Wednesday, November 29, 2017

GOAL: IFSS World Championships 2019 - Canicross

Last weekend was the 2017 IFSS Dryland World Championships in Kozle-Szamotuly, Poland. I have been increasingly interested in Dryland events after competing at the Spokane Dirt Rondy.
I have spent a lot of time looking at the Women's Canicross Elite results. There were 48 participants representing 22 nations (France, Slovakia, Norway, Spain, Poland, Mexico, Great Britain, Canada, Austria, Belarus, Italy, USA, Argentina, Czech Republic, Russia, Germany, Spain, Belgium, Sweden, Finland, Netherlands and Hungary).

The winners, Martina Stepankova from Czech Republic and her dog, ran a blazing total time (two day accumulative time) of 20 min 33 sec for 4.72 miles. (That is 4:21/mile pace!!!!!). The last competitor finished in 38:58 (8:15/mile pace). At this point in my training, I wouldn't be in the winners circle but I could definitely compete in middle of the pack!


The United States had a dismal number of participants. I would like to see more people from Team USA in 2019 and I would like to see us do better!

So I am announcing my goal! I intend on qualifying for the 2019 Dryland World Championships USA Team for Women's Elite Canicross.

I have already begun training with the help of my friend Ashley Palacio and her dog Jazzy. I'm testing out which dog will be my main canicross dog. Currently, it is between Flier, Buck and Buzz. I don't intend on making this decision now so these guys are my training pool of dogs for the time being. Unfortunately, Tank who was my phenomenal canicross dog at the Spokane Dirt Rondy will be almost 9 years old in 2019 and probably not the top choice.



I, of course, will continue to train and race the whole team in dryland and snow events but think we will be most competitive in the canicross division so have set my Worlds goal in that category. I'll keep everyone posted on ByDog Siberian racing, training, and life as well as the process towards Worlds in Canicross!!

Friday, November 10, 2017

The Cart

A week ago we raced a 4-dog team at the Spokane Dirty Rondy using a three wheeled, extremely light-weight cart.

Picture courtesy of Wendy Devent

Backing up about 9 months, a teacher in Missoula reached out to our mushing club looking to see if anyone would be able to do a classroom visit with their sled dogs. I volunteered and took my team up for demonstrations and petting. Following the demo, the teacher and her partner asked if I'd be interested in a dog cart they had. It had been hanging in their garage for a while, unused, and they'd like to see it pulled by some dogs. I said, I was interested and would be in touch.

Well time got away from me and before I knew it, it was time to start running dogs and I contacted the women, Cathy and Leila. One Sunday last month, we drove up to Missoula to pick it up. Much to my surprise, it was a SUPER nice, very light weight cart that looked to be made by Specialized or at least with parts from Specialized.

This was the cart we used at the race, which many of the mushers commented on how lightweight and fast it looked. And the cart my team pulled to a first place finish (still so proud of them).

Again, I want to thank Leila and Cathy for giving us the cart, which was so incredibly generous! You have no idea how happy it has made me and the dogs. This also opens up our training possibilities as we were confined to the same route from our house over and over again because of transport issues with the dogs and an ATV. Now we can venture to new trails in the spring and fall!!

Thank you!!!!

Tuesday, November 7, 2017

2017 Spokane Dirt Rondy

Man, it's been awhile since we posted on here. I won't waste your time with one of those "man, it's been awhile since we posted" posts, because we're back and we got some good stuff!

Last year, as she always does, Brandi volunteered to do some outreach about dog sledding at the local schools. This time it really paid off, because she was gifted a really nice cart! (she can tell you that story).

So we signed up for the Spokane Dirt Rondy!

Again, I'll get Brandi to tell you her side of the tail (including the wipeout), but for now - check out the video.