FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WINTER PURINA® INCREDIBLE DOG CHALLENGE® COMES TO WHISTLER

Featured events include Avalanche Rescue, Skijoring, Agility, 60-Weave Pole and Freestyle Flying Disc;
Proceeds of the event to benefit local animal and pet charities

For the first time ever, the Winter Purina Incredible Dog Challenge (PIDC) is coming to Whistler! On Jan. 8 and 9, 2010, some of the best performance dogs in the world will show off their talents just prior to the 2010 Winter Olympic games. The dogs will be competing in a number of different events including Avalanche Rescue, Skijoring, Agility, Head-to-Head 60-Weave Pole Racing and Freestyle Flying Disc. Local dogs and handlers can participate in the fun Paw-and-Pole exhibition / competition, which will include fastest small dog and fastest large dog awards, a Best Costume award, in addition to a "Look-Alike" contest to see who most resembles their dog. See event descriptions and tentative schedule below.

Proceeds from these public events will benefit local animal and pet charities. This is a great opportunity for you and your dog to have fun participating or simply watching incredible athletic dogs competing. The event will be filmed for broadcast in both Canada and in the U.S.

Nestlé Purina PetCare, the title sponsor of the event, believes that any dog can be incredible given the proper nutrition, training and love. The Purina Incredible Dog Challenge certainly showcases this, with many of the top competitors through the years coming from animal shelters or rescue efforts.

“These dogs are athletes competing in events they love to do, are entertaining to watch and evoke the bonds that we all share with our four legged friends," said Jim Allen, Manager, Experiential Marketing of Nestlé Purina PetCare.

The Purina Incredible Dog Challenge is one of the most popular and well-known marketing initiatives in the pet industry. Currently finishing its 12th season in the U.S., the PIDC has been viewed by well over a billion people worldwide and has aired on NBC, ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, USA Network, TBS Superstation and Bravo TV networks. This marks the first time the event has been staged in Canada, and only the second time ever outside the U.S., having gone to Australia in 2000 prior to the Olympics there.

"It is great to have Whistler host the ‘Doggie Olympics’ prior the actual Olympic Games", said organizer Paul Carson, who is a former Canadian National Ski Team member. "We have staged these events in beautiful places from coast to coast in the U.S., but never with the backdrop as spectacular as Whistler / Blackcomb."

For more information on the event and Pet Care go to: www.whistler.com/events , www.carsonevents.com, www.petcentric.com .

The 2010 PIDC Winter Tentative Schedule

Tentative Schedule: Thursday, January 7, 2010

Village Plaza

12:00 Noon Canine Demonstration
4:00 PM Canine Demonstration

Tentative Schedule: Friday, January 8 2010
On Mountain
9:30 AM Avalanche Rescue (top of Gondola)

Whistle Golf Course - Purina Arena
10:00 AM Competitor Registration
11:00 AM Skijoring Race Practice
12:00 PM Competitor Lunch and Meeting
1:00 PM Agility Practice
2:00 PM Freestyle Flying Disc Practice and local qualifier

Whistler Skier’s Plaza
2:45 PM Slalom Racing Practice
3:30 PM Man vs. Dog Slalom Race and Canine Demonstrations

Tentative Schedule: Saturday, January 9, 2010
Whistler Golf Course Main Arena
10:00 AM Skijoring Race
11:00 AM Paw and Pole (costume – public event)
12:30 PM Agility Competition
1:30 PM Slalom Racing – head to head 60-weave pole racing
2:30 PM Freestyle Flying Disc Competition

Event Descriptions:

• Incredible Freestyle Flying Disc: This competition replicates the popular PIDC discipline, where teams consisting of a dog and his/her human partner perform two-minute freestyle flying disc routines, timed to music. Except this competition is staged on a groomed snow field. Judges score the team on dog skills, handler skills and bonus catches. Difficulty, leaping ability, and showmanship.
• Incredible Agility: Small and large dog competitors navigate an obstacle course on a groomed snow field consisting of jumps, weave poles, tunnels and other obstacles. Dogs are timed, with penalty times added for faults made on the course. Each dog makes two runs on the course, with the fastest time winning.
• Incredible Dual Course Slalom Racing: Dogs compete head-to-head on a 60-weave pole course in a tournament elimination format. Eight dogs start in four quarter-final races, with winners advancing to the semis and finals. A consolation heat will determine 3rd place.
• Paw and Pole: This is a demonstration event that is open to the public. Locals are encouraged to bring their own dogs and enter the cross-country “Paw and Pole” ski race. All dogs must be kept on a leash or skijoring harness. Competitors will start at one minute intervals and go around the course (1.0 - 2.5 KM). Prizes will be given for fastest teams, best costumes, best look alike (dog and handler) and more. Dogs can pull, heal or even be carried around the course.
• Incredible Avalanche Rescue: The Incredible Avalanche Rescue Dog competition is designed to simulate a real life avalanche rescue. Minimum of four teams will compete head to head. Each team has one dog, and three ski patrol (1 handler and 2 diggers). Each team must locate a person buried 5’ to 6’ under the snow and dig the person out. This is a timed, head-to-head, race run in heats. The faster team from each heat will advance to the next round, culminating in a final championship heat. Individual times from the semi-final heats will determine 3rd and 4th place. Timing begins when the dog and handlers enter the designated snow field site (approximately 50’x50’) where they will search and locate a victim below the surface. The clock stops when the dog gets the pull toy from the victim’s hand.
• Incredible Skijoring: This competition (Norwegian for “ski driving”) features cross-country skiers drawn over snow by one or more dogs. Teams, consisting of one or two dogs and a cross-country ski racer attached by a cord and harness, compete on a 5K course (3.1) miles. Sprint speeds of 20 mph are common in short races. Even though competitors are racing head to head this is a timed event and the overall time determines place from third place on. The fastest two teams will advance on to a final championship race.