DPSAY Twister races continue exciting season

Nine skijorers and thirteen mushers braved the cold on Sunday to compete in the Northern Tales Aurora Twister Race, an 11-mile event.

Nine skijorers and thirteen mushers braved the cold on Sunday to compete in the Northern Tales Aurora Twister Race, an 11-mile event.

Stefan Wackerhagen lead the skijors with a time of 48:14, Claudia Wickert placed second with a time of 50:02, and Cynthia Corriveau placed third with a time of 51:33.

David Johnson kept up his winning ways and led the sled teams with a time of 42:10.

Marie Eli and Charles Villeneuve, both from Inuvik, placed second and third with times of 43:17 and 44:45.

“It’s the most people we’ve had out this season, so far,” said Fabian Schmitz, who organized the race.

“It was a little chilly, and a little windy and I think that kept some of the recreational people away, but other thAn that the trail conditions were very nice.”

Former Yukon Quest winner, Hans Gatt, hosted the race with his partner Susan Rogan in the Golden Horn area.

“Hans groomed a really nice trail,” said Schmitz.

“It was about eight feed wide and well kept throughout.”

Johnson has been pacing the sled teams all season, having won every race while also setting a record finish time at the 10-mile Carbon Hill Sled Dog Race earlier this month.

He attributes his success to the strength of his dog team.

“I’ve got some really nice, young dogs this season,” he said.

“And I’ve got some really nice lead dogs.”

Johnson said the season has benefited from the new schedule structure, which places the races in different locations each month.

“It’s been great for the mushers and great for the dogs” he said. “It keeps things interesting.”

Schmitz said there is a growing number of people competing in the races this season.

“I really like when we get new people out and we had a few this time around,” he said.

“It’s always nice to see the new faces.”

Johnson said the large turnout made the race exciting.

“It was a gas, it turned out really nice,” he said.

“It was a good race, we went about six miles and turned around and came back so there were lots and lots of head-on passes.”

There are tentative plans to hold the next event at the old dog track on the Alaska Highway, which used to be the main sprint racecourse from Whitehorse.

“I haven’t been out there in awhile so it should be really interesting,” said Johnson, who has also noticed an increase in first-time competitors.

“I’m surprised by the new mushers,” he said. “But it’s always nice to see.”

For more information on upcoming events and past race results, visit the Dog Powered Sports Association of the Yukon website (dpsay.wordpress.com).

Twister Results:

Skijoring (11 Miles):

1 Stefan Wackerhagen         48:14

2. Claudia Wickert                 50:02

3. Cynthia Corriveau           51:33

4. Barb Anderson           55:46

5. Susan Rogan                   56:12

6. Adam Robinson               57:36

7. Gaetan Pierrard               58:10

8. Sam Penner                 1:01:07

9. Amil Dupuis-Rossi         1:04:32

Sled (11 Miles):

1. David Johnson                 42:10

2. Marie Eli                       43:17

3. Charles Villeneuve           44:45

4. Petra Bachhuber               47:00

5. Armin Johnson               47:25

6. Tony Radford                 48:40

7. Meagan Grabowsky           53:01

7. Marine Gastard               53:01

9. Katherine Atmanspacher       59:38

10. Christel Bartczak         1:02:03

11. Christina Reeves         1:09:12

12. Rhonda Kotelko           1:10:16

13. Nadine Kafka-Kotelko 1:19:58

Kids (3 Miles):

1. Seth Carey                     15:22

Recreational (3 Miles):

1. Amil Dupuis-Rossi           17:58

2. Virginia Sarrazin             19:34