NC Sandhills Dryland Mushing Challenge

Welcome to the North Carolina Sandhills Dryland Challenge with North Carolina Urban Mushing!

Our goal is to promote the safe participation in dog powered sports in North Carolina with this ISDRA sanctioned race.

Event Dates: Saturday February 20st and Sunday February 21nd, 2027.

- Racers compete in their classes on both days for two completion times which will get combined for one overall finisher time for consideration for final class and group ranking. - If a team scratches or does not complete their race class run on Saturday, they will not be allowed to race on Sunday.

Location: Hoke Community Forest  Google Maps link here

• Park is to be left just as we found it. Please clean up after yourselves and your dogs.
• Parking is limited on site, small teams with 1-2 dogs who are not camping will be parking alongside of the road

Mandatory In-person Drivers Meeting will be held at the Starting Chute at 7am on Saturday (a pre-race drivers video will be distributed as well but does not take the place of the in-person meeting)

Refunds will not be issued after signing up unless the race is cancelled (refunds will not include the registration site fees), changes between classes is allowed up until registration closes

Classes Offered are as Follow:

- 6-Dog Rig All Breed (Open and RNB)

- 4-Dog Rig All Breed (Open and RNB)

- 2-Dog Scooter (Open and RNB)

- 2-Dog Bikejor (Open and RNB)

- 1-Dog Scooter (Open and RNB)

- 1-Dog Bikejor (Open, RNB, and Sport)

- Men's Canicross (1 dog)

-Women's canicross (1 dog)

- Junior's 16 and Under - Rig (2-3 dogs)

- Junior's 16 and Under  Bikejor + Scooter (1-2 dogs)

- Junior's 16 and Under Canicross (1.1 mile course)

-Fun Run (this can be rig, scooter, bike, or canicross)... This will be Saturday only.

Trail distance and trail route for all classes is targeted to be 2.2 miles. (The Juniors canicross class will be run on a 1.1 mile course). In case of warm weather, a shorter distance course has been defined.

Equipment and Trail Rules will follow the ISDRA standard rules. Equipment not meeting the minimum requirements will result in a default scratch in the Starting Chute. Please make sure you read the rules and reach out in advance to clarify any questions about equipment and trail rules. We can help guide you to what you will need. Our main goal is to keep the participants and their dogs safe.

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Limited Primitive camping is available as an add-on to registration.  We will be coordinating with you for where to set up. Camping spots are limited, and there is a backup campsite 7 minutes away.  Port-o-potties are available. Bring your own water. This is just a simple park with trails. No campfires allowed on site.   : Backup camping is at Skydive Paraclete Call them for details (it is a 7 min drive from the race site. 

Volunteering: If you're interested in volunteering see this form-https://forms.gle/mupNC5ndrkbCWoAo6

RULES and information: ISDRA rules can be found here, more information with photos can be found on our FB post here or on our event page here where the most updated information will be posted 

RNB class is for dogs of Registered Breed which are AKC/CKC (Canadian Kennel Club) /UKC (or the National Registry from the country of origin) registered Siberian Huskies, Alaskan Malamutes, or Samoyeds. Teams competing in the Registered Breed classes will be required to show official documentation of each of the registered breed dogs on their competing team.

Any breed of dog can race within the Open and Sport classes, including Northern breeds without official Kennel Club documentation. AKC PAL registrant dogs will not be allowed to race within Registered Breed classes. If you have questions, please ask in advance as we may not be able to move you the day of the race to another class if you forget your documentation or misunderstood the classes.

Each individual dog is limited to run up to two classes per race day. Whichever dog(s) are on your team for your particular class for Day 1 must be on your team for Day 2. If you are in a 4-dog or 2-dog class, you are welcome to drop one dog as needed. If you drop a dog on Day 1, you will need to also drop the same dog for Day 2. Dogs will be photographed to ensure this requirement is abided and apply any necessary DQs.

Weather Alerts: Weather is always a question for dryland races- know we will update the FB page with plans as we get closer. We do have 1.1, 1.5 and 2.2 mile course options available, but intend to run the 2.2 mile course