Jackson Hole's version of the Super Bowl!

As usual, there is never a shortage of things to do in Jackson Hole. Our weekend starts tonight (Thursday) as we head out to the National Museum of Wildlife Art for the "Winter Quick Draw." Our friend, Kay Stratman, will be participating in the event, so it will be extra special! We are looking forward to watching more than 10 contemporary artists race the clock to complete a work of art from start to finish in one unforgettable hour. The artists will also include emerging artists from high schools in Jackson Hole.  All works of art will be available for purchase by silent auction the evening of the event. To round out the evening there will be the Rising Sage Café’s famous "Chilly Bar" and the Snake River Brewing Company's "Beer Quick Draw," - that was the ringer for Barry's attendance!  So, a night of art, no cooking and Snake River Beer...TGIT - a great way to kick off the weekend!

National Museum of Wildlife Art

Our weekend festivities will continue as we celebrate the JH version of our "Super Bowl," with a kick-off party on the Town Square on Friday night. The International Pedigree Stage Stop Sled Dog Race (IPSSSDR) will start in downtown Jackson Hole on Friday night, with 21 teams of sled dogs mushing along Broadway. The IPSSSDR is the largest sled dog race in the Lower 48. The IPPSSSDR was founded in 1996 by Frank Teasley (A Jacksoninte) to showcase the state of Wyoming and to make sled dog racing more accessible to the public. With its unique stage stop format, the IPSSSDR has become a popular mushing event attracting the world’s top competitors.Teasley expects large crowds at all the stage stops as the race hosts 25 mushers—an expanded roster from recent years, this year including a team from Jamaica (Cool Runnings)! Four-time Iditarod winner Lance Mackey and Blayne “Bud” Streeper, winner of the IPSSSDR in 2004 and 2010, will be two of the teams competing for the IPSSSDR title “It’s a mushing dream come true,” says Teasley. “It’s like the Super Bowl of mushing.” Each year the race makes a contribution to communities on the race route for childhood immunizations.

 Check out the website www.wyomingstagestop.org/  if you are interested in keeping track of the race results day by day; or go to this link for a great video of last year's race events: http://dai.ly/fhNjfv

IPSSSDR Route Map

1/30 - Lander Lollypop Loop South Pass 9 AM 42 miles
1/31 - Pinedale to Cora 10 AM 38 miles
2/1 - Big Piney/Marbleton race 64 miles
2/2 - Alpine/Greys River to Box Y 9 AM 54 miles
2/4 - Bridger Valley Stage 10 AM (45) miles
2/5 – Park City Race Start 12 PM 2 PM Finish (8 miles)

 A little bit about the race:
The Race aims are to determine which musher’s team will cover the race trail distance in the shortest time in compliance with the regulations established by the IPSSSDR. The fastest team each day will start in the last position the next day. This procedure will be followed throughout each stage of the race. The overall leader and/or the previous stage winner may be required to wear the designated leader bib.

SLED
Each musher may choose his own sled providing that it meets the necessary IPSSSDR requirements, that is tandem hitch with one tow line and not fan type hitch. Braking devices must be placed between the runners and not extend beyond the length of the runners; all sleds must be provided with a brush bow. The sled must contain a sled bag capable of hauling any injured dogs as well as carrying mandatory equipment and food.

A musher may start the race with no more than twelve (12) dogs on the tow line at any time. No dogs will be allowed in the basket. Dogs will be chosen from a maximum pool of sixteen (16) dogs. No dog may be added to a team once a stage has started.

So it is a weekend of "fast and furious" here in Jackson Hole! We are off to the starting line.....