Montana Race to the Sky

The Race to the Sky is a long-distance sled dog race held annually in Montana. There are several divisions offered at different distances. The longest race was originally a 500-mile (800 km) race but is currently 350 miles (560 km). It is a qualifying race for the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race and is sometimes called "The Iditarod of the Lower 48."[1]

Sled dogs at the 2010 Race to the Sky

History

The race was first held in 1986 and was a 500 mile competition called the Governor's Cup Sled Dog Race. From the outset, it was a qualifying race for the Iditarod. In 1989, the race organizers incorporated as Montana Sled Dog, LLC, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.[2] That year, the race was temporarily renamed the Montana Centennial Sled Dog Race, honoring the centennial of Montana statehood.[1] After that, it was called the Race to the Sky and other races with shorter distances were added to the program.[2] The 500 mile format was the longest United States sled dog race outside of Alaska.[3] A 250-mile (400 km) race was added in 1991, raised to 300 miles from 1993 to 1996.[4] In 1997, the 500-mile race became a 350-mile race.[1] The shorter race became 200 miles (320 km) for a time,[4] and then a 100-mile (160 km) race for adult competitors and a 100-mile race for youth competitors were offered.[5]

The race commemorates the World War II sled dog training camp that operated about 15 miles west of Helena, Montana, the Camp Rimini War Dog Reception and Training Center. The facility trained as many as 800 sled dogs as war dogs for a potential invasion of Norway, a plan that ultimately did not materialize. Instead, the sled dogs were assigned to search and rescue missions in Greenland, Canada and Alaska. Pack dogs were also trained at the facility and about 125 soldiers were taught mushing skills to become drivers.[2]

Structure and route

The first leg of the 300-mile race begins with an official start at the site of former Camp Rimini, near Rimini, Montana and ends near Exit 138 of Interstate 15 at Elk Park near Butte, Montana.[6][7] The following day, the mushers and dogs are transported to Lincoln, Montana and the race restarts at that location. The 100-mile race also begins in Lincoln and finishes at Seeley Lake, Montana.[7] The 300-mile race competitors continue past Seeley Lake to a turn-around point at Owl Creek, where they return to Seeley Lake and then to Lincoln to finish.[8]

There are a number of checkpoints along the way where the dog teams stop for examination and spectators can view the progress of the race.[9] The specialized veterinary care for the competition dogs is provided by veterinarians who are part of the International Sled Dog Veterinary Medical Association. The 2014 race raised funds to support the United States War Dog Association[10]

Participants in the Race to the Sky qualify to compete in the Iditarod.[1]

Winners

Race to the Sky winners of 300, 350 or 500 mile race. Hometown and location information given for the year of their win.

Year Musher Distance Hometown Notes Time Cite
1986 Linwood Fiedler 500 miles (800 km) [1]
1987 Mark Nordman 500 miles (800 km) [1]
1988 Linwood Fiedler 500 miles (800 km) [1]
1989 Greg Swingley (1) 500 miles (800 km) Doug Swingley's brother [3]
1990 Dean Osmar 500 miles (800 km) [1]
1991 Doug Swingley 500 miles (800 km) Lincoln, Montana Four-time Iditarod winner: 1995, 1999, 2000 and 2001.[11]
1992 Greg Swingley (2) 500 miles (800 km) [4]
1993 Robin Jacobson 500 miles (800 km) [1]
1994 Jesse Royer 500 miles (800 km) Age 17 at time of win, youngest winner [12]
1995 Maria Hayashida 500 miles (800 km) [4]
1996 Cliff Roberson (1) 500 miles (800 km) [4]
1997 Cliff Roberson (2) 350 miles (560 km) [4]
1998 Christian Clarc 350 miles (560 km) [4]
1999 Jean LaCroix 350 miles (560 km) [4]
2000 Butch Parr 350 miles (560 km) [4]
2001 Sarah Spinola 350 miles (560 km) [4]
2002 Harmony Kanavle 350 miles (560 km) [4]
2003 Jason Barron 350 miles (560 km) [1]
2004 John Barron 350 miles (560 km) [1]
2005 Cancelled due to lack of snow and icy conditions [1][4]
2006 John Barron (2) 350 miles (560 km) [1]
2007 Mark Stamm 350 miles (560 km) [4]
2008 Tom Thurston 350 miles (560 km) [4]
2009 Mark Stamm (2) 350 miles (560 km) [4]
2010 Rick Larson 350 miles (560 km) [9]
2011 Curt Perano 350 miles (560 km) Finished with 11 dogs [13]
2012 Warren Palfrey 350 miles (560 km) Quesnel, BC, Canada Finished with 12 dogs [5]
2013 Alea Robinson 350 miles (560 km) Age 17 at time of win, second youngest winner 49:37:00 [14]
2014 Jenny Greger 350 miles (560 km) Bozeman, MT 18-year-old winner, finished with 9 dogs [15]
2015 Jesse Royer (2) 300 miles (480 km) [16]
2016 Jesse Royer (3) 300 miles (480 km) First three time winner [17]
gollark: How ditherous! I quite like it.
gollark: You can tell it isn't from the Moire patterns.
gollark: https://twitter.com/yourcompanionAI/status/1419300158471393280/
gollark: https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E7Jd99GXIAEH-bR?format=jpg&name=medium
gollark: Dale WILL somehow become vectorized.

See also

References
  1. "The Race to the Sky is happening this month". Xtradog.com. Retrieved 2014-02-23.
  2. "Race History | Race to the Sky – Montana's Premier Sled Dog Races". Racetothesky.org. 2013-10-17. Retrieved 2014-02-23.
  3. Lloyd, Barbara (1992-02-09). "A Race to the Big Sky, Complete With Sled Dogs - New York Times". Montana: Nytimes.com. Retrieved 2014-02-23.
  4. Our Dogs Publishing. "Race to the Sky 350 Mile Sled Dog Race". Ourdogs.co.uk. Retrieved 2014-02-24.
  5. "The 2012 Race To The Sky, Montana". Xtradog.com. Retrieved 2014-02-23.
  6. MDT Web Administrators, 10/15/2013 (2013-10-15). "Montana State Highway Map 2013-2014". Mdt.mt.gov. Retrieved 2014-02-23.
  7. "Race Schedule | Race to the Sky – Montana's Premier Sled Dog Races". Racetothesky.org. 2013-10-17. Retrieved 2014-02-23.
  8. "Race Route/Map | Race to the Sky – Montana's Premier Sled Dog Races". Racetothesky.org. 2013-10-17. Retrieved 2014-02-23.
  9. Madison, Erin (2013-02-02). "Winter Adventures: Race to the Sky". Great Falls Tribune. Retrieved 2014-02-24.
  10. "Race To The Sky celebrates, honors "war dogs" | KPAX.com | Missoula, Montana". KPAX.com. Archived from the original on 2014-03-04. Retrieved 2014-02-23.
  11. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2010-11-09. Retrieved 2011-08-04.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  12. "Teenage musher from Alaska wins Montana's Race to the Sky". Missoulian.com. 2013-02-12. Retrieved 2014-02-23.
  13. "2011 Race to the Sky has been won". Xtradog.com. Retrieved 2014-02-24.
  14. "Sled Dog Central 2013: Race to the Sky Results". Sled Dog Central. Retrieved 2014-02-24.
  15. Briggeman, Kim (2014-02-19). "Teen conquers heavy snowstorm, wins Race to the Sky". Helenair.com. Retrieved 2014-02-23.
  16. BRIGGEMAN, KIM. "Darby's Royer wins Race to the Sky for record 3rd time". missoulian.com. Retrieved 2016-03-27.
  17. "Race to the Sky – Montana's Premier Sled Dog Races". racetothesky.org. Retrieved 2016-03-26.
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