Jackson, Wyoming-January 8, 2002--Students ages 8-14 from 10 Wyoming communities will participate in a sled dog race of their own, the IPSSSDR Jr. Stage Stop on February 6, at 2:00 during the final day of the International Pedigree Stage Stop Sled Dog Race, at Teton Village.

Each community on the 2002 IPSSSDR route--Jackson, Moran, Dubois, Pinedale, Lander, Mountain View/Evanston/Lyman, Afton and Alpine-is eligible to send three students to represent their towns in this short exhibition fun run. In order to participate in the race, students agree to perform 10 hours of community service work prior to the race, and donate $25 to Jackson-based PAWS-a nonprofit organization created by friends of companion animals. The organization sponsors local spay/neuter clinics, medical care for dogs and cats that are rescued, medical care for pets of the elderly, plus educational programs.

The Jr. Stage Stop program was launched in 1999 by International Stage Stop co-founder Jayne Ottman, and Jackson Hole musher Maria Hayashida. "Our mission, in creating the Junior Stage Stop, was to broaden the goals of the IPSSSDR, and to improve the status of youth in our communities statewide," says Hayashida, director of the Junior Stage Stop. "The Junior Stage Stop provides an opportunity for youth to increase their self-esteem, social competency, community involvement and personal sense of self worth. We want to teach students that it feels great to support the non-profit of their choice."

Students do not need their own dogs or previous mushing experience to participate--equipment and dog teams are provided by the IPSSSDR. In addition, many Jackson area sponsors made contributions to the race including Pearl Street Bagels, Wilson Backcountry Sports, Jackson Hole Iditarod Sled Dog Tours, Continental Divide Sled Dog Tours, Dubois; Valley Feed and Pet, Wildflour Bakery, Chamber of Commerce, Bank of Jackson Hole, Lifelink/Croakies, Visitor’s Center, Mostly Fun, M&Ms and Skinny Skis.

BIB #71 Eli Backman, age 8, Diamondville, Cub Scouts, Ken Anderson

#72 Levi Vanuga, 12, Dubois, Dubois Recycling Center, Joe Loveless

#74 Christina Delpone, 11, Jackson, Colter Elementary School, Martin Koenig

#75 Cory Chase, 13, Riverton, Sam Perrino

#80 Kendra Hoover, 13, Jackson, Teton Co. Animal Shelter, Melanie Shirilla

#81 Cory Smith, 12, Riverton, Arapahoe Dist. 38, Doug Swingley

#83 Thalia Anne Tomingas, 10, Jackson, Teton Co. Animal Shelter, Warren Palfrey

#86 Dylan Wilson, 8, Dubois, Dubois Recycling Center, Beth Gagnon

#87 David Hohl, 11, Pinedale, Danny Beck

#88 Anna Vanuga, 10, Dubois, Dubois Recycling Center, Leslie Martin

#89 Summer Holton, 12, Jackson, Teton Co. Animal Shelter, John Shandelmeier

#90 Jake James, 10, Daniel, Scott Smith

#91 Miranda Kornish, 10, Jackson, Salvation Army, Hannah Moderow

#92 Ryan Weber, 11, Arapahoe, Pet Connection, Jacques Phillip

#93 Hilary Thurston, 11, Lander, WY Game and Fish Educational Center, Mark Stamm

#94 Brittney Moore, 11, Big Piney, Grant Beck

#95 Hillary Lavino, age 9, Moran, Red Cross, Hannah Moderow

#96, Andrew Waxe, Pinedale, Paul Ellering

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

10:45 AM: Junior mushers arrive and report to registration site

12:45-1:15 PM: All IPSSSDR mushers have finished by this time. All junior mushers meet at registration site for informational/safety clinic. This takes 20-30 minutes. All adult volunteers meet here, too.

1:45 PM: Volunteers placed every 1/8 mile on 2-3 mile course

2:00 PM: Bib #1 junior musher leaves the starting line. The IPSSSDR musher rides the sled the first 100 yards. It will be at the Junior Stage Stop's discretion and/or the junior musher's request whether the IPSSSDR musher continues to ride the sled the rest of the course. The following teams leave every 2 minutes thereafter.

3:00-4:00 PM: Photographs will be taken of each junior musher