SALAMANCA, N.Y. — The bad-luck streak continues, as the Trappers Special Sled Dog Race at Allegany State Park is canceled once again due to unfavorable weather conditions.
This is the fourth year in a row the Canadian American Sledders event at the park has been called off, this time wiping out its entire season. The organization scheduled two races this year — one in Coudersport, Pa., last weekend and the state park event this coming weekend — both of which fell through after the recent weather warm up.
Lydia Storey, Can-Am news editor, informed the media the race was officially canceled. That same day, Allegany State Park posted the following message to its Facebook page: “We have just been informed that the event organizers have cancelled the Sled Dog Races scheduled for this year (3/1 & 3/2) due to the poor snow conditions. No plans to reschedule for this year.”
Ron Filjones, vice president of Can-Am Sledders and event coordinator for the state park race, expressed his disappointment that, once again, the Trappers Special fell through.
“It was a really difficult decision to make to close that and shut it all down because we all wanted to participate,” said Filjones, who also planned to race a sled-dog team at this weekend’s event.
Storey also passed on the condolences of the mushing community, saying everyone was excited to compete and gain more points in their class.
The race coordinator explained the primary concern was safety, as a lack of snow does not only make for poor racing conditions, but a dangerous racing environment as well.
“We definitely would have ended up sending someone to the hospital,” he said. “People may think there’s snow on the ground but underneath it’s just ice.
“There should be like a foot of snow on the ground,” said Storey. “When you run the groomer it all gets squashed down and the mushers need to be able to plant their snow hook if something comes up and forces them to stop.”
Filjones explained that makes an even bigger difference in varying experience level, stating, “My team is experienced, and when you get guys in there that don’t have an experienced team you can get in trouble fast. They could get dragged behind their team and all kind of stuff if they fall. You need that snow to protect you.”
On top of Can-Am’s disappointing season, this warm up looks like it will be the end of it as well, according to Filjones. Plenty of cold temperatures lie ahead in the forecast but little accumulation is predicted to get mushers back on the trails.
