San Angelo man to be first Texan to compete in Idaho Sled Dog Challenge

This year the Idaho Sled Dog Challenge has attracted its first musher from Texas, a native of San Angelo.

Sled dog racing is a winter dog sport that involves the timed competition of teams of sled dogs that pull a sled with the dog driver or musher standing on the runners.

The 2024 Idaho Sled Dog Challenge has attracted teams from six states, including its first-ever racer from Texas - Trace Drake from San Angelo.

Drake is competing in the 100-mile race on Jan. 29-30 and the Warm Lake Stage Race on Jan. 24-25 in Cascade, Idaho. The musher field also includes a mother and daughter, a father and son, and two brothers.

"Sled dog racing is a challenging sport often run in extreme weather conditions, but the absence of weather this winter has been an even greater challenge," race founder and organizer Jerry Wortley said. "Although we are experiencing record low snow levels, trail conditions in Valley and Adams counties for the 2024 Idaho Sled Dog Challenge currently appear adequate to run the race, potentially with some modifications to the routes."

According to Drake's Biography on the Idaho Dog Sled Challenge website, his kennel is TSA Kennels and his lead dog's names are Ovando and Chinook.

Drake got started in mushing by working for Alaska Icefield Expeditions on the Denver glacier, the website stated.

When asked about his mushing highlights, this is how he answered:

"Easily the glacier this far, the views are amazing, the people were wonderful, and the dogs absolutely magnificent and beautiful," according to the website.

He said his future goals are to be the first Texan to win the Iditarod, an annual long-distance sled dog race held in Alaska in early March.

This article originally appeared on San Angelo Standard-Times: San Angelo man to be first Texan to compete in Idaho Sled Dog Challenge