Rancho Luna Lobos’ top dogs raced into the pro season, putting a year of new training techniques to the test against the world’s best sled dogs for three days and 51 miles last week in West Yellowstone.
The dogs and Fernando Ramirez, Team USA musher and owner of the dog ranch in Browns Canyon near Peoa, finished sixth overall in the Yellowstone Special, just seven seconds off the time of world-class Oregon musher Thad McCracken, whose team took fifth.
Canadian and North American champions, along with fellow Team USA mushers, took part in the race, setting the scene for great competition, Ramirez said.
The first day was slow. Mushers were limited to 12 dogs, and deep snow favored lighter teams, said Ramirez.
“Over the next two days, the track was groomed, which made for a fair race, allowing us to make up some time,” he said. “We could have placed higher had conditions been ideal, but we’ll definitely take this one.”
Next, the team is headed to Quebec for a grand prix race on Sunday and Monday. Ramirez hopes to find favorable conditions for faster times and a higher slot on the score sheet.
After the grand prix race, they will travel to the 2025 World Championship Sled Dog Derby in Laconia, New Hampshire, for another three-day competition Feb. 21-23.
This race will be livestreamed, offering spectators at home the chance to follow the Luna Lobos team in the race. The link for the livestream can be found through the host Lakes Region Sled Dog Club’s Facebook page: facebook.com/lrsdc1929.
Now in its 96th edition, the competition will be a crucial race, Ramirez said.
The final race of the this season’s pro circuit will take the Luna Lobos team back to Quebec for a race in Pont-Rouge on March 1 and 2.
For more: lunalobos.com.
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