Out-of-towners race to victory
Dehcho Dogsled Championships unite international racers for 18.5-mile, seven-mile runs
April Hudson
Northern News Services
Thursday, March 17, 2016
DEH GAH GOT'IE KOE/FORT PROVIDENCE
Alaska musher Emilie Entrikin raced ahead of the pack to win the 18.5-mile run during the 2016 Dehcho Sled Dog Championships, held in Fort Providence on March 11 and 12.
Emilie Entrikin, from Alaska, races past the finish line during the first race on March 11. - April Hudson/NNSL photo
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With local racers in dogged pursuit, Entrikin slid into first place with a total time of two hours, six minutes and 52.6 seconds.
She finished just 20 seconds ahead of second-place Hay River racer Anthony Beck.
The championships consisted of four races in total, with mushers running their dogs through two 18.5-mile races and two seven-mile races.
Thirteen participated in the 18.5-mile race, while 11 mushers took part in the seven-mile race.
During the seven-mile race, Entrikin placed fifth, while Quebec racer Justin Fortier took first place.
Both Entrikin and Fortier were in Fort Providence as part of the Canadian circuit of races, which began in Manitoba on the last weekend of February. Since then, they have raced in Saskatchewan and Hay River and plan to continue the circuit in Fort Resolution and Yellowknife over the coming weeks.
Entrikin began the Canadian circuit after competing in the Eukanuba Stage Stop race in Wyoming in February.
Entrikin, who has owned a 19-dog racing kennel for the past three years, said she was convinced by Oregon racer Dave Turner to race in Canada. Turner was also at the Fort Providence championships.
"My original plan was to drive home (after Wyoming) but I just wasn't ready," she said.
"This was a great run - the trail was beautiful. Even though the weather was warm, it held up."
The Fort Providence run was shorter and faster than the Wyoming run Entrikin had been training for.
"The dogs loved this run more," she said.
"I hope to be back and I'm going to be promoting this circuit when I return to Alaska."
Entrikin was particularly glad to have a chance to visit the Mackenzie River, which she says she has heard stories of but has never seen with her own eyes.
"It's great to be at ... the Mackenzie. It's a famous river and I'm very glad to see it," she said.
As for Fortier, who won the seven-mile race with a total time of 46 minutes and 28.65 seconds - less than two seconds ahead of runner-up TJ Fordy from Hay River - the race trail was "perfect."
Fortier has been on the road since mid-January and planned to continue the Canadian circuit was well.
"I thought I'd try something new, and see some more of the country," he said.
"This was my first time here and I enjoyed it immensely. The trail was perfect and the competition was good."
Fortier has been racing for 12 years. In contrast to Entrikin, Fortier's dogs were most used to the short sprint races held in Quebec.
"Those get boring (for the dogs)," he chuckled.
But running longer races is not without its challenges.
"You have to keep a good pace for longer, stay in control of the race," Fortier said. "It's a new school."
Aside from Entrikin and Fortier, and Oregon's Dave Turner, racers came from Yellowknife, Hay River, Fort Resolution, Alberta and locally from Fort Providence to compete.
