2004 ADMA International Sled Dog Symposium

Friday, October 8th through Sunday, October 10th

Sponsored by the Alaska Dog Mushers Association, the Fairbanks North Star Borough Division of Animal Control, and FNSB Pioneer Park

Symposium speaker Wes Rau Skijor champion Jim Herriges and Iditarod and Yukon Quest musher Gwen Holdmann play the part of giant vertebrae for canine physical therapist Wes Rau at the 2003 International Sled Dog Symposium. Photo by Dave Partee.

For more information, email Carol Kaynor or ADMA, or call (907) 457-MUSH.

Welcome to the 17th annual International Sled Dog Symposium hosted by the Alaska Dog Mushers Association (ADMA). Mark your calendar for October 8th, 9th, and 10th, 2004. The symposium will again be held at Pioneer Park (formerly Alaskaland) in Fairbanks, Alaska.

Our keynote speaker this year is Cheryl S. Smith, expert dog (and chicken!) trainer and nutritionist. Other speakers include Jeff King, Curtis Erhart, Egil Ellis, Wes Rau, Arleigh Reynolds, and many more! We've got sessions for every kind of musher, from experienced distance or sprint racers to recreational mushers and even non-mushing dog enthusiasts. Nearly every presentation includes time for questions and answers, so this is a great opportunity to get the expert advice you've been looking for.

This year's schedule is so jam-packed that we've added a Friday afternoon session to help fit everything in. Our schedule of events is on the web, and we are posting speaker biographies as we receive them. Please check back often for updates.

Our three-day trade fair, which is free to the general public, features vendors offering the latest in mushing and winter equipment, clothing, dog food, supplements, artwork and crafts, and much more. We're hosting the Yukon Quest Birthday Party on Friday night again this year, and many of our trade fair vendors are offering Friday night specials. Come help the Quest celebrate and take advantage of these early-bird deals at the same time!

The symposium also features our annual fundraising auction. See our auction page for a continually updated list of donated items. We have a huge and still-growing array of items to choose from, and they are by no means limited to dog mushing. We have custom portraits and photos, books, artwork, a night at a B&B, a propane stove, fencing, dog food, clothing, an electric drill, tickets to Nanook basketball, an upland bird hunt, dinner certificates, dog-yard pipe, and much more!

Revenue from the auction helps fund ADMA activities such as the symposium, the Challenge Series races, the Limited and Open North American championships, and maintenance of our world-class, multiuse trail system. The event includes both silent and outcry auctions—at the silent auction, you can add your name to a list of bidders on a particular item (a great way to participate for those of us who are a bit shy), and it's lots of fun to watch people lurking over certain items and racing each other to get their name written down last before a table of items "closes." At the outcry auction, people are issued bidder numbers, and they hold up their number if they want to bid on an item. Friendly bidding wars are encouraged, and we have some really exciting items this year.

People examining sled Examining the latest sled gear at the 2003 symposium trade fair. Photo by Dave Partee.

There is no better way to start the season! Join us in Fairbanks on October 8–10 for the 2004 ADMA International Sled Dog Symposium.

Advance registration fees
Advance registration is now closed. Please register at the door.

At the door
$50 for all three days, $15 for Friday afternoon, $25 for Saturday or Sunday. Current (2004–2005) ADMA members receive a $5 discount. Memberships and trail passes may also be purchased at the door.

Keynote presentation only
$5 at the door; no preregistration required

Dog policy
No dogs are allowed in the Civic Center without prior approval. Contact Val Mackler or Carol Kaynor (see contact information below).

Lodging
Comfort Inn is offering a special symposium rate of $65 plus tax for a standard room; includes full breakfast. Call (907) 479-8080 and ask for the 2004 sled dog symposium rate.

For more information

Program, speakers, general information

Check our online schedule, or contact Carol Kaynor by email or by phone at (907) 455-9663.

Trade fair

Contact Val Mackler by phone at (907) 488-1452 or email c/o ADMA.

Auction

See our auction web page, or contact Jonni Roos by email or by phone at (907) 457-6874.

Miscellaneous

To be added to our symposium mailing list for the 2005 symposium, send your name and address to Carol Kaynor.

For information on last year's program, visit the 2003 Symposium website.

For information on session recordings from this year's symposium, visit http://www.sleddogstudio.com/symposium/.