Sprint mushers put their skills on display during the FirstMate Babe Southwick Memorial Race 2020 at the Yukon Dog Mushers Association’s trails in the Ibex Valley this weekend.

Before the race was known as the Babe Southwick, they were a three-day event held during Rendezvous. In 1965, Southwick competed on the first day, drawing bib #8 and finishing in the top five of the 15 mile race.

That night, she died of a heart attack. On day two, 10 mushers lined the started gate, each wearing a black armband. The number eight remains retired to this day.

The 2020 race had a $20,000 purse and drew sprint mushers from across Canada, as well as the United States.

Erick Laforce made his way to the Yukon from Quebec. On his travels, he stopped at other sprint races in Alberta, Manitoba and Northwest Territory, before coming to the territory.

He will be off to Alaska next to compete with his team.

For Laforce, it was his first time racing in the Yukon. The Babe Southwick brought other firsts for the musher.

“It was the first time for me to race in the bush,” said Laforce. “Normally, we race in a field or bottom of a road. Here, the scenic trail is really fun.”

On his first day of racing Saturday, Laforce came in third in the six-dog category and first in the 10-dog class. When he spoke to the Star, he was preparing for day two of the competition. He said he expected it to be faster.

“It’s going to be fast today (Sunday),” said Laforce. “Yesterday was soft because we received snow. I expect it to be faster.”

He said his dogs were performing excellently, and he attributed that to their training.

“The dogs are real athletes,” said Laforce. “I started training in August and being on a sled in November. They’ve got lots of miles on their legs and are ready to run fast.”

Laforce said he is trying to have his dogs peak for Anchorage and has been pleased with what they have given him so far, not only in the Yukon but the races beforehand.

“I won both races, six and 10 dogs in Alberta,” said Laforce. “I won the race in the Northwest Territory too so I hope I win this one too.

“It’s not an easy way but I like this style of life.”

Thad McCracken brought his team up from Oregon. It was McCracken’s first time racing the Babe Southwick. Like Laforce, he will be headed to Anchorage afterward to race the Fur Rendezvous.

“I’ve heard amazing things about this race from anybody that’s ever raced here,” said McCormick. “I knew it was a race I wanted to do. It’s exceeded expectations so far.

Everything has been amazing.”

Back home in Oregon, McCracken said there hasn’t been any snow for the dogs to practice on. Given the circumstances, he said his dogs have performed well.

“I’m really happy with how they’ve performed,” said McCracken. “We haven’t had any snow at home so I’ve been training the dogs with an ATV. It’s always a bit of a transition when you move to snow. Considering all that I’m happy with how they are doing.”

McCracken has transitioned from mid-distance racing to sprint racing and said he is still figuring things out.

“The whole transition to sprint racing is new to me,” said McCracken. “I’m still trying to figure out how to go fast. This is my first year doing open sprint. If you look at the list of mushers doing this race, there are some accomplished mushers.

“Just for me to be on the list with those names is pretty special.”

McCracken placed third in the 10-dog class on Saturday and said it gave him a good confidence boost on the final day.

“I always just try to run my own race and run the dogs to their ability,” said McCracken.

“Wherever we place, we place. I hope it says something about the preparation that we’ve done. Of course, it’s a two-day race.”

He said he has enjoyed his time in Whitehorse and will be back. As well, he is going to spread the word in Oregon about the Babe Southwick.

“I’ll go home and tell friends,” said McCracken. “I have some friends that skijor. It’s hard to find skijor races where we live that are on good trails. I was already messaging them saying ‘you gotta come here.’”

The Babe Southwick was two days of racing. The mushers’ times from both days were added together to determine the champions of each class.

Results:

Six dogs, eight miles

1: Mathieu Devred, 47:49

2: Mandy Johnson, 51:10

3: Erick Laforce, 51:51

Eight dogs, 13 miles

1: Erick Laforce, 1:25:53

2: Armin Johnson, 1:31:03

3: Thad McCracken, 1:32:49

Skijor - eight miles

1: Virginia Sarrazin, 57:58

2: Amil Dupuis-Rossi, 66:17

3: Jennifer Bignens, 1:28:42