UPDATE: The Northern Heritage race slated for Feb. 22-23, 2003 at the
Northland Arboretum  in Brainerd, MN will be held whether there is snow or not.  If no snow, non-motorized training rigs will be used for the races.  We will have two rig races, a 2 dog – 2 mile race, and a 4 dog -- 4 mile race.  There  will be a 2-dog scooter/bike race in place of the skijor race.  An added event for the non-snow situation will be a cani-cross race.
Cani-cross is an event in which a person runs with one dog in harness connected by a skijor belt. The Cani-cross race is a mile in length.  The dog for this event does not have to be a typical “sled dog”, just a dog that loves to run and is in good physical shape.

Carts/rigs are needed, if no snow, for competitors that still wish to join in the fun but do not have a lightweight rig.  So if you have a rig/cart you are willing to loan or rent for these events please contact one of the organizers listed below.  We hope to stagger competitors so people can borrow rigs from others for this fun event.

The weight pull will be held on Saturday in the early afternoon after the sled/cart races.

On Sunday there will be a Sourdough Sponsor race for charity.  Local businesses will “rent” a team for the event.  The owner of the team will stay with the team at the starting line, while the driver (business person) is “sleeping” in a sleeping bag and with different “camping gear” at his “campsite” at the starting line.  Time will start at the starting sound (some obnoxious sound) and the driver will roll up their sleeping bag and pack their gear into the sled/cart bag.  The owner of the team must control the team until the driver is ready to leave for safety reasons.  A traveling trophy will be awarded to the fastest sponsor team.  If you are interested in “renting” a team of 3-4 dogs for this event please contact Helen Newman at newman@polarcomm.com or phone #: 701-345-8554.

Proceeds of the race/weight pull/Sourdough events go to the Heartland Animal Rescue Team (HART) Abby Fund and the Northland Arboretum.  So please come out and support the wonderful sport of dog mushing on Feb. 22- 23, 2003.

Contact people:  Pam Landers at 218-568-5016, pamlan@tds.net
Helen Newman  701-345-8554 newman@polarcomm.com
Leny Wendel  651-653-0032, leny_wendel@msn.com
Barb Gage: 952-758-3410  barbarag@winternet.com