By Joy Davis, Educational Journalist, IN
Kristy Berington started mushing at a young age with a homemade sled, a Great Pyrenees and a Border collie. Her first mentor was Lisa Chaplin. Kristy loves the outdoors and dogs. So racing is a natural outcome. Kristy said, “These sled dogs are the most incredible athletes I have ever seen.”
During her first year in Alaska Kristy was mentored by Dean Osmar, 1984 Iditarod champion. Kristy is starting her 2nd season working for Paul Gebhardt. She said, “Paul has taught me so much about dog care, nutrition, health, training, sled building, racing, and so much more. It is because of the generosity of Paul and Evy Gebhardt that I am able to run the Iditarod this year.”
Kristy’s qualifying races included the Knik 200, the Tustumena 200 (finished in the top 10), and the Klondike 300(also in the top 10). From these races Kristy learned how to prepare better for the changing climates. The Klondike 300 was her first race with a 16 dog team. She said, “It meant so much to me to hear top mushers tell me that I took great care of my dogs and had a very efficient checkpoint routine. That’s like Michael Jordan telling you that you have a nice jump shot.”
Training races for this season are the Alaska Excursion 120, the Copper Basin 300, the Tustumena 200, and the Denali Doubles. Kristy trains year round while the team has been in action since mid-August.
Racing dogs is expensive. Kristy is a self-supporter. She is also receiving support in the form of gear and equipment from the Gebhardt’s. Other sponsors include: Halliburton, Janssen Funeral Homes, Inc., Lisa Davis/First Tool Corp., Momentum Premium Athletic Dog Food, Fitdog Nutrition, Mickey’s Custom Sewing, Fulton Auto Body, Kenai Veterinary Hospital, the Morning View Kennel Booster Club, Northern Outfitters, the Berington family, Captain Tom and Crew, and the Superior Bar and Grill.
Kristy’s goal is to finish the Iditarod with a happy/healthy dog team. She has aspirations of being in the top thirty finishers. She also plans for this Iditarod to be one of many to come. Kristy feels that her personal challenge will be that she demands so much from her team. Her team includes veterans and rookies. They will be undergoing many of the same emotions that Kristy will encounter including excitement, nervousness, and stress. She plans on listening to music along the way to help her stay calm.
After reaching Nome, Kristy will see that the dogs are settled. She then plans to take a long awaited shower and get some sleep. She also plans to spend time with her twin sister, Anna, and share tales from the trail with other mushers.
Safe trails, Kristy.
