10 Years WSA - About World Sleddog Association
When in 1995 some National Sleddog Organizations in Europe did not agree with direction
the FISTC was going, a decision was made to create a new International Organization
for the sport with purebred sleddogs as defined by F.C.I. standards. In a car ride
from Austria to Germany the concept for a new organization was drafted and the name
WSA was first mentioned. A first meeting of potential members was held in August
1995 in the Hotel Pfefferhöhe, Germany. This meeting was attended by delegates from
Belgium, Luxembourg and Germany. Those were the first organizations that had decided
to leave the FISCT.
The WORLD SLEDDOG ASSOCIATION e.V. -WSA- was founded
Original founding board members included Gitta Henz, Hanne Noike, Jürgen Falkenberg,
Bernd Dahlke, Johann Lingier, Paul Kutzner and the current Chairman Bernd Keusemann.
At the first General Assembly of the WSA, Pia Joergensen and John Swanen were added
as board members. In the first few month the WSA was proud to announce new members
from Italy, the Netherlands and Denmark.
The time for International Championships had come and first Distance- and Sprint
European Championships were held in Neubau/Fichtelberg and Frauenau respectivelly.
Every Year thereafter the "WSA Sleddog Circus" traveled to a different location
and country from Germany over Austria, Sweden or Poland to Italy to hold the annual
Championships. Yes we did have some bad luck in 2001 and 2002 when the Championships
had to be cancelled due bad weather conditions, but never-the-less the following
years the weather god ment it good with us again.
In the Sprint scene we had 2 World Championships in these past 10 years. 2000 in
Nesselwaengle, Austria where the European mushers gave up the 6-dog Siberian title
to our Canadian musher friend, and in 2004 in Cortina D'Ampezzo in Italy
I would like to thank all organizations and everyone that had been involved in the
past ten years in organizing the events and making them happen. None of us is a
professional in sleddog business and we all spend our spare time for the sport and
the sport event organization. Let's keep this good spirit up also for all future
events. In the last few years WSA added its European and NewZealand Cup races to
the sports spectrum and the growing number of participants in those events proved
that this is the right direction to go over and above the annual Championship races.
Due to this sports oriented work WSA has become the larges sleddog organization
for purebred sleddog in the World!
WSA has currently 23 National Member Organizations from New Zealand over Russia
and Central Europe to our newest member South Africa. Should I say: The sun never
sets in the WSA Empire ?! This may be too outrageous (but we are working on It).
In addition ESDRA has chosen to be an associated WSA member which added even more
Nations to the WSA family and individual members from various countries have also
joined WSA. Due to our success and as a result of our negotiation with the IFFS
board it was decided in 1998 that WSA would become an associated member of the IFSS
Federation.
This was the time when purebred sleddogs became part of the world wide sleddog racing
community. It also brought over 3000 new mushers to the IFSS. In 1999 WSA held its
first race marshal training seminar. This race marshal training and the certification
of WSA race marshals was coordinated with the ESDRA and our race judges are not
only accepted at WSA events but moreover also at ESDRA events.
As a result ESDRA race judges can officiate at WSA races and WSA judges will be
attending events held by ESDRA members. As of today about 50 race judges have participated
in the WSA race judge seminars with 5 judges being at an International race judges
status. For the future there is still all lot to do and I see our efforts targeted
towards the goal of making our sport better accepted by the spectators and therefore
by the TV and Print media. We made some good steps in that direction in the last
two years by having the B&B TV productions as our partner. But the sport a has
to change to continue this route. For example: We have too many categories that
no spectator understands and before the time keepers are finished most people have
left the stake out area. Different categories and different start and/or finish
procedures need to be adapted. We, the mushers have to become more flexible and
open to those changes. Otherwise our sport will not be accepted widely and not going
anywhere. In the name of the WSA Board I wish everyone involved in sleddogs sports
health, a lot of fun and as always good mushing,
Bernd Keusemann WSA Chairman
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