Imagine gliding on the snow with several of your Samoyed companions, together eagerly sprinting down the trail to see what may lie around the next bend. In doing so, cherishing the long honored tradition of this ancient breed.
Dog sledding is a team sport where the team is composed of the “driver” or musher and his/her dogs. The number of dogs on a race team varies widely from as few as 2 to an unlimited number in an event called unlimited class sprint racing. The most popular races are still the limited class sprint races in which the team size approximately equals the number of miles run (e.g. a team in 4 dog class runs 4 miles). Increasing in popularity are both mid distance and stage races. Mid distance races may range anywhere from 20 miles to a over a hundred miles in length. Stage races are run in segments, often 30 to 60 miles in length. Of course, the best known sled dog races are the ultra distance events such as the Iditarod, or Yukon Quest. At this time Samoyeds are most commonly seen in limited class sprint races, and occasionally in mid distance races.
Sanctioning Organizations
Several organizations sponsor or sanction races depending on location. These organizations create regulations for how races will be run that they sponsor and they sponsor annual awards. One of the largest in North American organzations is International Sled Dog Racing Association (ISDRA) which sponsors both limited class and mid distance races. The International Federation of Sleddog Sports (IFSS) is an international sanctioning body. OWS recognizes events held under ISDRA or ISDRA-like rules.
There are some regions of the US where races are sanctioned by smaller organizations with rules very similar to those used by ISDRA, such as the Alaska Dog Mushers Association (ADMA). In Europe and other parts of the world there are still other organizations such as the European Sled Dog Racing Association (ESDRA).
Samoyeds as Sled Dogs
Samoyeds are not the fastest dogs found racing in any of the venues just described, which are dominated by teams of Alaskan Huskies or Eurohounds, however people can enjoy the sport of sled dog racing with their Samoyeds by focusing on the goal of doing the best that they can. OWS awards, both top team and achievement awards can provide goals for Samoyed drivers. I race not specifically to be top team (though I’d love to get there some day) but to meet personal goals that I have set for my team. Still Samoyed teams can perform well in any of these venues provided that they are conditioned, and trained to do so. Many of our top Samoyed sprint teams have posted blistering speeds of 15 mph and greater, on average.
Imagine gliding on the snow with several of your Samoyed companions, together eagerly sprinting down the trail to see what may lie around the next bend. In doing so, cherishing the long honored tradition of this ancient breed. 
Several organizations sponsor or sanction races depending on location. These organizations create regulations for how races will be run that they sponsor and they sponsor annual awards. One of the largest in North American organzations is 
Samoyeds are not the fastest dogs found racing in any of the venues just described, which are dominated by teams of Alaskan Huskies or Eurohounds, however people can enjoy the sport of sled dog racing with their Samoyeds by focusing on the goal of doing the best that they can. OWS awards, both top team and achievement awards can provide goals for Samoyed drivers. I race not specifically to be top team (though I’d love to get there some day) but to meet personal goals that I have set for my team. Still Samoyed teams can perform well in any of these venues provided that they are conditioned, and trained to do so. Many of our top Samoyed sprint teams have posted blistering speeds of 15 mph and greater, on average.