New Zealand Distance Sled Dog Club
The New Zealand Distance Sled Dog Club will be hosting the first annual K9 Natural Midnight Madness 85 Sled Dog Race in Taupo on Saturday, August 24, 2013. The K9 Natural Midnight Madness 85 is New Zealand’s premier long distance sled dog race and attracts the top sled dog teams from all over the country. Teams are made up of a driver (known as a “Musherâ€), a three wheeled sled (known as a rig) and up to 6 specially trained sled dogs (their love for pulling sleds is only second to food!). The dogs are predominantly arctic breeds, Alaskan Malamutes, Siberian Huskies, and we even have a team of Canadian Eskimo dogs competing!
The K9 Natural Midnight Madness 85 is a multi stage race with the overall distance of this years feature event being a minimum of 85 Kilometres. The course is intended to be challenging with over 600 metres of vertical drop providing seemingly never ending ascents and high speed hair raising descents. All at night and in freezing temperatures. If this is not enough, Mushers and their teams must also successfully navigate their way around the course whilst avoiding many hazards that lie ahead such as cavernous ruts and fallen trees.
Three distances will be offered - 25KM and 50KM introductory length, and the 85KM Feature Race. Stage lengths vary between 2.4km to 16km. Most however are in the vicinity of 12km.
Compulsory stops will be required for all race lengths at check points chosen by the musher. This event is as much about tactics as it is speed and endurance.
Expected temperatures between -5 degrees C and +4 degrees based on historical weather data for this time of year in Taupo.
The organisers will be allowing the use of GPS units and will supply course files for download at a later date.
There will be a welcome dinner for all competitors and officials on Friday 23 August in Taupo. Convoy will be leaving the town centre around midday on Saturday 24 August. Compulsory briefing, registration, and pre-race gear and veterinary checks will be held at the race start staging area in the Kiangaroa Forest. Race start is 6pm.
The K9 Natural Midnight Madness 85 is the second longest dry land sled dog race in the world and one of New Zealand’s true adventure races.
The NZDSDC is focused on promoting distance sled dog racing within Australasia.
The New Zealand Distance Sled Dog Club would like to extend a warm welcome to all dog sled teams, spectators and sponsorship enquiries. For all enquiries please email: midnightmadness@vodafone.net.nz