The FirstMate Babe Southwick Memorial Race
Back in the days, the Yukon Sourdough Rendez-vous dog races was quite the event allowing the gathering of old friends from the communities that had not met for a year.
In 1965, the races were held for three days in the Kluane lake area. Babe Southwick drew #8 as starting position. Her team finished in the top five of the 15 miles race. That night, she died of a heart attack. On day two, ten mushers lined up at the starting gate, each wearing a black arm band. Babe’s racing number, eight, was withdrawn. Then her brother–in–law, Alex Van Bibber, took her Destruction Bay team around the course for the final two days of racing. Alex did not win but that honour went to a then-unknown musher from Carmacks, Wilfred Charlie. After that race, the number “8” remains retired from Sourdough Rendezvous dog sled races.
This year’s edition of the FirstMate Babe Southwick Memorial race will be held on February 10 and 11, 2024 at the Ibex Valley tracks.
We would like to thank FirstMate Dog Food for supporting our race, sharing our values and providing our dogs with top quality food.
WHAT?
4 dog sled – 4 miles
Skijoring – 4 miles
6 dog sled – 7 miles
10 dog sled – 12 miles
WHERE?
At the Ibex Valley Tracks
(Trails Map)
Km 1448 on the Alaska Highway
(Find us on Google Maps)
WHEN?
On February 10 & 11, 2024
SCHEDULE
The race registration deadline is February 4 – 5:00 pm
No late registration will be accepted.
Location of bib draw and mandatory mushers meeting to be confirmed.
Awards Ceremony at the end of Day 2 at the tracks.
– Race start times:
4 dog sled/Skijoring: 11:30 am
Skijorers will be sent on the trail right after the 4 dog teams
6 dog sled: 1:00 pm
10 dog sled: 2:30 pm
ENTRY FEES & PURSE
Total race purse: $10,000
Click here for a detailed purse breakdown and race registration fees
RACE REGiSTRATiON
To register for the Babe Southwick Memorial Race:
1) Fill out the Registration Form/Driver Information Sheet below
2) Send your payment using an Interac etransfer at yukondogmushers@gmail.com
For out-of-country drivers, we accept cash payment on site
3) Buy a membership if you are not yet a member:
A membership is required to participate in YDMA events
Click here to get to the membership page
4) Download, print and sign the Waiver of Liability below and bring it to the mushers’ meeting
A big Thank You to our race sponsors
