Latest News

TO: All media FROM: Pam Beckstrom DATE: February 16, 2010, 5:00 p.m. RELEASE: Immediately Four more mushers have crossed the finish line for Race to the Sky 350 mile race. Rick Larson finished at 1:03 with 12 dogs, Jarle Halsnes finished at 1:45 today, Laura Daugereau finished at 2:13, Chris Adkins finished at 3:04 with 12 dogs, Ryne Olson finished this afternoon at 3:22 p.m. Also to finish was Cindy Gallea at 4:10 p.m. with 12 dogs and Lachlan Clarke to finish at 4:20 p.m. with 10 dogs. On the way to the finish line next will be Steve Madsen, who left Seeley ...

Sled Dog Art

Exclusive Race to the Sky Sled Dog Art Limited Edition Prints RACE TO THE SKY ART COLLECTION Race to the Sky produces for sale an annual, signed, limited edition print of an original work of art showcasing the visually stunning aspects of sled dog racing. Presented here is a collection of the Race's art prints over the years. Many of the featured artists live and work in Montana, and all have contributed in one way or another to Race to the Sky. If you like their work we encourage you to contact them. This year's print is $25, and some from past years ...

2004 Race Photos

Mushers

Montana's Race to the Sky Sled Dog Races 2010 List of Entries 25th Anniversary Celebration Entries February 12, 2010 350 mile - Gary Rawson, Gary is a 52 year old manufacturer’s representative for semiconductor and scientific markets from Portland, Oregon. His kennel name is Red Oak Kennel and he has been mushing for two years. He got started visiting Kennels in Alaska, handling at the Iditarod, and then handling for several races in the lower 48. He has raced the Cascade Quest and will be running Alaskan huskies. In the lead will be Cloud, Oak, Popeye, and Soda. His personal sponsors include: Bob Sullivan, Brian Dunn, Dan & Joyce Gover, Daniel and Rachel ...

Media Gallery

Race to the Sky Media Gallery Browse our collection of images, photos, art work, and videos, of the Race to the Sky Long Distance Sled Dog Races. [album id=1 template=extend] Copyright 2002-2009 - Montana Sled Dog Inc. - All Rights Reserved Images may not be reproduced in any form.

Race Updates

2010 Race to the Sky Update - Saturday February 13th Rimini to Elk Park Results Jarle Halsnes 5:01 12 dogs Laura Daugereau 5:08 12 dogs Rick Larson 5:16 12 dogs Cindy Gallea 5:17 12 dogs Lachlan Clarke ...

Race Rules

Race Rules Montana Sled Dog, Inc., P.O. Box 76, Olney, MT 59927 406-881-DOGS, info@racetothesky.org 25th RACE TO THE SKY SLED DOG RACE February 12-17, 2010 OFFICIAL RULES AND INTERPRETATION SECTION I - ENTRY, PRE-RACE AND EQUIPMENT A. ENTRY FEE 1. The entry fee for the 350 mile race is: If entered before 10/15/09 $350.00 If entered before 1/15/10 $500.00 If entered before 11/15/09 $400.00 If entered before 2/1/10 $550.00 If entered before 12/15/09 $450.00 Final late entry 2/10/10 $650.00 2. Entry fee for the 100-mile Junior Race is: $100.00 No telephone entries will be accepted. Mushers requesting to enter as a late registrant must call (406) 881-DOGS prior to February 10, 2010 ...

Events

Friday, January 29 6:00-midnight Microbrew Review and Cool Dog Ball, Civic Center, Helena Friday, February 12 (All Friday events take place in Helena) 10:00-noon School visits 10:00-4:00 p.m. Mushing Art Show, Capitol Rotunda noon-3:00 p.m. Vet Check, Front circle of Capitol Building 6:00-9:00 p.m. Musher Dinner, Drawing for Places, Musher Auction for Rides & Dance, Elks Club (Purchase a ride for Lincoln Restart on Sunday) Saturday, February 13, Camp Rimini and Butte 10:00 a.m. Official Start at Camp Rimini for 350 Mile Race, near Helena 3:00-4:00 p.m. Junior Vet Check, corner of Park & Dakota, Uptown Butte 4:00 -10:00 p.m. Arrival of teams at Woodville Exit (near Butte) ...

2006 Race Photos

2008 Race Photos

Press Releases

Race Info

Race to the Sky Sled Dog Race Information What and Who We Are Montana’s premier winter sporting event is the Race to the Sky. Celebrating our twenty-fifth year, we are recognized as one of the most challenging and beautiful sled dog races in the world. It is an unusual test of physical power, mental toughness, teamwork, and the special bond between man and animal. Working together, they negotiate the trail through Montana’s scenic Rocky Mountains. Montana Sled Dog, Inc. (the nonprofit parent corporation of Race to the Sky) is a private, non-profit 501(c)3 corporation managed by a volunteer board of directors. Donations ...

Mushers Sign-up

Mushers Signup Form 2010 Race to the Sky Entry Form Musher Name______________________________Address______________________________ Day Phone & Area Code___________________ Night Phone____________________________ E-mail Address ________________________Handlers’ Names __________________________ Entry Fees and Deadlines: 1. The entry fee for the 350 mile race is: If postmarked before 10/15/09 $350.00 If postmarked before 1/15/10 $500.00 If postmarked before 11/15/09 $400.00 If postmarked before 2/1/10 $550.00 If postmarked before 12/15/09 $450.00 Final late entry 2/10/10 $650.00 2.The entry fee for the 100 mile junior race is: $100.00 DEADLINE for regular entries and withdrawal for half entry fee is January 24, 2010. Late entries will be accepted until February 10 (10:00 a.m. MST), provided the musher pre-registers by calling (406) ...

Race Videos

2009 Race to the Sky Videos Click Here for High Resolution Version

2009 Race Photos

2007 Race Photos

Become a Race Sponsor

Become a Race Sponsor Becoming a Race to the Sky Sponsor is a win-win relationship for any business. We have put together multiple marketing packages that will serve the dual purpose of promoting Your Business to the general public AND helping us with putting Race to the Sky -Long Distance Sled Dog Race, A Montana Tradition on. We are putting together a series of Public Service Announcements to air on both radio and TV from now until the race in February 2010. We have sponsorships available for these high visibility PSA at a very low cost per thousand ...

Race Routes

Race Routes The Race to the Sky continues to grow in its reputation as a competitive event dedicated to challenging both mushers and their teams. The Race is a challenge unequaled in the sport because it is the most mountainous trail offered in the sport of distance mushing. The trail borders three nationally-designated wilderness areas and climbs to 6,000 feet. There is nothing like being behind a dog team on a moonlit night, shooting stars racing by, and the only sound within range is your own.

Race Elevations

Race Elevations Race to the Sky sled dog race is one of the most challenging long distance race in North America. With a terrain that crosses the continental divide heading south out of Camp Remini, to the 6000 ft elevations of Huckleberry Pass and Richmond ridge - Race to the Sky provides breath taking beauty as well as challenging terrain.

Buy a Mile

Buy a Mile and Support the Race SPECIAL - For Every 2 miles $20 you purchase We will send you a $10 Perkins Restaurant Gift Certificate Redeemable in Missoula, Butte, Bozeman, and Hamilton For only a measly ten dollars - you can make a direct impact on this years race. Purchase one (or several) of the 500 miles available for our 25th Year Celebration of Sled Dog Racing here in the Great State of Montana. Simply Click on the Support button below and help us make this the best race ever. Once you have paid with our secure checkout - you can select the ...

Contact

If you have questions, would like information, or wish to volunteer, please use the form below or e-mail us at info (at) racetothesky.org or give us a call at (406) 881-3647, fax us at (406) 881-3648. Our address is: Montana Sled Dog, Inc., P.O. Box 76, Olney, MT 59927 Contact Form

Race History

Race History Montana Sled Dog, Inc. is a 501(c)3 non-profit corporation through the I.R.S. and the State of Montana. We are also celebrating our 25th anniversary in February. They were organized first as Montana’s Governor’s Cup Sled Dog Race in 1986 and they ran the first 500 mile race in February of that year. In 1989, they became Montana Sled Dog, Inc. Each February since then, MSDI has been hosting this distance race. It has gone through several distance changes, including adding a 250 mile race, a 300 mile race and changing the 500 mile race to a 350 ...

Vet Program

Race to the Sky 2010 Veterinarians Dr. Steve Bowen, DVM (Head Vet) Dr. Bowen is a 1971 graduate of the University of Georgia, College of Veterinary Medicine and was named as its Distinguished Alumnus in 2006. He practices companion animal medicine in El Centro, California. Though living in the desert below sea level Dr. Bowen has a passion for Sled Dog medicine. He has served as a trail vet for the Iditarod (3 times) and as Head Vet for the Siskiyou 200. Dr. Bowen enjoys camping, fishing and hunting. He has been a very active volunteer for over 40 years at all ...

Mushing Symposium

Race to the Sky Sled Dog Racing Symposium September 12-13, 2009 Red Lion Colonial Inn Helena, Montana If You Race Sled Dogs - You Cannot Afford to Miss this Event! Whether you are a beginner looking to run your first long distance race, or you are a old hat with dozens of races under your belt - you need to recognize the importance of learning from others. There is no doubt, that most mushers are independent minded ...

Education

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Race to the Sky School Classroom Project"][/caption] Educational Opportunities Understanding working dogs and their relationships with their owners can provide a powerful insight into sled dogs. We at Race to the Sky embrace the opportunity to show civic groups as well as schools the humane and very special care these dog athletes receive. Contact us if you would like more information regarding our educational opportunities. Educational Book Available A classroom curriculum on teamwork for schools is available. This educational book is available for $10 to anyone wishing to teach teamwork and learn more about Race to the Sky ...

Latest News Archives

Race to the Sky
Sled Dog Racing Symposium
September 12-13, 2009
Red Lion Colonial Inn
Helena, Montana

If You Race Sled Dogs – You Cannot Afford to Miss this Event!

Whether you are a beginner looking to run your first long distance race, or you are a old hat with dozens of races under your belt – you need to recognize the importance of learning from others. There is no doubt, that most mushers are independent minded souls who dance to their own tune. But when it comes to winning races or even successfully finishing races, it behooves us all to listen to the wisdom of experience.

This year we have put together a lineup of certainly some of the finest mushers in the sled dog racing world. The topics covered will guarantee to give you ideas and tips that you can directly translate into action items with your own kennel and racing plans. If you want to step your sled dog racing program up to the next level – this is one event you will not want to miss!

Saturday’s Lineup

Jason Barron – Lincoln, Montana
Overwhelming Evidence! – YOU are the Key
If what you desire is going to happen – then it is up to you to do
everything in your power to achieve that desire – it is ALL about
Personal Responsibility. The cop-out is to blame circumstances and others.
If it is going to be – it is up to me.

Rick Larsen – Sand Coulee, Montana
Ten Steps to Managing Efficient Checkpoints – Chop Hours
Off Your Race Times!!!
Running a sled dog race is a balance of energy and time – when you can maximize the output of your energies expended – you can reduce the time it takes. Your checkpoint protocol should be as effectively managed as when you are running down the trail.

Hugh Neff – Skagway, Alaska
More Energy – More Power – Effective Sled Dog Training
Every race is won or lost by the training and preparation you and your team does
before you even get to the starting chute – Learn from one of the best in the world what to do and just as importantly what not to do.

Lunch and Trade Show

Race to the Sky
25 Years of Sled Dog Racing
This Years Race Format and Introduction of
Our New Junior Race to the Sky Sled Dog Race

Jason Barron – Lincoln, Montana
Astonishing Training System that Convinces Huskies to Mind!!!
Listen how Jason explains his effective technique of “relationship training”
that is an integral part of his team’s success – When you are in tune
with your dogs – they will work with you and many times exceed what you
even think they are a capable of.

Kathryn Maslanka CBP – Missoula, Montana
Innovative Techniques for Dog Repair
Understanding the power of a body’s ability to heal itself can help
you improve your skills in helping and rehabilitating injured dogs.
Learn specific techniques that can help many common dog injuries.

Hugh Neff – Skagway, Alaska
Amazing Formula for Winning Sled Dog Races
Mushers who win regularly win races or finish in the top spots have
very specific physical and mental techniques to gain a competitive edge – Discover
what you need to do to become one of this elite group of mushers.

Dinner – Slide Show – Presentation

Sunday Featured Speakers

Jack Beckstrom – Olney, Montana
It all Starts with What you Put in the Bowl – Proper Nutrition
Understanding the metabolic needs of racing dogs and the best practices and methods of providing those needs is critical to your dogs health and performance. If any part of this nutritional balance gets out of whack – you need to be able to recognize the symptoms and what you need to do to correct it.

Rick Larsen – Sand Coulee, Montana
How to Feed and Care for 40+ Dogs and
Still Get to Bed Before Midnight – Kennel Management
Jobs – Training – Dog Chores – Maintenance – Family – Sleep???
We can live our lives in a hectic/rushed way – or in a systemized and
more relaxed way – How do you live your life?

Lunch and Trade Show

Jason Barron – Lincoln, Montana
Secrets of Competitive Sled Dog Racing
Having lived his entire life surrounded by the sled dog community, Jason
has been able to glean what puts teams across the finish line first. Understanding
this winning mental attitude and learning to apply it daily in your own life,
can have a major impact on your team’s success.

Panel Discussion
Hugh Neff – Jason Barron – Rick Larsen – Jack Beckstrom – Chris Adkins

We All go Home Winners

We all go home – full of great information and tips that we can implement immediately into our training systems. Better training and healthier dogs can help us all have a greater mushing season. Think Snow!!!

Hugh Neff comes to us from Skagway Alaska where in the past 10 years Hugh and his team have competed in 6 Iditarods and 9 Yukon Quest races. Hugh is one of a handful of mushers that have completed the Yukon Quest and Iditarod in the same year – and he’s done it the last 5 years in a row! This past year Hugh competed in the GinGin 200, the Kusko 300, the Yukon Quest, Iditarod, and the Yukon Flats 300. That’s almost 3,000 miles of racing in 3 months!

This year the team came in 2nd in the Yukon Quest, missing the Champion spot by 4 minutes. The team broke the record by over 3 hours from the previous record holder Lance Mackey and Sabastian Schnell and Hugh have the only finish times under the ten day mark. However we are most proud that our dogs have the fastest Quest running time in history and would have won the race by almost two hours were it not for a 2 hour penalty assessed to Hugh only 40 miles from the finish. They followed up this great finish with a career best 15th place finish in the Iditarod.

Jason Barron of Lincoln, Montana – In 1993, at the age of twenty-one, Jason ran his first Iditarod, claiming Rookie of the Year and cementing his future as a pro dog musher. While handling for his father and younger brother Will at the 1995 Knik 200, Jason happened to meet a lovely young woman named Harmony Kanavle who was running her first professional race. They fell in love, and shortly thereafter, ran the Iditarod together, finishing with a snowy wedding under the burled arch in Nome.

In the spring of 2000, Jason and Harmony moved to the Rocky Mountains of Montana and started their own kennel, KanaBear Enterprises. During the past decade, they have won numerous middle distance races including back to back wins in both Montana’s Race to the Sky, and Minnesota’s John Beargrease Marathon. Jason has also been in the top 15 of the Iditarod three times claiming most improved musher with his 12th place finish in ‘04, and breaking the 9 day barrier with his 8th place finish in ‘06.

Rick Larsen of Sand Coulee, Montana is a equipment operator by day and dog musher at night. He and his wife, Sandy, operate Ricks Racing Rovers Kennel. He has raced the Iditarod, run the Race to the Sky 3 times since 1999 (finishing 2nd in 2006 and receiving the Best Cared for Team Award). He has won all but one race in the 200 milers of the Lower 48, including the Can-Am Crown, the UP 200, the Seeley Lake Race, and others.

Jack Beckstrom of Olney, Montana – During his racing career, Jack has run the Race to the Sky seven times, the Beargrease six times, along with other long distance races. He has been chairman of Race to the Sky, organizer for the Root Beer Classic, and together with Pam, they operate Adanac Sleds and Equipment., their mail order and .com dog sled and equipment company. Jack is very involved in the sport of sled dog racing and is frequently requested to be the Race Marshall of several long distance races.

Kathryn Maslanka of Missoula, Montana – From the time of her childhood, Kathryn has had a special relationship and bond with animals. Kathryn has a special talent for “seeing” the body and what is out of balance. As a Certified BodyTalk Practitioner, Kathryn daily helps individuals and animals restore their body’s ability to heal itself. BodyTalk is based upon the principle that our state of health is determined by the level of synchronicity of all energetic functions that constitute the bodymind. There are billions of synchronized activities that need to take place every second to keep the body in good health – at biochemical (physiological), emotional and mental levels. The body is a complex ecosystem involving a delicate balance between all of these interactions and everything needs to be synchronized into a cohesive whole. When any of these activities become unsynchronized, primarily through exposure to the physical and emotional stresses of day-to-day life and our environment, we begin to experience distress, disease and illness.

World Premier of Call of the Wild 3D
Took Place in Helena on June 10
By Pam Beckstrom

Christopher Lloyd and Kids - The World Premiere of Call of the Wild 3D

The movie Call of the Wild 3D premiered in Helena, Montana, on June 10th, at the Great Northern Town Center after filming in Montana and during two Race to the Skys, as well. Movie director Richard Gabai, actor Christopher Lloyd, and producers Nancy and John Draper, all from Los Angeles area and the west coast, attended the world premier screening of the film that took about two years in the making. Several schools were selected to view the movie as well as volunteers that assisted Gabai in making the movie.

Call of the Wild 3D was filmed during (and at) the 2007 and 2008 Race to the Sky 350 mile dog sled races. Camera crews went for a ride with two of the Race to the Sky mushers to get film footage and filmed in and near Lincoln, Helena, and Philipsburg, Montana.

The movie is a “kid-friendly” modernized version of Call of the Wild by Jack London. It is great family entertainment and showcases dogsledding in a good light. The house that Gabai filmed as actor Christopher Lloyd ’s house (from the inside) is owned by Montana Mountain Mushers and Race to the Sky volunteers Liz and Jerry Cain.

Several of Cain’s dogs are in the movie along with Lincoln residents, Diane Walker and Judy Johnson’s. Many Race to the Sky volunteers assisted with the movie in various ways, including: , snowmobile assistance, cooking, filming on property in and near Lincoln, using sled dogs, and whatever else the film crew needed. Jack, in the movie, is using an Adanac Sled, harnesses and some equipment. It is a heart-warming movie about a city girl spending time with her grandfather in Montana. Check the link below to see where it is playing near you. AND be ready for a down-home adventure, Montana-style.

Jack and I were honored to be at the premier and it was the first and only world movie premier in Montana let alone in Helena. It was fun, kid-oriented, and we left the movie knowing that Richard and his crew understood Montana, cold weather, and dogsledding much better. The movie is opening the weekend of June 13th in eight states (including Montana–Helena, Missoula, and Billings), Romania, with more movie theaters added to the list each week. Go see it, your friends are in it–it is truly a Montana film and you can catch a glimpse of the Race to the Sky trail in some scenes of the movie.

Go to: www.CALLOFTHEWILD3D.COM to find a movie theater near you and support good family entertainment.

Christopher Lloyd signing print of Call of the Wild 3D

Christopher Lloyd

Mark Stamm Wins 2009 Race to the Sky - Photo by Jim Bossardt

300 mile official finishers in order of finish:

#1 Mark Stamm, Riverside, Washington, finished at 11:32 Monday morning with 11 dogs
#2 Chris Adkins, Sand Coulee, Montana, finished at 1:35 Monday afternoon with 10 dogs
#3 Scott White, Woodinville, Washington, finished at 1:47 Monday afternoon with 8 dogs
#4 John Stewart, Lincoln, Montana, finished at 3:12 Monday afternoon with 11dogs
#5 Celeste Davis, Deer Lodge, Montana, finished at 10:54 Monday evening with 9 dogs

200 mile official finishers in order of finish:

1st Rick Larson of Sand Coulee, Montana, finishing at 12:11 Monday morning with 10 dogs
2nd Laura Daugereau of Sand Coulee, Montana, finishing at 1:00 Monday morning with 11 dogs
3rd Dee Ogden of Boise, Idaho, finishing at 3:35 Monday morning with 9 dogs
4th Scott Thompson of Trout Lake, Washington, finishing at 5:57 Monday morning with 10 dogs
5th Cindy Gallea of Seeley Lake, Montana, finishing at 9:02 Monday morning with 10 dogs
6th Stacy Rader of Seeley Lake, Montana, finishing at 9:03 Monday morning with 9 dogs
7th John Cathcart of Helena, Montana, finishing at 2:27 Monday afternoonwith 8 dogs

As the winner of the 300 mile Race to the Sky, Mark Stamm has already won two Pots of Gold for the fastest times into White Tail Checkpoint sponsored by First Community bank of Helena and the fastest time into Seeley Lake Checkpoint sponsored by American Federal Savings Bank of Helena and will receive an additional Pot of Gold for the first place finish sponsored by Bank of the Rockies of Helena, Montana. The Pot of Gold containers are filled with gold coins.

As the winner of the 200 mile Race to the Sky, Rick Larson will receive a Pot of Gold sponsored by R & R Pet Food, an Eagle Pet Food Distributor from Lewiston, Idaho. The Pot of Gold is filled with gold coins.

Mark Ibsen of Helena, Montana and Kurt Reich of Divide, Colorado withdrew from the race.

Celeste Davis of Deer Lodge, Montana, took the Red Lantern Award for the 2009 Race to the Sky finishing at Hi Country Snack Foods in Lincoln at 10:54 Monday evening with 9 dogs.

That concludes this year’s Race to the Sky. The public is invited to attend the Awards Ceremony at Lincoln Community Hall, Lincoln, Montana, at 6:00 p.m. Tuesday, February 17th.