WSA World Championships Sprint & Mid-Distance 2026

Dear Members,

Please find below the details for the 2026 WSA World Championships Sprint & Mid-Distance in Rotunda Gate (Romania). The Championship will take place from 5 - 8 February 2026.

Program (provisional):

• Stake out opens: 4 February @ 12:00 hrs
• Vet check: 4 February (12:00 – 20:00 hrs) & 5 February (08:00 – 16:00 hrs)
• Trail inspection: 5 February from 13:00 hrs - 15:30 hrs on skis (no dogs!).
• First team leader meeting: 5 February @ 15:30 hrs
• Opening ceremony: 5 February @ 17:30 hrs (assembly 17:15 hrs)
• Further team leader meetings: 6, 7, and 8 February @ 07:30 hrs
• First start first heat: 6 February @ 8:30 hrs
• First start second heat: 7 February @ 8:30 hrs
• Mushers' dinner & party: 7 February @ 19:00 hrs
• First start third heat: 8 February @ 8:30 hrs
• Prize giving ceremony: 8 February @ 16:00 hrs

Race Marshal: Arno Steichler
Deputy Race Marshal: Rudiger de Pauw

Fees:

• Fee to secure starting places: €20 per place. This is a non-refundable fee that will be deducted from the starting fee. Should the Championship need to be cancelled, this fee will remain with the organisers to cover the costs they incurred.
• First start: €160 (this includes 1 voucher for the mushers’ dinner. Additional vouchers for the mushers’ dinner cost €20).
• Second start: €60
• Juniors: Free (includes 1 voucher for the mushers’ dinner)

Late payment fees for entries/payments received after the first payment deadline: €20 (applies also to juniors)

Please note:

• The use of fluorinated ski waxes is banned.
• To be able to compete at the 2026 WSA World Championships Sprint & Mid-Distance, mushers need to have paid for their WDL for the 2025/26 season. Please list in the attached Excel spread sheet the WDLs of the mushers who still have to pay for their WDL. Please send the completed form to Diese E-Mail-Adresse ist vor Spambots geschützt! Zur Anzeige muss JavaScript eingeschaltet sein.
• All payments (starting fees and WDL fees) must be made by our national members. Payments by individual mushers will be returned.

Deadlines:

• 9 January: Final deadline for WSA members to request starting places and pay fees to secure starting places
• 23 January: First payment deadline
• 30 January: Second (final) payment deadline
• Changes to classes entered can be made by the team leader until the first team leader meeting (5 February @ 15:30 hrs).

Registration:

• National WSA members must request the number of starting places they require no later than 9 January by email to Diese E-Mail-Adresse ist vor Spambots geschützt! Zur Anzeige muss JavaScript eingeschaltet sein.
  
• Mushers are now able to register for the WSA World Championships Sprint & Mid-Distance by going to https://racedata.wsa-sleddog.com
  
• All competitors must be confirmed by their national WSA member. Members will receive a list of their competitors for approval no later than 23 January 2026.

Further information:

• Event website: https://www.sleddog.ro/WorldChampionShipRotunda.html  
  
• Facebook page:
  

WSA bank account:

World Sleddog Association, Volksbank Franken, D-74722 Buchen
IBAN: DE03674614240012043503; BIC: GENODE61BUC

Preparations for the Championship are well underway, and we are looking forward to seeing many of you in Rotunda Gate in February!

The WSA Board & the Organisers of Rotunda Gate 2026