Belgium world champion sleddog racing 2025 in Norway
It's not a World Cup in soccer or cycling, but for the participants, it involves just as much professionalism, dedication and enthusiasm; it's the World Cup in sleddog racing.
Our compatriot Stefan Goris from Zutendaal in Limburg and his six dogs were crowned world sleddog racing champions in February in the ancient mountain town of Røros in the Norwegian province of Trøndelag. They completed the three 11 km stages in just 57'23". At times they tore along the hilly course at speeds as high as 44 mph. And all this while the mercury registered -18°C. He also brought home gold in 2014.
There were 16 teams behind them at the finish line, some from countries that are used to harsh winter temperatures, such as Norway, Canada and Switzerland. Stefan deserves particular praise when you consider that back home in Zutendaal he rarely gets to practise in a snowy landscape but usually relies on a quad bike instead of a sled to trudge through the rain and mud.
In the context of this world championship, we find that the dogs, perhaps the real heroes of the race rather than their drivers, are also rewarded. They are not interested in a cash prize, however, the winning pack traditionally receives a bag of pig ears. Only ... Stefan's 2025 team was raised vegetarian. An alternative double portion of goodies was their reward. Well deserved!
No problem if you missed the race. Just know that Røros is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.