Promoting & Educating Our Youth in Responsible Dog Care & Training

Welcome

The Junior Dog Mushers of Interior Alaska is a nonprofit organization based in Fairbanks, Alaska. Our purpose is to engage exclusively in nonprofit activities designed to educate minors in the sport of dog mushing. 

We strive to promote responsible dog care and dog training among minors. Additionally we encourage healthy dog mushing competition and camaraderie among junior mushers. We welcome any families and children who would like to participate and contribute!

Follow Us on Facebook

For the latest news and updates check us out on Facebook.

2023-24 Race Schedule

There are no upcoming events.

General Race Info

Races start at 1130am. Check-in deadline is 15 minutes before your class starts.

Race order:

  • Ski-joring
  • 4-Dog/3-Dog
  • 6-Dog
  • 8-Dog
  • Open class

Junior teams will start 4 minutes after the last adult team in same class leaves start line.

Two-Dog starts after the last 8-dog team leaves the start line.

One-Dog starts after the last Open-class team leaves the start line.

(There’s a small chance that The Timer for the race may need to adjust 2- or 1-Dog start times based on number of teams in 8-Dog and Open classes and these Junior classes).

Join Junior Mushers

Join the Junior Dog Mushers of Interior Alaska community with an annual membership! Membership helps support our organization and gives you discounts to participate in our events.

The JDMIA is committed to carrying on the long tradition of providing safe, fun and competitive opportunities for juniors to run sled dogs. We welcome new members and anybody who is interested in participating regardless of experience and skill level.

Return the completed form and a check for $50 to the following address:

Junior Dog Mushers of Interior Alaska
P.O. Box 10597
Fairbanks, AK 99710

Junior Dog Mushers of Interior Alaska Official Race Rules

(Revised September 2018)

1. All mushers will compete in the class within which their age falls, providing that they can competently handle that many dogs. If not, they may race in a lower class (with the exception of the Junior North American Championships, where racers will be required to participate in the appropriate age class) The classes and minimum ages and/or experiences requirements are as follows:

A. One Dog Class—Musher must have attained his/her 3rd birthday on or before December 1.
Exception—Musher who has attained his or her 2nd birthday with Race Marshal’s approval.

B. Two Dog Class—Musher must have attained his/her 7th birthday on or before December 1.
Exception—Musher who has attained his/her or her 6th birthday and has one full years experience* in the 1-dog class.

C. Three Dog Class—Musher must have attained his/her 10th birthday on or before December 1.
Exception—Musher who has attained his/her 9th birthday and has one full years experience* in the 2-dog class.

D. Four Dog Class—Musher must have attained 12th birthday on or before December 1.
Exception—Musher who has attained his/her 11th birthday and has one full years experience* in the 3-dog class.

E. Six Dog Class—Musher must have attained his 14th birthday on or before December 1.
Exception—Musher who has attained his/her 13th birthday and has one full years experience* in the 4-dog class, or a musher who has attained his/her 12th birthday and has two full years experience in the 3- or 4-dog class can run with no more than 5 dogs.

F. Eight Dog Class—Musher must have attained his/her 16th birthday on or before December 1.
Exception—Musher who has obtained his/her 15th birthday and has one full years experience* in the 6-dog class.

*Note: A full years experience is at least three (3) preliminary races and a championship race.

WEATHER POLICY: Challenge races and regular season events will be postponed if the Airport temperature is -20 degrees Fahrenheit or colder as reported by the National Weather Service at 907-458-3745 option 1113 at 8:00AM the morning of the race. The last two races of the season (i.e. the Fun Run and the Junior North American Championship) do not have a temperature cut-off.