie Center in Saguenay
hosted the four-day event. The nature center is named after a hooded merganser
duck that inhabits this river area.
Hills
and curves dominated the forested trails of the Bec-Scie Nature Center,
separating the elite athletes from their up and coming rivals. Race Marshall
Robert Schiesser of Switzerland was impressed with the event “with the effort
the local people have put into making this a really good race.”
Approximately
100 teams from Poland, Russia, Switzerland, Norway, Canada, France, and the USA
vied for medals in the twelve classes.
The
first day’s events saw cloudy skies with a temperature of about 40° F (4.4° C).
Scooter 1-Dog class, Bikejor, and 4-Dog Cart classes wrapped up on Friday,
October 30, after two days of competition. The day was overcast but remained
relatively cool, in the range 4 to 6 degrees Celsius. The trail was damp and
some sections were quite muddy.
Saturday began the Canicross,
2-Dog Scooter, and 6-Dog and 8-Dog Cart classes. Warm temperatures and
intermittent rain showers greeted competitors. Cart classes were delayed and
their course shortened due to temperatures being too warm. Saturday was capped
with a Halloween dinner and dance with live music. Crazy clowns from Team Canada
stole the show and got everyone onto the dance floor.
The sun shone on Sunday and
cooler temperatures prevailed. Competitors and spectators alike enjoyed the mass
start Canicross relay, which was won by Poland.
Poland and Norway dominated
many of the classes, but USA teams made respectable showings in the 4-Dog Cart
class where they copped silver (Jessica Doherty) and bronze (Liz Bailey) medals.
Brittany Colbath picked up a bronze on the Women’s Senior Bikjoring class, and
Ed Clifford and Fred Derksen earned gold and silver, respectively, in the
Veteran Men’s Bikjoring class. Clifford also took home a gold in the 8-Dog Cart,
with Josh Mercure winning a bronze in the 6-Dog Cart class. Christina Dawn Eagle
glided to a 2-minute win in the Women’s Senior Canicross class, while Liz Bailey
managed another medal, a bronze, in the same class. Diane Locotos took home the
gold in the Women’s Veteran Canicross. The Canicross Relay team of Liz Bailey,
Jason Sperry, and Christina Dawn Eagle picked up the silver medal.
IFSS thanks the Saguenay
organizing committee for its wonderful hospitality and for putting on a
successful event.
Complete race results are on
the IFSS website (www.sleddogsport.com).
East Meets
West Dryland Sled Dog Race Gears Up to Welcome Mushers
Clearwater, MN
– The organizing committee for the East Meets West Dryland Sleddog Race is
swinging into high gear in preparation for the November 14th &15th
debut in Clearwater’s Warner Lake Park. Race Coordinator Monica Jendro is
excited about all that will be available to mushers and the public: “We will
have a smorgasbord of concessions throughout the two days as well as a “Meet the
Mushers Dinner” on Saturday evening where anyone and everyone can mix and mingle
with competitors and find out more about this exciting aspect of sled dog
sports.” Events will begin at 10:00 a.m.
on Saturday and 9:00 a.m. on
Sunday.
Of course, the
public is welcome to come and see for themselves as the dogs and mushers ply the
trails on Saturday and Sunday. In fact, the public can even participate and get
their feet wet in dryland racing by entering a canicross “Fun Run” event to be
held on Saturday! All you need is a dog and a leash. If you have the specially
designed canicross belt and a sled dog harness, all the more power to you!
Canicross is
essentially running with your dog in harness and attached to the musher via a
line and a specially designed belt. However dryland racing offers a variety of
new sled dog sports. Bikejoring is done with one or two dogs and an experienced
musher on a suitable bike. Scootering is also done with one or two dogs and
specially designed “mountain scooters.” Then there are rig races, where mushers
ride a light-weight, wheeled cart pulled by a team of dogs, typically two to
six.
Dryland sled dog
racing is a relatively new aspect of sled dog sports, but it has caught on
rapidly throughout Europe and now, also in North America.
Over 100
competitors from throughout North America are expected to be competing for a
$10,000.00 purse in 12 classes of racing. The event is sanctioned by the
International Sled Dog Racing Association and accredited by the International
Federation of Sleddog Sports with collaboration by the North Star Sled Dog Club
of Minnesota.
Host Joel Nelson,
himself a former champion musher, can hardly contain his enthusiasm: “What can
you say, a $10,000 purse, trophies, free T-shirts for mushers, along with a
great meal for participants. Mushers will finally be treated like the
professional athletes they are!”
For further
information please visit
www.isdra-dryland-racing.info or call Monica Jendro at 320-282-2824
USFSS
Sponsors Dryland training Camp in Maine
Oxford, ME USA, October 17, 2009 – Mushing USA (MUSA),
the national governing body of sled dog sports in the USA, has combined forces
with the International Federation of Sleddog Sports (IFSS) and the Down East
Sled Dog Club (DESDC) to host a dryland training camp in conjunction with the
Run Dawg Run Festival at the Pineland Farms in New Gloucester, Maine, on October
24-25, 2009.
This event will combine a
dryland sled dog competition with dog-powered sports demonstrations and seminars
on the proper care, conditioning and nutrition for pet athletes. The event
vision is for a festival type atmosphere, with music, professional announcing,
food and beverages along with on-site equipment vendors.
Two sled dog athletes will be coming from Norway for the
event and will carry the baton as instructors in the seminars and
demonstrations. Lena Boysen Hillestad and Venke de Lange, both outstanding
athletes in sled dog sports, especially Nordic style, will arrive from Norway in
order to compete in the IFSS Dryland World Championships in Saguenay (Quebec)
Canada the week after the Run Dawg Run Festival. Their presence will lend an
international flavor to the Run Dawg Run Festival as well as provide valuable
lessons in dog powered sports.
Mushing USA extends its appreciation to Down East Sled Dog
Club in hosting this event and to Sara Vanderwood, IFSS Council representative
from the USA, for all the planning and hard work that has gone into staging the
Festival.
IFSS Announces Training Camp in Scandinavia 2010
Melbourne, Australia, October 15, 2009 – The
International Federation of Sleddog Sports (IFSS) has announced that a
designated amount of money will be allocated for 12 people from IFSS member
federations to attend a training camp to develop their abilities and the sleddog
sport in their country and region. Only one person from each federation will be
accepted. All transportation and accommodations will be paid for by the joint
contributions of IFSS and the Scandinavian national federations, Norges
Hundejörerforbund (NHF) and Svenska Draghundsportförbundet (SDSF).
For 10 days, from 26 February to 7 March, 2010, 12
individuals will have an exciting opportunity to participate in an extensive
training course, emphasizing Nordic pulka and skijoring but also including
training with Nome sled, to take place in Norway and Sweden. Participants will
first travel to Mora, Sweden, on February 26th and then go on to Orsa
Hamar, Norway, March 4th to compete in the Trial World Championships.
The purpose of the camp is two-fold: (1) to help improve
abilities of international competitors who wish to compete in the IFSS World
Championships in Norway in 2011 and (2) to educate and train people who can
teach others in their home country or region. Practice and theory will be taught
with particular emphasis on skiing technique, waxing material and organization
and cooperation in sleddog sports. The training leaders will be Ulla-Kari Pontén
of Sweden, who will lead in Nordic; Malin Sundin, who will instruct in long
distance sled; Sara Sundin, trainer for Nordic and sled; and Bengt Pontén, IFSS
president who will work with Nordic skills. Present will also be several
instructors from the local sled dog club in Sweden and the Ski College in Mora.
Prospective applicants are invited to apply by requesting
application form and materials from Darren Watson, IFSS Vice President for
Development (darrenwatson01@gmail.com) or Sally O’Sullivan Bair, IFSS Secretary
General (sbair@tds.net). Completed applications must be received by IFSS (Darren
Watson) no later than November 7, 2009, so that the selection process can be
completed and selected participants will have time to make appropriate
arrangements.
IFSS Approves Saguenay
Dryland Race Rule Changes
June 10, 2009 - The IFSS (International Federation of Sleddog Sports) Council has
approved two Race Rule changes for the Dryland World Championship in Saguenay
(Quebec) Canada, scheduled for October 30-November 1.
The first rule change
concerns a junior class. There will now be a separate junior class in Bikejöring
for ages 16-20, for men and women. The second rule change deals with rig
equipment. In the Saguenay race, 3-wheeled carts will now be allowed in all rig
classes. Previously, 3-wheeled rigs were allowed in only the 4-dog rig class.
Other rig classes were required to have 4-wheeled rigs.
The age limit for juniors
in the Canicross and the 4-dog rig class is 14 years. The IFSS Race Rules (www.sleddogsport.com)
do not provide for a junior class in the Scooter class and normally not in
Bikejöring. IFSS cites the dangerous nature of some of the Dryland classes as
reason to disallow juniors or to limit the minimum junior age to 14 or 16 years.
This past spring, IFSS
approved a Race Rule change to the Dryland rig classes to require a brake on
only the rear wheels and no brake on the front wheels. This change came about
from North American competitors and equipment makers who outfit rigs with no
brake on the front wheels. Safety is not compromised by allowing rigs with no
brake on the front wheels. A new addition to the Dryland rules, also approved
this past spring, is the requirement that competitors in the Team Rig classes
carry sufficient drop chains or cables to tether, if needed, their dogs at the
dropping check points along the trail.
Competitors are reminded
that helmets are required for all Dryland classes except Canicross. Gloves are
recommended, and competitors are advised to dress according to the weather
conditions. Saguenay can get chilly and cold by the end of October. Previous
Dryland World Championships have seen crews shoveling four or more inches of
snow off the trails before competition could begin.
Competitors are advised
to check the Saguenay website for additional information (www.saguenaydryland.com),
such as the schedule of events, lodging, and other important information,
including information about the trails.
Robert Schiesser of
Koblenz, Switzerland has accepted to be the Race Marshal (RM) for the IFSS World
Championship 2009 Dryland in Saguenay. Robert has the experience of the last two
IFSS Dryland World Championships as RM and speaks French as well as English. The
trail boss will be Ludovic Coulaux of Canada, and the Chief Veterinarian will be
Christine Belley of Canada. IFSS President Bengt Pontén has appointed Bernard
Pépin (IFSS Vice President of Sport) of France as the Appeals Jury Chair.
Saguenay (Quebec) Canada
is a city of about 200,000 population located approximately two hours’ drive
north of Quebec City on the Saguenay River. It is a city bounded by fjords where
one can frequently observe whales, which come in from the Atlantic Ocean through
the Gulf of St. Lawrence.
USFSS Extends IFSS
Dryland WCh Application Deadline
May 3, 2009 ?
Mushing USA is extending its deadline for applicants seeking entry into the IFSS
(International Federation of Sleddog Sports) Dryland World Championship to be
held in Saguenay (Quebec) Canada on 30-November 1, 2009. The deadline has been
extended to June 1, 2009.
Canicross, bikejoring,
scooter, and rig classes will be offered. In all classes, except canicross,
World Champion titles will also be awarded to Registered Purebreed teams. The
trails will be from 2.5 to 7.5 km (1.6 to 4.7 miles) depending on the class.
Entry is open to all US
citizens and US residents. Individuals wishing to enter must apply through
Mushing USA. US residents who are not US citizens must apply directly to the
MUSA Board. An application form, a downloadable MS Word document, is on the MUSA
website at www.mushingusa.org >
Competition > Competition Entry Form. Entry fees are US $50/class for senior and
veteran classes and US $30/class for Junior classes.
Applications must be received
from prospective entrants by June 1, 2009. Those accepted for entry will be
announced on June 27, 2009, at the MUSA Congress in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan,
with personal contact to follow. Acceptance of the invitation and payment of all
applicable fees by entrants must be completed by August 15, 2009.
Team USA IFSS 2009
Dryland WCh Selection Process
April 15, 2009 –
Mushing USA is seeking applicants for entry into the IFSS (International
Federation of Sleddog Sports) Dryland World Championship to be held in Saguenay
(Quebec) Canada on 30-November 1, 2009.
Canicross, bikejoring, scooter, and rig classes will be offered. In all classes,
except canicross, World Champion titles will also be awarded to Registered
Purebreed teams. The trails will be from 2.5 to 7.5 km (1.6 to 4.7 miles)
depending on the class.
Entry is open to all US citizens and US residents. Individuals wishing to enter
must apply through Mushing USA. US residents who are not US citizens must apply
directly to the MUSA Board. An application form, a downloadable MS Word
document, is on the MUSA website at www.mushingusa.org > Competition >
Competition Entry Form. Entry fees are US $50/class for senior and veteran
classes and US $30/class for Junior classes.
Applications must be received from prospective entrants by May 15, 2009. Those
accepted for entry will be announced on June 27, 2009, at the MUSA Congress in
Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, with personal contact to follow. Acceptance of the
invitation and payment of all applicable fees by entrants must be completed by
August 15, 2009.
USFSS
Announces 2009 Congress
April 1, 2009 –
Mushing USA (MUSA) is pleased to announce that its regular biennial Congress
will be held June 27-28, 2009, in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, at the Quality Inn
& Suites Conference Center* located just off the Interstate 75 and only five
minutes from Lake Superior. MUSA has reserved a block of 10 rooms (each with a
double bed) for its members.
There are at least 4
vacant positions on the MUSA Board, and anyone interested in becoming a
candidate or nominating someone for these positions may submit his/her résumé to
MUSA secretary Debbie Serbousek (windigo@cheqnet.net,
#715-372-8889). All nominations must be submitted prior to the Congress, by June
19th.
Any members wishing to
have items included on the agenda, including by-law changes, must submit these
to secretary Debbie Serbousek by April 13th. The final agenda and any
working papers will be circulated to members by May 25th.
The MUSA Congress will
coincide with ISDRA’s annual meeting to also be at the Sault Ste. Marie Quality
Inn. MUSA members are invited to sign up and pay the appropriate fees for ISDRA
activities or banquets. Go to
www.isdra.org
for more information on the ISDRA meeting.
*The
Quality Inn is located at 3290 I-75 Spur
Phone:
(906) 635-6918
Reservations: 1-877-424-6423
www.qualityinn.com/hotel-sault_sainte_marie-michigan-MI192
IFSS Approves Dryland
World Championships for 2009
March 10, 2009 –
The International Federation of Sleddog Sports (IFSS) has approved the city of
Saguenay (Quebec) Canada, as the site of the 2009 IFSS Dryland World
Championships. The event will take place October 30-November 1, 2009.
Saguenay is located on a fjord, roughly a 2 hours’
drive north of Quebec City along and inland from the St. Lawrence Seaway on the
Saguenay River. It is a city with a population of 150,000. The race site chosen
is the Bec-Scie outdoor center in Saguenay where the Defi de la Mars race on
snow is organized in the winter. Various lodging facilities are available in the
city of Saguenay, and many tourist attractions can be seen in the area. Both
cell phone and WiFi are available throughout the city and at the race site.
The following dryland classes will be offered
during these World Championships:
• Canicross men and women for juniors, seniors and
veterans (40 and above),
• Bikejoring 1-dog men and women for seniors and
veterans,
• Scooter 1-dog and 2-dog,
• Rig 4-dog, 4-dog juniors, 6-dog and 8-dog.
In all classes, except canicross, World Champion
titles will also be awarded to Registered Nordic breed teams. The trails will be
from 2.5 to 7.5 km (1.6 to 4.7 miles) depending on the class. The trails are
hilly, dirt tracks mainly in the woods.
Individuals wishing to enter must apply through
their respective IFSS national federation member. Entry fees are US $50 for
senior and veteran classes and US $30 for Junior classes.
The USA national federation is Mushing USA (MUSA).
Application is open to any USA citizen wishing to enter. Exception to US
citizenship will be made on an individual basis by direct application to the
MUSA Board. Selection of all entrants will be based on an individual’s past
record. Application may be obtained from MUSA secretary Debbie Serbousek (windigo@cheqnet.net).
Applications must be received from prospective entrants by May 15, 2009. Those
accepted for entry will be announced on June 27, 2009, at the MUSA Congress in
Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, with personal contact to follow. Acceptance of the
invitation and payment of all applicable fees by entrants must be completed by
August 15, 2009.
USFSS Announces
2009 Team USA for Daaquam World Championships
November 15, 2008 – Mushing USA (MUSA), the
national governing body of sleddog sports in the USA, is proud to announce its
selection of entries into the 2009 IFSS (International Federation of Sleddog
Sports) World Championships in Daaquam, Quebec Canada, January 17-25.
In the Sprint classes the USA will be represented by the
following:
Sprint
Unlimited: Keith Bryar, Ed Clifford, Randy DeKuiper, Arleigh Reynolds, and Ben
Thomas.
Sprint 8-Dog:
Dawn Brown, Keith Bryar, Randy DeKuiper, Rob Downey, Jerry Mulvey, Jennifer
Payne-Sterling, John Perry, and Bruce Swan.
Sprint 6-Dog:
Brittany Colbath, Christine DeKuiper, Katie Harris, Josh Mecure, Jennifer
Payne-Sterling, John Perry, Jennifer Probert, Michael Previs, and Beverly
Stevens.
Sprint 4-Dog:
Heather Brannen, Brittany Colbath, Jessica Doherty, Stephanie Dwyer, Katie
Harris, Jennifer Probert, Sadie Theriault, and Kim Wells.
In the Nordic
classes, the USA will be represented by:
Nordic Men
1-Dog Skijor: Scott Aimone, Ed Clifford, Fritz Howard, Tim McMahon, Jason
Sperry, and Josh Tesch.
Nordic Men
2-Dog Skijor: Scott Aimone, Ed Clifford, Fred Derksen, Fritz Howard, Greg Jurek,
Tim McMahon, and Josh Tesch,
Nordic Men
Pulka 1-Dog: Scott Aimone and Jason Sperry.
Nordic Men
Combined (Skijor & Pulka): Scott Aimone and Tim McMahon.
Nordic Women
Skijor 1-Dog: Kirsten Ballard, Stephanie Dwyer, Betsy McGettigan, Erin Sperry,
Sara Vanderwood, and Rebecca Voris.
Nordic Women
Skijor 2-Dog: Heather Brannen, Kriya Dunlap, Pam Hahler, Betsy McGettigan Sara
Vanderwood, and Kim Wells.
Nordic Women
Pulka 1-Dog: Rebecca Voris.
Nordic Women
Combined (Pulka & Skijor): Sara Vanderwood and Rebecca Voris.
In the Junior
classes, the following mushers will compete:
Sprint 4-Dog:
Rachael Colbath, Alex Downey, Dakota Schlosser, Josh Schlosser, and Alex Thomas.
Sprint 2-3
Dog: Moses Mulvery, Aisling Shepard, and Lily Stewart.
Nordic Women
Skijor 1-Dog: Sadie Theriault.
Nordic Men
Skijor 1-Dog: Dillon Gast and Jake Robinson.
The events will take place on
the site of the business enterprise Villégiature et Pourvoirie Daaquam along the
Daaquam River located in the village St-Just-de-Bretenières, in the tourist
region of Chaudière-Appalaches, which is about a two-hour drive southeast from
Quebec City. Trails used for the competitions pass through the Appalachian
Regional Park. This is an area of enchanted landscape, with large spaces of
traditional North American tundra relief, including iced lakes and rivers and
snowy trees in the Boreal forest.
Over 200 teams from five
continents are expected to be competing, and Mushing USA wishes its elite
representatives “good mushing” on this prestigious occasion. Max Vidal, heading
up the Daaquam Organizing Committee, is excited about the momentous event and is
planning a full schedule of activities, commencing with the Opening Ceremonies
on Friday afternoon, January 16. More information can be found on the Daaquam
website at
www.daaquam2009.com/english/menu.html.
USFSS ANNOUNCES
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFICATION PROCESS
National Governing Body will use Regional
Qualifying Races to select participants for 2009 IFSS Nordic and Sprint World
Championships
January 9, 2008 –
Mushing USA, the National Governing Body for sled dog sports in the United
States will use Regional Qualifying races to select participants to represent
the USA in the 2009 IFSS Sprint and Nordic World Championships slated to be held
in North America.
The Mushing USA Board of
Directors unanimously approved a proposal to use 4 regional qualifying races to
select participants to represent the US at the 2009 IFSS World Championships.
The proposal divided the United States into 4 geographic regions; the East,
Central, including Michigan, the West, including Colorado, and Alaska. Existing
races in each region were approached about acting as the regional qualifier.
Races were chosen based on performance history, likeliness to be contested and
competitive nature of the race.
The races will contest 4, 6, 8
dog and Unlimited (Open) Sprint as well as men’s and women’s 1 and 2-dog
Skijoring. If a region does not contest a class, Mushing USA will not
select a representative from that region. Winners of each qualifying race will
be eligible for selection to the 2009 Mushing USA Team. Because IFSS
rules allow each national federation to enter only 3 people per class,
Mushing USA will select only 3 of the 4 regional winners. Final selections
will include the 3 winners beating the greatest number of teams in the
qualifying races. However, Mushing USA is currently in negotiations to allow
all four regional winners to compete.
In instances where a first
place musher declines their berth the 2nd place participant becomes
eligible for selection. 2nd place mushers may also become eligible
if a winning musher has already won another regional qualifying race. Athletes
must compete in the World Championships in the class they qualified for.
Competitors do not have to compete in the region in which they reside.
Mushers looking to compete at
the World Championships in 2009 should plan to attend one of the following
Mushing USA Regional Qualifiers:
In
the East, Jackman, Maine, will be hosting the Regionals March 7-9, 2008. Classes
approved are the Sprint Unlimited (Open), 8, 6 and 4-dog Sprint and men’s and
women’s 1 and 2-dog Skijoring.
In the Central region,
Frazee’s Third Crossing Rendezvous will be one of the hosts. Running on
January 25-26, 2008, it will have Regional Qualifying events in Sprint Unlimited
(Open) class, 8, and 4-dog Sprint. Land O’ Lakes (Wisconsin) will host
the 6-dog Sprint class for the Central region on February 2-3, 2008. The men’s
and women’s 1 and 2-dog Skijoring events will be contested by the Snowflake
Skijoring Classic on March 1-2, 2008, in Duluth, Minnesota.
Granby, Colorado, will play
host to the West Regional Qualifier on February 16-17, 2009 at its 29th
Annual Grand County Sled Dog Classic.
Regional events will be the 8, 6, and 4-dog Sprint as well as men’s and women’s
1 and 2-dog Skijoring. There will be no Unlimited (Open) event in the West.
Alaska’s North American
Championships have been designated to host the MUSA Regional Qualifiers for
Alaska. The Limited North American, with the 8, 6, and 4-dog Sprint and
the men’s and women’s 1 and 2-dog Skijoring classes will take place on March
7-9, 2008, in Fairbanks. The (Unlimited) Open North American will be held
on March 21-23, 2008, in Fairbanks.
Three
venues have submitted bids to host the 2009 IFSS World Championships: Anchorage,
Alaska, Daquaam, Quebec, and Cedaredge, Colorado. IFSS will be making its
decision soon between these three cities.
For athletes unable to compete
at one of the regional races or who fail to win, IFSS also awards berths to the
top three World Cup point earners in each region in each class. The United
States is one IFSS region. Points are based on the competitors 6 best World Cup
accredited heats. These berths do not count against the national federations
allotment and will have no bearing on the Mushing USA Regional Qualifiers.
For more information contact
Sara Vanderwood at
pulka4u@yahoo.com or Jason Sperry at
sperryjg@yahoo.com.
USFSS Holds
Organizing Congress
July 17, 200 – Mushing USA, the national governing
body of sled dog sports in the US, held its organizing congress in Marquette,
Michigan, July 14, 2007. Among business accomplished was the approval of the
bylaws, election of officers and board of directors, creation of standing
committees, and the establishment of goals for the next year.
Elected as officers were Sara Vanderwood (Maine) as
president, Mike Hutchens (Michigan) as vice-president, Debbie Serbousek
(Wisconsin) as secretary, and Sally O’Sullivan Bair (Minnesota) as treasurer.
Bud Rice (Alaska) was elected as past president. Sara Vanderwood continues in
her appointment as the USA representative to the IFSS (International Federation
of Sleddog Sports) council. These five comprise the MUSA Executive Committee of
the Board of Directors.
Elected to the MUSA Board of Directors as Active Athlete
Directors were Dennis Marksteiner (Wisconsin), Jason Sperry (New York), and Paul
Therriault (Maine). Elected as At-Large Directors were Sally J. Dawson (Ohio),
Lloyd Gilbertson (Michigan), Mike Marsch (Wisconsin), and Hilary Schwafel
(Alaska). Because of the staggered terms for directors, three board positions
will not be filled until the next MUSA Congress in 2009.
Four standing committees were approved. They are:
Development (Sally Bair, chair), Legal Affairs (Mike Marsch, chair),
Recreational Program (Dennis Marksteiner, chair), and Competition Programs (Mike
Hutchens, chair). Each committee chair discussed possible goals for the upcoming
year. Among the goals presented were developing kits for sponsorship and
legislative action, setting selection criteria for USA representation to the
IFSS World Championships, and establishing a program for recreational mushers
based on accomplishment and participation rather than solely on competition
performance. Discussion also ensued regarding designing a package for bidding
for major race sites/hosts, such as a national or regional championship.
Lloyd Gilbertson was the keynote speaker for Saturday
evening’s dinner. He presented an anecdotal history of his mushing career, which
has spanned over 40 years. He ended his commentary with his vision for the
future of the sport.
Mushing USA, formerly known as the United States Sled Dog
Sports Federation, traces its roots to 1988. It was reformed in 2001 under its
new name and incorporated in the state of Alaska in 2003 as Mushing USA. MUSA is
a non-profit (501 C3).
Questions may be emailed to MUSA Secretary, Debbie
Serbousek (windigo@cheqnet.net).
USFSS To Hold
Organizing Congress
February 15, 2007 – Mushing USA, the national
governing body of sled dog sports in the US, will hold its organizing congress
in Marquette, Michigan, the weekend of July 14-15, 2007. This exciting event
will take place at Marquette Mountain Chalet, and sessions will convene on
Saturday morning at 10:00 AM.
The main agenda items will be development and approval of
bylaws, the election of officers and board members, appointment of committees
and committee chairs, and development of the first year’s goals. This is a
pretty hefty menu, but Mike Hutchens, interim MUSA Vice President, is confident
that all can be accomplished: “We want input from everyone and hope that even if
some people cannot attend, they can participate by giving their feedback before
the congress convenes. This is a really exciting time for the US to have a
national governing body developed from the grass roots level. I also think it is
important that mushers understand that MUSA is not limited in scope to Olympic
issues. We are open to addressing issues and concerns of the US mushing public
as a whole. MUSA can be an important voice in matters concerning animal rights
groups, rules development, officials' training and certification.”
The weekend will include a Saturday evening banquet with
keynote speaker Lloyd Gilbertson, whose trophies and distance race conquests are
legendary. He is the 2006 winner of the prestigious Yellowknife Sled Dog Derby.
More recently, Wendy Davis, driving a team from Lloyd’s kennel, swept the
competition at the 2007 Wyoming Stage Stop Race.
To enable prior input into the 2007 organizing congress,
MUSA anticipates having an established agenda. “Working papers,” which will
include all proposals and other information, will be sent out via email or be
available on the MUSA website before the congress for anyone interested in
participating either in person or via another means. Anyone can give feedback on
these proposals or submit proposals themselves.
In order to attend in person, one must be a member of
Mushing USA or a representative from a club that is a MUSA member. A membership
application is online at
www.mushingusa.com.
Marquette Mountain Chalet will provide meals at a nominal
cost, which will be included in the registration fee, but attendees will be
expected to provide their own lodging at other venues in Marquette. Registration
materials and the working papers will be available online at
www.mushingusa.com.
Mushing USA, formerly known as the United States Sled Dog
Sports Federation, traces its roots to 1988. It was reformed in 2001 under its
new name and incorporated in the state of Alaska in 2003 as Mushing USA.
Non-profit (501 C3) status has been filed for and is pending. The mission of
Mushing USA is to promote, support, coordinate, and develop mushing activities
in the United States, to promote and encourage the welfare of the sled dog
athlete and to foster appreciation for the traditions and history of the sport.
As the national governing body of sled dog sports in the United States, Mushing
USA is further committed to the ideals and guidelines of the US Olympic
Committee. It is the USA representative to the International Federation of
Sleddog Sports (IFSS) and is the selection body for sending US teams to compete
in IFSS World Championships.
Questions may be emailed to Sally O’Sullivan Bair (sbair@cpinternet.com).
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