The Nugget Newspaper - News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon

Dog sled teams and top-rated mushers will converge on Sisters for the Atta Boy 300 IFSS World Sled Dog Championships set for January 5-14, 2005.

Atta Boy has sponsored races in Central Oregon for several years. Landing a world championship race is a significant coup.

Jerry Scdoris, Race Director of the Atta Boy 300 Oregon World Cup Sled Dog Race for Vision, said, "We are thrilled that the IFSS has chosen Central Oregon as the site for the 2005 World Championships.

"This is the Super Bowl of sled dog racing," he said. "We are committed to growing the sport, and this event will bring the highest level of sled dog competitors to our state."

Over 100 of the top sled dog racers from around the world are expected to compete in two mid-distance classes. The International Federation of Sled Dog Sports (IFSS) is the world's governing body for the sport of sled dog racing. The IFSS World Championships in mid-distance and sprint divisions are held every two years. The 2003 World Championships were held in Bernau, Germany.

The six-dog mid-distance championship, covering 50-60 miles, will take place over two days at Mt. Bachelor, January 7-8. The 12-dog, or unlimited, class will cover approximately 300 miles beginning on January 9 with stages in Bend, Sisters, Prineville and La Pine before ending at Mt. Bachelor on Friday, January 14.

The 12-dog championship will take place over the same areas as the Atta Boy 300 Oregon World Cup Sled Dog Race for Vision that is held annually in Central Oregon.

The Atta Boy 300 has a reputation as one of the top sled dog races in the world for its professional organization, spectacular trails, challenging terrain (over 55,000-feet elevation gain/loss) and fierce competition, consistently drawing the top mushers in the sport.

The world championships will feature the top three finishers in world cup competition from each of eight regions and 25 National Federations. Countries represented include: Austria, Belgium, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United States and others.

Oregon's successful bid to host sled dog racing's world championships was developed by the Oregon Sports Authority in 2002.

"The IFSS World Championships will bring competitor teams and spectators from across the globe to spend time and money in Central Oregon," said Drew Mahalic, CEO of OSA. "We are pleased to fulfill our mission of procuring world-class sporting events like the IFSS World Championships for the state of Oregon. Events like this play a vital role in economic development for our state."

For more information contact: Cheryl Rhea, Race Coordinator, Atta Boy 300 Oregon World Cup Sled Dog Race for Vision, 541-350-3049, [email protected]