The Wanaka Sled Dog Festival (WSDF), returns for 2021, featuring three days of racing at the Snow Farm this Thursday, Friday and Saturday (August 12-14).

“This is the highlight of our season,” race coordinator Stacy Looser said. “It’s exciting for us because we get to race on sleds whereas at dryland events we race on wheeled chariots.”

The annual event, which has been running since 1996, kicks off with a meet and greet today (Wednesday August 11) from 2:30pm to 4pm at the Wanaka Recreation reserve.

Members of the public will have an opportunity to meet the dogs and ask the competitors questions about racing and training.

The mushers meeting, bib draw and gear checking by the marshal will also take place, but Stacy said the session is more for spectators.

Stacy Looser in the lead at the 2019 Wanaka Sled Dog Festival in the 3-dog class. PHOTO: Supplied

 “...on race day everyone is hyped up for the race and we don’t have as much time to speak to people,” she said.

This year there are 21 (human) competitors, the youngest being 15-years-old.

Six different classes make up the racing; skior (1 dog), 2-dog, 3-dog, 4-dog, 6-dog and 8-dog. The trails are shorter for the skior and 2-dog classes.

“All of our dogs are at least part Siberian husky,” Stacy said. “There are no rules, as long as it can run.”

There are also some special prizes for pure Arctic breeds. 

The races will start at the Snow Farm at 7:30am and will be finished by 9am.

For anyone hoping to catch the racing, Stacy said the finishing line, below the lodge at the Snow Farm, is the best spot. Spectators can come and watch for free.

“The teams work their way up the valley to the finish line so you can see them for about a kilometre and a half,” Stacy said. “It’s loud and fast. The dogs are so excited and full of energy.”

“The Snow Farm has great facilities for families, so watch the races in the morning and then use the facilities and go for a snowshoe afterwards,” she said.

Two years ago Stacy competed in the WSDF and won, despite fracturing her tailbone in the race. The event was cancelled last year due to Covid-19 so she and her husband Julien have not competed on snow for two years.

Stacy is “feeling happy” about the event and said “the snow conditions look pretty good for this year”.

The couple, who own 12 dogs, will both be racing in the 6-dog class.

“We’re competitive against each other,” Julien said. “We just competed in a race two weeks ago and got the exact same time to the second.”

Anyone who wants to experience driving their own sled dog team can check out Underdog Sled Dog Tours located at the Snow Farm.

The dog sled festival is sponsored by Eukanuba.