Twenty-five dogsled teams from throughout the US and Canada will start the 24thannual 10-day International Pedigree State Stop Sled Dog Race through Western Wyoming and parts of Idaho with a ceremonial start at the Jackson Town Square tonight at 6:30. Teams will actually see nine days of racing over the ten-day race with some changes over the years. Most notably, the race will return to Jackson for its conclusion and a final banquet at the Center for the Arts February second. The stage stop format means racers will compete for time on different race courses set up at different communities. Over the next week, the race will stage out of Jackson, Alpine, Pinedale, Kemmerer, Big Piney, Lander, Driggs and then return to Jackson. With its unique stage stop format, the IPSSSDR has become a popular mushing event attracting the world’s top competitors. Pedigree Food for Dogs is the title sponsor of the IPSSSDR and donates coupons for free dogfood to the shelters in the various communities through which the race passes. The International Pedigree Stage Stop Sled Dog Race was founded in 1996 by Frank Teasley to make sled dog racing more accessible to the public.
