Big Piney-Marbleton Stage
The 64-mile loop through the Wyoming Range was a challange this year. The temperature was in the high 30's making the snow sticky and soft. The higher the temperature the harder it is on the dogs.
|
Melanie Shirilla
Melanie Shirilla crossing the finish line and winning the Big Piney/Marbleton IPSSSDR.
|
|
Big Piney-Marbleton Stage Stop - IPSSSDR
February 5, 2009
The Big Piney ‘Ice Box of the Nation’ Sled Dog Celebration 2009 Mushers Banquet for the Big Piney Stage Stop Stage of the International Pedigree Stage Stop Sled Dog Race (IPSSSDR) was held on Monday night, February 2nd at the Marbleton Senior Center. The banquet included the annual Dutch oven dessert, 4H desserts, and beef stew.
Entertainment included dancing and the comical "Waggers 4H Club Doggie Fashion Show". Official IPSSSDR merchandise was available for sale.
Race Day for the Big Piney Stage took place on Tuesday, February 3rd from the Middle Piney Parking Lot starting at 9 a.m. This was a loop race, so teams returned to the same parking lot approximately 3-4 hours after the Big Piney.
Melanie Shirilla from Lincoln, Mont., posted the fastest time with a time of 4:07:35. Sam Perrino from Yellowknife in Canada’s Northwest Territories was second with a time of 4:27:04. Grant Beck, also from Yellowknife, came in third with a time of 4:30:03.
In overall positions, Shirilla moves into the lead with a cumulative time of 10:10:26. Wendy Davis of Lander, Wyo., is second with a time of 10:23:56; Perrino is third with 10:43:05.
After the Big Piney Stage, teams headed to Alpine to race up the Greys River Trail for Day Five before continuing to Kemmerer/Diamondville, Evanston, Lyman/Mountain View, and finally Park City, Utah, for the final stage and awards ceremony on Saturday, February 7.
With its unique dog-friendly "stage stop" racing format, the IPSSSDR stops in a different community each night, allowing the host towns to show their hospitality. Festivities for mushers and spectators alike include pancake feeds, dog parades, banquets, carnivals, and snowshoe softball.
The Pedigree® brand actively supports a wide range of programs that promote responsible pet ownership and highlight the contributions dogs make to society.
The International Pedigree Stage Stop Sled Dog Race, the largest dog sled race in the lower 48 states, was founded in 1996 by Frank Teasley to make sled dog racing more accessible to the public. For a complete schedule, visit the race Website at www.wyomingstagestop.org, contact the race via e-mail at wystagestop@blissnet.com, or by phone at at 307-734-1163.
Photos by Carie Whitman and Logan Barlow.
|
