Despite sparse snow, the Wānaka Sled Dog Festival (WSDF) went ahead for three days as planned on shorter but fun technical trails at the Snow Farm in the Cardrona Valley (September 6-8). 

Central musher Stefanie (Stef) Meier won the gold in the eight dog class at the festival on September 8.  

“Friday’s conditions were the best of the three days, being the coldest so the track was able to be groomed properly and the icy patches were not as bad but the dirt sections were a lot bigger,” she said.

Stef said there were record entries and the most novices the WSDF has ever had. 

“They included people from Cardrona and Wānaka so lots of more local people [took part].” 

Stef said recovery for her dogs included “some tasty bones on Saturday and a good sleep in, stretching and massage over the weekend”.

“Not that they needed the rest, they are always ready to run.”

WSDF involves several classes of racing the eight dog sled, six dog sled, four dog sled, three dog sled, two dog sled and single dog skijor. 

Read more: Extreme athletes of dog world to race at festival.

PHOTO: Supplied