Star Journal

Top Menu

  • Contact Us
  • Hodag Star Journal E-Edition
  • Subscribe

Main Menu

  • Local
    • News
    • Business
    • Schools
    • Law & Order
    • Arts & Ent
    • Wedding Planner
    • Viewpoint
    • Sports
      • Sports News
      • High School Sports Scores
  • Covid 19
  • Outdoors
  • Wellness
  • Classifieds
    • View Ads
    • Place Ads
  • Our Legals
    • Legal Ads
    • Statewide
  • Obits
  • Lake View
  • Northwoods NOW
  • Living On The Lake
  • Contact Us
  • Hodag Star Journal E-Edition
  • Subscribe

logo

Star Journal

  • Local
    • News
    • Business
    • Schools
    • Law & Order
    • Arts & Ent
    • Wedding Planner
    • Viewpoint
    • Sports
      • Sports News
      • High School Sports Scores
  • Covid 19
  • Outdoors
  • Wellness
  • Classifieds
    • View Ads
    • Place Ads
  • Our Legals
    • Legal Ads
    • Statewide
  • Obits
  • Lake View
  • Northwoods NOW
  • Living On The Lake
News
Home›Local›News›Sled dogs to dash in Rhinelander

Sled dogs to dash in Rhinelander

By StarJournal
January 25, 2022
1456
0
Share:

Event to highlight opportunities at newly acquired city property

By Eileen Persike
Editor

A 416-acre section of wooded land recently gifted to the city of Rhinelander will be highlighted next month when skis, sleds, dogs and mushers converge on the property near the Northwood Golf Course. The Wisconsin Trailblazers Sled Dog Club is hosting the inaugural Heal Creek Dog Dash and Winter Festival Feb. 26-27.

Longtime Rhinelander physician and silent sports enthusiast Dr. Lee Swank donated the property to the city. The Rhinelander City Council approved a resolution Jan. 10 to approve a quit claim deed that transferred the land to the city. The idea for the sled dog race at Heal Creek came from Mayor Chris Frederickson, who said he wants to find ways to use and support the area. He reached out to friend and dog sled musher Pete

Skijoring, skiing with dogs, is becoming an increasingly popular activity in the Northwoods.

Thompson, who reached out to experienced race planner Niina Baum.

“I had thought about doing a race in Rhinelander before, but there have never been enough trails in the same location and now with the city’s support we’re able to groom extra trails to get the mileage we need, so it’s actually possible now,” Baum said.

Nothing like the 1,000-mile, weeks-long Iditarod that so often comes to mind, the dog dash is for sprint racing. There will be two- and six-mile courses. Instead of the husky dog breeds which are built to stay warm, sprint racing will feature more hound crosses such as German shorthair and greyhounds; dogs that are strong and fast.

Baum said there are currently 50 entries to the races that will include a couple of junior classes for two- and three-dog sleds on a two-mile course, as well as a variety of adult race classes, from two to 10 dogs on a six-mile course. Also on the six-mile course will be skijoring, which is skiing with dogs.

Niina Baum and one of her dogs along side her sled and skis.

Racing is a big part of Baum’s life; she’s competed for 20 years – beginning as a six year old. She now serves on a couple of boards for dog mushing, including the Trailblazers club that is hosting the Heal Creek event and the U.S. Federation of Sled Dog Sports, which promotes sled dog sports to become an Olympic sport. She is also responsible for putting in bids to host world championships in the United States.

“I’ve actually been talking with Minocqua Winter Park about potential world championships down the road,” Baum said. “That would be really cool if that happened.”

Though she made the team for the World Championships held this winter in Europe, last week Baum made the difficult decision to stay home. COVID testing requirements, frequent flight cancelations and traveling with dogs in general turned the idea of competing for the U.S. into a “nightmare.”

The festival part of the Dog Dash event was included for Saturday to draw the community together, Baum said. Rhinelander Brewing Company will be selling a specialty Musher’s Brew, and Joe’s Pasty Shop will have pasties for purchase. Live music, snowshoeing, sledding, viewing the race and meeting the dogs and racers are also part of this first-year event. The action begins at 9 a.m. Feb. 26.

For more information, search for the event on social media.

TagsHeal Creek Dog DashNiina BaumU.S. Federation of Sled Dog SportsWisconsin Trailblazers Sled Dog Club
Previous Article

Rhinelander hosts Hodag Challenge

Next Article

Sex offender to be released, living in ...

0
Shares
  • 0
  • +
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

Related articles More from author

  • News

    Heal Creek Dog Dash this weekend

    February 24, 2022
    By StarJournal
  • FeaturedNews

    Nice weather greets dog sled racers, spectators at Rhinelander event

    February 28, 2022
    By StarJournal
  • Latest NewsLocalNews

    The Seed Library

    April 27, 2015
    By StarJournal
  • LocalMultimediaNewsPhoto GallerySchools

    Crescent school unplugs for Earth Day

    April 27, 2015
    By StarJournal
  • News

    Veterans? Benefits Expo scheduled for Sept. 14

    August 30, 2013
    By StarJournal
  • News

    County board discusses NR 115 and zoning plan

    August 23, 2013
    By StarJournal

Leave a reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

About Us


Star Journal is published by Multi Media Channels LLC, N2919 County Road QQ Waupaca, WI 54981.

  • Contact Us
  • Hodag Star Journal E-Edition
  • Subscribe
Copyright © 2020 Multi Media Channels LLC.
All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication or any of its contents may be reproduced, copied, modified or adapted without the prior written consent of Multi Media Channels LLC.
×