麻豆社区

Two former River Runner 120 champs showed they still have what it takes last weekend.

Skijorer Stefan Wackerhagen and musher Crispin Studer both won the race in 2011, and found their way back to the front of the pack again this year.

Fresh off completing the Yukon Quest, Studer topped all mushers with a time of 11 hours, 32 minutes.

Meanwhile, Wackerhagen finished the course 鈥� one of the longest skijor races in the world 鈥� in 12 hours, 26 minutes.

Studer also won the inaugural River Runner in 2010, while neither he nor Wackerhagen competed last year.

Fifteen sled dog teams and four skijorers took part in the 193-km (120-mile) race, which saw participants race from Shipyards Park in Whitehorse to Mendenhall Saturday, then back again Sunday.

Competitors were required to spend six hours laying over at the Mendenhall checkpoint.

Studer said he registered for the race during the Quest banquet in Fairbanks.

"I figured I needed something to run the dogs a bit faster than in the Quest,鈥� he explained. "It's a really nice race and I wanted to support them.鈥�

Studer's dog team is a quick one, often running a pace of 16 km/h.

"They enjoy more running faster,鈥� the Carcross musher said of his team. "They do the slower runs like at the Quest, but they don't wag their tails as much as they do if they go at 10, 11, 12 miles an hour.鈥�

Studer was happy to pocket $1,000 for the win.

"I haven't won a dog race in two years,鈥� he said. "It was really nice to win one again.鈥�

Martine LeLevier finished second in 11 hours, 50 minutes, while Quest veteran Ed Hopkins finished third in 11 hours, 56 minutes.

Hopkins won the veterinarian's choice award for excellence in dog care.

Hopkins' partner Michelle Phillips finished in ninth place.

Phillips is one of two Yukoners registered to run the Iditarod, which starts Saturday. Gerry Willomitzer will also compete.

Wackerhagen said running a long-distance event is a whole different game for a skijorer.

In a longer race, participants need to carry necessary camping and trail gear on a sled lashed between their dogs and themselves.

"It's a different challenge,鈥� he told the Star. "You have to watch all the things that a dog musher for a bigger team has to watch as well.鈥�

Wackerhagen admitted skiing that length behind a group of dogs is an exhausting experience.

"It's a lot of skiing,鈥� he said. "You don't really sleep in Mendenhall ... and coming back, you're really tired.鈥�

Despite finishing 41 minutes ahead of second finisher Cynthia Corriveau, Wackerhagen said it was tough to shake his competitors and win $410.

The Babe Southwick Memorial Dog Race also went Saturday during Rendezvous, and Mandy Pearson won yet another 10-km sprint race with a time of 22:24.

Duncan Smith won the skijor sprint in a time of 34:46.

鈥撯赌撯赌�

This Saturday, for the first time ever, the Dog Powered Sports Association of the Yukon will hold a Yukon Brewing Twister Race at Fox Lake.

Mandy Pearson and Armin Johnson will host the event, which will include a 10-mile skijor and sled dog race, a four-mile recreational pet race, and a four-mile loop for children.

Registration opens at 10 a.m., and the races will begin at 11.

The race will take place at Yukon Horsepacking Adventures. Head north on the Klondike Highway until you see signs pointing left at km 237. Once off the highway, the yard is located on the next right.

Next weekend, the Silver Sled race committee will host two races in Haines Junction.

On March 9, both the Chili Paw (20-mile race) and the Sportsman (seven miles) will get underway at the Bear Creek Lodge.

Both skijor and sled dog teams are invited. Visit www.thesilversled.com for more information.

Registration begins at 8:30.