The Canadian Challenge Sled Dog Race is an event many northerners look forward to every year. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

By Derek Cornet

premiere race

Canadian Challenge prize money shrinks due to drop in sponsorships, wildfire damage

Sep 2, 2025 | 2:05 PM

With registration now open for the Canadian Challenge Sled Dog Race, organizers are offering a substantially smaller prize purse in comparison to just a couple of years ago.

“It’s certainly not what we were hoping for, but unfortunately, the race has to maintain a strong financial position and, unfortunately, we can’t just sustain that level of prize money at $25,000 as we have … and keep the race in the black,” said Canadian Challenge vice president Dan Kirkup.

“So, lack of sponsorship is getting harder, and of course the costs, just like the costs everywhere else, is increasing, so it’s a direct result of both of those.”

In 2024, the purse sat at $25,000 while in 2025, $15,000 was awarded. Kirkup explained the amount in 2026 can still go up depending on the results of an upcoming sponsorship drive, as well as the cost to have the trail brought back to a functioning state as it has been heavily impacted by this summer’s wildfires in Northern Saskatchewan.

“I haven’t yet been there personally, but I believe the entire trail has been burned from the wildfires this summer,” Kirkup said.

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“We have some concerns, but the good news is we have a great trail crew and they are excited to get out there and start working, which will happen really any day now. We want to get out early in the fall to areas that are accessible right now and see if we can clear some of the brush and trees that have fallen down and identify some trouble spots, so we can try be ahead of the problem.”

While the time volunteers spend on the trail is done without an hourly wage, Canadian Challenge organizers do reimburse costs related to machinery, equipment, and fuel that is used.

“There’s some volunteer work, but I don’t think it is sustainable for people to volunteer their time, plus whatever cost for equipment, whether you have a snowmobile or ATV or chainsaw or whatever it may be to go out there,” Kirkup said.

“With that said, I suspect we are going to have some more work there and we’ve budgeted for that, which is why the prize money is a little bit lower this year than we had last year.”

In 2026, the Canadian Challenge will offer a 10-dog 322-kilometer race, an eight-dog 161-km race, and a six-dog 113-km race. All races will take place between La Ronge and Weyakwin.

A total of 22 mushers will be allowed to register in the races with the deadline to do so near the end of January next year. Races are scheduled to start Feb. 17, 2026.

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derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com