2026–27 season: PSDC races will run under ISDRA rules only; IFSS accreditation withdrawn
Osceola Tug Hill Dryland Challenge, October 31 – November 1, 2026: all classes will run under ISDRA rules. No IFSS World Cup points will be awarded. Registration closes Wednesday, October 28, at 8:00 pm Eastern. If you registered expecting IFSS points, you are eligible for a refund (see below).
The Pennsylvania Sled Dog Club board has voted to withdraw from IFSS accreditation for the 2026–27 season, and to let everyone know right away. This applies to all three of our races:
Osceola Tug Hill Dryland Challenge, October 31 – November 1, 2026
North East Dryland Challenge, November 21–22, 2026
Jersey Devil Dryland Challenge, March 6–7, 2027
All three races remain ISDRA-sanctioned and will run entirely under the ISDRA Dryland Race Rules. The class lists, dates and locations are unchanged.
This decision is for the 2026–27 season only. It is not a permanent change to PSDC policy. PSDC will revisit IFSS accreditation in future seasons if IFSS policies change to be better aligned with PSDC's goals and values.
What this means for you at Osceola
Every class runs under ISDRA rules, including scooter, bikejor and canicross, which were listed as IFSS-accredited.
Equipment that meets ISDRA rules is accepted. Examples: bikejor and scooter lines of 7–12 ft, canicross lines of 5–9 ft, and ISDRA brake requirements.
Results go to ISDRA for ISDRA points. No results will be sent to USFSS or IFSS, and no IFSS World Cup points will be awarded.
IFSS and USFSS websites may continue to list PSDC races as IFSS-accredited until they are updated.
Refunds
If you registered for Osceola expecting IFSS World Cup points, you are eligible for a refund. Please email the PSDC Treasurer at psdctreasurer AT gmail.com.
Why we made this decision
Each organization now requires its own rules.
ISDRA requires races it sanctions to use ISDRA rules (ISDRA Sanctioning Requirements and Standards, A.1.a).
For the 2026–27 season, USFSS has told race organizers that "IFSS race rules must be followed at IFSS accredited events."
Until this season, our accredited classes ran under ISDRA rules. That is no longer an option.
2. A class cannot follow both rulebooks. A full rule-by-rule comparison found differences that can't be reconciled within a single class, in these areas:
officials and their licensing
driver and dog eligibility (driver ages, dog age, team sizes, registered breeds)
required equipment (lines, brakes, helmets, wheels and more)
class structure (including 2-dog bikejor, which IFSS doesn't offer)
trail rules (passing, repassing and finish zones)
start procedures and penalties
results and reporting
A detailed analysis is available on request.
Equipment. Meeting IFSS equipment rules would require many of our drivers to change or replace equipment, especially brakes on every wheel, line lengths and certified helmets. For many drivers that isn't practical, especially this close to race day.
Running two rulebooks at one event. Running some classes under IFSS rules and others under ISDRA rules would mean two sets of equipment checks, trail rules and penalties at one event. It would also mean separate result lists and reporting. We believe one clear set of rules is simpler and clearer for drivers, dogs and volunteers.
Officials and race timing. Our race officials are trained in ISDRA rules, and our races are timed and run with ISDRA's RaceWorks system, which can't be used for classes sanctioned by another body. IFSS-accredited classes require race judges licensed by IFSS or an IFSS-recognized body.
When the requirement was announced and transparency. USFSS's deadline for fall 2026 accreditation applications was July 15, 2026. The requirement to follow IFSS rules at accredited races was presented to race organizers afterward, at USFSS training sessions held August 26, September 16 and October 7, 2026. Since then, we have worked to compare the ISDRA and IFSS rules in full, and to understand what following both at the same event would involve. That has been a great deal of work in a short time. We did this to be fully transparent with our members and competitors about which rules apply at our events and how results will be reported, and so that we can follow the rules and report results accurately to each sanctioning body. With Osceola days away, we want drivers to know where things stand before registration closes.
Thank you
We thank USFSS for answering our questions and providing the written details for this season. We will keep following ISDRA, IFSS and USFSS developments and will revisit the decision to dually sanction events in future seasons.
Questions? Email subzerodogs AT gmail.com.
Pennsylvania Sled Dog Club, Inc. — October 26, 2026