The Canadian Challenge Sled Dog Race is underway on a route that will take teams across northern Saskatchewan.

Twenty teams took off from the starting line at the Buckland Arena near the city of Prince Albert on Tuesday at noon.

This marks the 15th annual event which attracts mushers from across the country including one team from Wyoming.

Mushers are competing in four races with the 12 dog teams traveling approximately 520 kilometers to reach the finish line in La Ronge on Friday.

The junior mushers will travel to their finish line in Elk Ridge tonight.

Elliot Clarke, a 15 year old junior musher from Air Ronge Saskatchewan said one reason he was interested in trying mushing was from watching other mushers.

“It’s the excitement of the race and the fun of training your dog’s yourself,” Clarke said.

You could hear the excitement in the air from the dogs barking and howling with anticipation of the race.

One of the veterinarians for the race, Ruth Sims, said this was her seventh year with the challenge and she keeps coming back because the sport is a great team event.

“It’s a good opportunity to work with top athletes in this industry; the dogs may look skinny to the average person but they are actually in top condition,” Sims said.

This is Robert Ungerer’s first challenge and having three rookie dogs on his team, he’s excited to see how they take to the trail. Robert is sledding out of Unity and is originally from South Africa.

There are several teams from across the country including teams from Manitoba, the North West Territories, and Wyoming.

Anda Reed came up Dubois Wyoming with her uncle Billy to be his handler and said her uncle is the only American in this year’s Canadian Challenge.

“My job is to make sure the truck is going to be at the check point with food and water ready. I help him with harnesses, booties, anything that makes his timing a little bit better and easier,” said Reed.

“This is my first race so I’m really excited,” she added.

As for the lack of snow, race marshal Gerry Markel said they are doing the best they can. They had guys out earlier this week piling up snow.

“There’s enough that we can get by, we have enough people along the route looking after things to make sure the dogs don’t go up on the highway,” Markel said.

He said they have a great turn out for this year and that everyone is very excited.

The entire event wraps up Saturday with a breakfast.

Edited by News Talk Radio's Adriana Christianson