Press Releases
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CONTACT: Darla Worden, Media Relations
(303) 744-0935

Frank Teasley, Director
(307) 734-1163

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

International Pedigree Stage Stop Sled Dog Race Announces 2002 Dates

Jackson Hole, Wyoming - August 23, 2001 - The International Pedigree Stage Stop Sled Dog Race (IPSSSDR) is slated from January 25 to Februay 6, 2002 announced race director Frank Teasley. The largest sled dog race in the lower 48 states, the IPSSSDR hosts champion teams from France, Japan, Canada and the U.S. competing for the race’s $100,000 purse. In previous years, the race has attracted world-class mushers including Jeff King, Alaska; Bruce Lee, Alaska; Jacque Phillip, France; Hans Gatt, Austria; Dan MacEachen, Colorado; Rick Swenson, Alaska; and Susan Butcher, Alaska.
"Already teams have registered, and mushers have been calling for information about the 2002 dates," says Teasley. "There may not be snow, but many teams have been training all summer with four wheelers and wagons."

Now in its seventh year, the IPSSSDR travels nearly 450 miles through 13 Wyoming communities over ten days. The 2002 race begins in Jackson Hole, and travels through Moran, Dubois, Pinedale, Lander, Atlantic City, Mountain View, Lyman, Evanston, Kemmerer, Diamondville, Smoot, Afton, and Alpine, Wyoming before the finish in Jackson Hole.

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With its unique "Stage Stop" racing format, the race stops in a different Wyoming community each night. Towns host festivities for mushers and spectators ranging from junior dog sled races for children, dog parades, ice sculpture contests, banquets, carnivals and fishing derbies.
Pedigree Food for Dogs is the title sponsor of the IPSSSDR. The Pedigree brand actively supports a wide range of programs that promote responsible pet ownership and highlight the contributions dogs make to society. Such programs include Homeward Bound, a national pet adoption support program to encourage adoption of the nation’s 12 million homeless animals; the National Association for Search and Rescue; police canine units; and non-profit organizations that train and place service dogs for hearing and visually impaired people. During the 2002 IPSSSDR, Pedigree will host a daily web cast on its web site, mypetstop.com, that will feature video footage of the race. Through HOMEWARD BOUND, Pedigree will make a donation to animal shelters for each visitor to the site during the race.
The International Rocky Mountain Stage Stop Dog Sled Race was founded in 1996 by Frank Teasley to make sled dog racing more accessible to the public. For more information, visit the race Website at www.wyomingstagestop.org, contact the race via e-mail at wystagestop@blissnet.com or call (307) 734-1163, or visit www.pedigree.com.


International Pedigree
Stage Stop Sled Dog Race
January 25-February 6, 2002

Friday, January 25
Mushers Reception Dinner

Saturday, January 26
9:00 a.m. Rotary Winter Sled Dog Festival in the Town Square
10:00 A.M. Jackson Hole Start and Finish, 3 miles

Sunday, January 27
9:00 A.M. Grand Teton KOA to Dubois Snow Oval
40 miles,
Banquet at Headwaters

Monday, January 28
9:00 Dubois Snow Oval to Elk Ridge Lodge
A.M at Green River Camp, 33 miles (campout)


Tuesday, January 29
9:00 A.M. Elk Ridge Lodge to Pinedale, 33 miles
5:00 -7:00 P.M. Pinedale Musher Reception

Wednesday, January 30
10:00 A.M.
Pinedale-Irish Canyon (17 miles south of
Pinedale) to Blucher Creek, 30 miles (campout)

Thursday, January 31
9:00 A.M. Blucher Creek to Lander, 35 miles
6:00 P.M. Lander Banquet at Community Center

Friday, February 1
9:00 A.M. Lander to Atlantic City, 40 miles
*Mushers drive to Evanston following race
6:00 P.M. Chinese New Year’s Eve

Saturday, February 2
9:00 A.M. Evanston to Bridger Valley, 42 miles
Chili Dinner in Mountain View Town Park
*Mushers drive to Kemmerer following race
6:00 P.M. Kemmerer Banquet

Sunday, February 3
9:00 a.m Kemmerer-Lake Viva Naughton to Smoot Town Center,
 64 miles

Monday, February 4
9:00 a.m. Smoot to Box Y, 60 miles, campout

Tuesday, February 5
9:00 a.m. Box Y to Alpine, 30 miles
Finger Food Function at Civic Center

Wednesday, February 6
11:00 A.M. Teton Village loop, 15 miles
2:00 P.M. Jr. Stage Stop
6:00 P.M. Closing Banquet