2nd TROFEO TOPOLINO SLEDDOG 1996
International Junior Event to be held March 30 & 31 in Pontedilegno-Tonale, Italy
The first major European junior competition was organized in 1993 at Cortina d'Ampezzo as part of the adult race TransItalia. Since then the Italian Sleddog School, SCUOLA ITALIANA SLEDDOG EUKANUBA has introduced many young mushers to the sport through the training and instruction programs directed by Armen Khatchikian in cooperation with Tonya Schlenter from Manley, Alaska. These programs are now being promoted and publicized with the help of the TROFEO TOPOLINO, a junior competition organized by Armen Khatchikian of the SCUOLA ITALIANA SLEDDOG EUKANUBA and the Walt Disney Company Italy through their children's magazine TOPOLINO (Mickey Mouse).
The 1996 edition of TROFEO TOPOLINO SLEDDOG sponsored by Eukanuba, Lorus Disney Watches, Camp and Adamello Ski will take place at the ski resort community of Passo Tonale in the valley high above PontediLegno. This event is an opportunity for children from different parts of the world to meet in the Italian Alps and celebrate together snow, mountains and sled dogs.
The race is open to all junior mushers who can show proof of appropriate experience in driving sled dogs, such as a recommendation from their mushing club, mushing school, national organization or a recognized musher. Participants will be accepted from all countries in three categories:
Participants may compete as individuals or representing the club, school or national federation with which they are affiliated. They may use their own dogs or arrange to rent dogs supplied by the Scuola Italiana Sleddog Eukanuba. Preliminary inquiries have been received from many areas where organizers see the possibility to use the publicity surrounding Trofeo Topolino to help develop the sport in their own countries. Australia, Argentina, the UK, Russia, Chile, Japan and New Zealand have all expressed an interest to send teams.
There will be other programs organized as part of the week end activities, such as the visit to the National Stone Hieroglyphics Park in Capo di Ponte, a vastarea recognized by UNESCO as worldwide cultural treasure with prehistoric pictures of people, animals and dogs from 10,000 years ago. And then...the Junior Musher Party to have fun together, the projection of the film "Ironwill" by Walt Disney and the final awards ceremony with the participation of Mickey Mouse!
Hotel accomodation will be given to the junior mushers for two nights free. Meals will be arranged by the organization. The nearest airports are Milano and Verona. From Milano to Pontedilegno you can take a public bus from Piazza Castello.
We invite you to come. If you wish to enter please call or send a fax to the following numbers in Italy: