Tabernash dog musher Kathy Burke has been racing locally for 20 years, but this October, she will face a next-level competition.

Burke was selected to join a 22-person mushing team that will represent the United States at the International Federation of Sleddog Sports dryland world championships in Minocqua, Wisconsin, from Oct. 21 to 26. There, Kathy and her dog Dash will race in a 5K all-out bikejor sprint.

Traditionally hosted in European countries, the championship is coming to the U.S. for the first time this year. 23 countries will be represented and over 300 dogs will race — a major upscale from the smaller local competitions Burke is used to.

“This is the biggest thing I’ve ever done,” she said.

What is bikejoring?

Bikejoring, also called dryland mushing, originated from traditional snow dogsledding. But instead of a large pack of dogs and a sled, bikejoring only requires one dog, a set of wheels — or skis in the winter— and a harness.

While Burke will compete at the dryland world championship in the one-dog class, other racing classes include four to six-dog teams, pulling a person on a bike, rig or scooter as they dart to the finish line.

The sport requires high-powered, purpose-bred dogs with genetics that make them the strongest, fastest and most driven athletes possible. Burke’s two-year-old dog Dash is a Eurohound: 30 percent huskey, 35 percent pointer and 12 percent greyhound. The breed is known for athleticism, intelligence and drive, making it a favorable companion for mushers, she said.

“The dog really carries the team,” Burke said. “I’m just getting as close to her level as possible.”

Meet Dash: A dog born to race

It takes a certain type of dog to succeed at bikejoring, so when it came to selecting a race companion, Burke said the most important factors were that her dog be determined and passionate about mushing.

Dash’s athleticism is evident in her blood; the dog’s pedigree reveals five generations of sled dogs on both sides of the family. In fact, three of Dash’s siblings from her litter will also compete at the Minocqua world championship this October.

“All of them just want to pull and harness,” Burke said.

When it comes to racing, Dash maintains a level of hyperfocus that Burke said is unmatched, compared to dogs she has previously competed with.

“Her focus is forward, and that’s what it takes, Burke said. “That is something I truly believe has been bred into her.”

It is that focus and intensity, she said, that has carried the duo to the high performance level they hold today. Burke and Dash’s current 5k record is under 12 minutes with an average speed of 19 miles per hour. Last year, she competed in the Snow Mountain Ranch Dryland Classic and beat out two nationally-recognized mushers.

Throughout their races this winter and spring, she and Dash maintained an undefeated record and beat two other competitors that formerly raced for team USA at the international level. At that point, Burke knew she had a shot at making it to Minocqua. In January, she submitted an application and received an official acceptance to team USA on July 4.

Unexpected feats with more to come

Burke never had the goal of becoming a world champion when she started out. She has worked at an investment office for the past 20 years, and described herself as a “desk jockey” who is “not really physically fit.”

But her love of the sport set her a tier above the rest, and once she found a dog that matched her attitude and passion, everything clicked.

“I wanted a dog that loved racing like I did,” she said. “The dog that I got just happened to be a world-class athlete, and so that’s why we’re going to the world championship. She basically took me from the amateur ranks to the pros.”

Professional or not, Burke said bikejoring is an accessible sport that almost anyone can get into.

“You can use your pound puppy, and your backyard bike, and you can go out to a clinic and compete next week in the recreational class,” she said. “It is super accessible for everyday people.”