Organizers of the Voyageur Classic Sled Dog Race wished for snow and Mother Nature granted their wish.

With plenty of the white stuff covering the ground, the third annual Northome-based sled dog race begins at 10 a.m. Saturday. Two local mushers, Ryan Anderson of Ray and Tony Mai of Big Falls, are expected to compete in the event.

The race, formerly known as the White Oak Sled Dog Race, has had a challenging start – or lack thereof. The event has been canceled the last two years due to lack of snow in 2012 and inclement weather in 2013.

This year, however, all things look to be a go. Saturday’s forecast is calling for partly sunny skies and a high temperature of 28 degrees. According to race Marshall Dan Bergerson, temps could even be a little on the warm side.

“Hard to believe it might be too warm,” he said with a laugh Monday as thermometer readings reached almost 50 degrees below zero with the wind chill.

According to Bergerson, organizers are relieved they should finally be able to watch the Voyageurs Classic take off and added spectators can expect an exciting event.

“Trails are groomed and ready to go, markers are going up (Tuesday),” he said. “There’s going to be a lot of excitement. Those dogs are going to be excited as hell taking off down the shoot.”

Unique to this year’s musher lineup is three generations of the Nelson family racing in the 8-Dog Pro Race. Grandmother Jamie Nelson is a veteran musher known across the country. Locally, Nelson is the musher who, for many years with her team of sled dogs, provided a ride for Santa Claus in the Twas the Lights Before Christmas Parade. She is a four-time John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon winner and has competed in and finished the Iditarod in Alaska multiple times.

Nelson’s son, Erik Nelson, also has a successful mushing background and has competed in the John Beargrease Mid-Distance race multiple years. Erik “stepped off the runners” of the dog sled several years ago to work and expand a family logging business and raise a family, said a news release. His daughter, Elizabeth Nelson, is the third family member competing Saturday.

According to Elizabeth’s bio on the Voyageur Classic website, the 14-year-old has been running and training her own dog team for three years. The Voyageur Classic will be her first race and she plans to participate in the mid-distance run of the Beargrease later this month.

Bergerson said Saturday’s event will feature two separate races – the 8-dog pro and the trophy class – and both will take off from the Northome School. A complete listing of mushers and race events can be found on www.voyageursclassic.com.