newsminer.com

FAIRBANKS — The Alaska Skijoring and Pulk Association will hold its inaugural Dryland Race on Saturday at the Chena Lakes Flood Control Project.

The event will feature three classes — Canicross or run-joring, Bike-joring and Cart racing.

The Canicross division features 2-, 4- and 6-mile races. Runners can use either one or two dogs, but there are not separate classes for number of dogs used. All participants will mass start at 9 a.m.

Bike-jorers will be split into 3- and 6-mile classes. Either one or two dogs may be used with no differentiation by number of dogs. The race will start at 9:15 a.m. with the 6-mile racers going out first. Racers will start at 1-minute intervals and there won’t be a break between classes. The start order will be determined by random draw.

The Cart class will have two divisions — 3 miles for teams of up to four dogs and 6 miles for teams of up to eight dogs. Racing will begin at 9:30 am., or 1 minute after the last Bike-jorer hits the trail. The 6-mile racers will go out first at 1-minute intervals. The start order will be determined by random draw.

Helmets are required for all participants in the Bike-joring and Cart classes.

Entry fees for those who register by 5:30 p.m. Wednesday are $10 for ASPA members and $15 for all others. To register, send your name, distance and class, and the names of your dogs to Sara Elzey at skijorex2@hotmail.com.

Registration also will take place from 8-8:45 a.m. on Saturday, but the fees go up to $15 for ASPA members and $20 for others.

The start/finish area is on the Chena Lake flood plain on the east side of the dike near the ponds.

All classes will use the same trail. The trail is wide and flat, and participants should be prepared for lots of passing.

The course is an out-and-back on the same trail, and will be marked at one-mile intervals. Racers will race out to the halfway distance for their particular class and then turn around and race back.

Volunteers are still needed to make the race happen. A starter and two timers are needed, as well as a clean-up crew following the race. To volunteer, contact Andy Warwick at warwick@gci.net.

Symposium deadline

The early registration deadline for the 2008 Alaska Dog Mushers Association International Sled Dog Symposium is Friday.

The symposium is scheduled for Oct. 10-12 at the Alaska Centennial Center for the Arts at Pioneer Park.

Mailed registration must-be postmarked by Friday. Forms also can be faxed to 455-9663 from 7 a.m.-10 p.m.

The registration fee through Friday is $25 per day (Oct. 10 or 11) for ADMA members and $30 for all others. Registration for both days is $45 for ADMA members and $55 for all others.

The keynote presentation this year is “The mind of the Bird Dog” by John Lunseth, who has been working with bird dogs since 1962 and owns the 2007 National German Shorthaired Pointer Association Champion, Willows on the Spot.

Joe Henderson will share his experiences of more than 20 years of freighting in the Arctic. Mitch Seavey also will be talking about his winning race season.

During the symposium, there will be a best invention contest, and the Interior Freight Dog Association will hold a weight pull competition.

For more information contact symposium coordinator Ami Gjestson at nordskogen@alaska.com or 488-5621. Information also can be found at www.sleddog.org.

Swim meet

The Midnight Sun Swim Team won the first club swim meet of the year Saturday at Hamme Pool.

Midnight Sun swimmers won more events than the other two teams combined. Midnight Sun finished with 2,084 points, compared to 1,632 for the Stingray Swim Team and 955 for the North Pole Aquatic Club.

Luis Marquez led the boys team by winning all five of his events — the 100-yard individual medley, 50 butterfly, 50 backstroke, 50 freestyle and 200 freestyle.

The girls teams scored nearly 1,300 points. Noelle Graham led the way with five wins — 100 individual medley, 50 butterfly, 50 freestyle, 50 breaststroke and 500 freestyle. Girls on MSST won the 500 freestyle in every age group that it was contested.

Basketball clinic

The North Pole High School girls basketball coaching staff and players will be hosting a clinic for boys and girls in grades 3-8 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday at North Pole High School.

The 5-hour clinic will concentrate on fundamental basketball skills, especially ball-handling and proper shooting techniques.

The registration fee is $30 for 5 hours of instruction, practice and game situations. There will be contests and small group instruction.

Gatorade and water will be provided, but participants should bring their own sack lunch and tennis shoes.

For more information contact North Pole coach Rob McIntosh at 488-3761 (ext. 9117).