Dog Powered Sport's Association Yukon is offering an open invitation to those interested in being a part of the 2012 River Runner 130-mile Dogsled/Skijor race.

Set for Elijah Smith Elementary School at 7 p.m. on Thursday, the open discussion and planning meeting will be used in part to elect the race planning committee.

The committee includes the following positions: race director, public relations coordinator, trail coordinator, start/finish line coordinator, banquet coordinator, rules coordinator, checkpoint coordinator and volunteer coordinator.

In addition, any other volunteers or participants will be welcomed to add input to improve the event.

The race has been run previously at the end of February as the Road Runner 100 in 2010 and the River Runner 130 in 2011.

The first year of the event Darryl Sheepway worked on the trail crew and the second year he was the trail coordinator, the role he's hoping to secure again this year. The trail coordinator breaks the trail, keeps it maintained until the race and ensures it's good to go come race day, he explained.

Sheepway said the race coordinator will likely be Kyla Johnson, as in past years.

"We're looking for people to run the finish banquet; a volunteer coordinator, we're looking for people to run the checkpoint in Mendenhall; and volunteers,” said Sheepway, who is heavily involved in the Yukon Brewing Copperhaul Twister.

The 2011 edition of the race saw more volunteers than mushers: more than 20 compared to roughly 18 registered mushers.

A handful of mushers dropped out on race day, however, due to harsh winter conditions, Sheepway said.

This year's race will take place on Rendezvous Weekend, as in years past, though Sheepway noted the exact date has yet to be decided.

"And we're trying to start planning earlier this year to be more prepared than we were in previous years,” Sheepway said.

"We're always concerned with money and funding, we always have to make sure that we have enough. We're for sure looking for new sponsors and support for the race, whether it be prizes or money.”

Last year, Sheepway said, the River Runner received funds from Lotteries Yukon.

This year's committee is still waiting approval for the 2012 application, he added.

The committee approaches other sponsors.

"We're writing letters, and then through advertisement.”

The draw for mushers to the race is simple, Sheepway said.

"We're out there to promote dog-powered sports. The big promotion is to push the skijoring aspect of the race.

"As far as our research has shown, it is the longest skijoring race in the world right now, definitely in North America,” Sheepway added of the 130-mile race.

Skijoring is a sport in which the musher is pulled on skis by dogs, derived from the Norwegian word skikjoring meaning ski driving.

Skijorers follow the same path as the sleds, covering roughly 65-kilometres per day over two days.

The route runs from Whitehorse to Mendenhall and back following the Yukon River and the Takhini River, over-land trails and along the highway.

Last year, four skijorers signed up, three started and one finished, Sheepway said.

In 2010, three skijorers started and all finished.

For more information, visit www.dpsay.wordpress.com. Anyone unable to make

Thursday's meeting but are still interested in being involved can e-mail dogpoweredsports@gmail.com.