Ken Anderson – Fairbanks, AK
Website: http://windycreekkennel.com
Ken Anderson, 38, was born in Minnesota. Ken says he began mushing at age 3 because his parents had a recreational team. When he was in sixth grade, his father bought him a book on the Iditarod and he decided to someday compete in the race.
Before moving to Alaska, Ken attended the University of Minnesota and was a dog handler.
Ken came to Alaska in 1993 to learn more about mushing and study biology at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks. He’s been running the Iditarod since 1999. Ken is married to Gwen Holdman, also an Iditarod veteran. Ken says that they feel very fortunate for their mushing lifestyle and have mushed throughout North America.
“Racing Iditarod has become a huge part of our life. I’m glad to be back again.” Ken lists his occupation as dog musher and says his hobbies are carpentry and sailing. Ken and Gwen are the parents of twins, Marais and Leif, age 2, and newborn daughter, Lael Aurelia, born in July, 2010.
Ken’s Iditarod racing stats.
Sponsors:
Redpaw Petfoods; The United States Coast Guard; Wedgewood Resort
Jodi Bailey – Chatanika, AK
Website: www.dewclawkennel.com
Jodi Bailey, 42, was born in Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts. She went to school at Emory University in Atlanta, where she earned her BA in Theater and Anthropology. Jodi came to Alaska once she graduated. That was in 1991. She had spent summers here while she was in school and had “fallen in love with the place.” For the last 13 years she has been an instructor.
Jodi began mushing in 1995 and says that “over the past few years I have been setting new goals and challenges for myself, working up to this; Kobuk 440, Equinox Marathon. You could say I have been slowly working up to this. The historic nature of the trail, or course, interests me, and, I work with people who live in some of the communities along the trail.” She has run the Copper Basin, GinGin, Denali Doubles, and Kobuk 440, in addition to other shorter races.
Jodi says, “I’ve been running dogs over a decade, and as I learn more and gain more confidence I enjoy trying new challenges and trails with the kids—what we affectionately call the dogs at Dew Claw. When you don’t have bills, or work, or baggage or anything but you and them and the miles ahead of you, it is a wonderful feeling. And, over the years, I’ve heard so many amazing stories from the Iditarod Trail that I thought, I have to see this for myself.“
Jodi a member of the Fairbanks Running Club and says her hobbies are running, biking and cooking. Jodi is married to Dan, the Iditarod Rookie of the Year in 2010.
Sponsors:
TJ’s Landclearing; Natural Choice Market
* Watch a YouTube Video: YQ 2011: Dawson City – An interview with musher Jodi Bailey
YQ 2011: Dawson City – An interview with musher Jodi Bailey
John Baker, Kotzebue, Alaska
John Baker, 48, was born and raised in Kotzebue, Alaska. He began mushing in 1995 and was interested in the Iditarod after watching the Race in its early years.
John ran his first Iditarod in 1996 and has been in every race since. He has 11 top ten Iditarod finishes, and in 2010 won both the Kusko 300 and the Kobuk 440. Baker is self-employed and enjoys the rural Alaska life. He has a son, Alex, 22, a veteran of the Jr. Iditarod and a daughter, Tahayla, 8. A commercial pilot, he says his hobbies are flying and dogs.
Visit John’s website at this link.
James Bardoner
James Bardoner, 62, was born and raised in Pennsylvania. He received his B.S. in chemistry at the University of Miami in 1977 and his M.D. in 1983. James has been practicing medicine in Chattanooga, Tennessee since 1990.
James says, “As the father of nine children, I have tried to raise them with the philosophy that they should dare to dream and have the courage to live their dreams. I have been dreaming of running the Iditarod since we stopped at Jeff King’s Husky Homestead in 2004, and my wife confirmed my idea. I worked as a volunteer in Comms from 2005-2008 and went to both Cripple and Iditarod. I began training with Doug Swingley in 2008. I required surgery in 2009 for a mushing related injury and returned to complete the Seeley Lake 200 and the Race to the Sky in 2010.”
James has had other adventures during his time of training for the 2011 Iditarod that can be read about on his face book page or his blog. He is married to Diane and they are the parents of adult children, Jennifer, James, Melissa, and Alicia – and Micah, 17, Erin, 13, Matthew, 10, Tian, 8, and Noelle, 2. James is a member of the ACEP and the Tennessee Aquarium. He lists his hobbies as bicycling, hiking, camping, and scuba.
Learn more at James’s website: TNM04Iditarod.blogspot.com
Kurt Barnum, Seeley Lake, MT
Kurt Barnum, 42, was born and raised in California. He began mushing in 1995, and in 1999, he moved to Montana to run dogs. He says that after “racing some good mushers in Wyoming, I wanted to run the Iditarod.”
A forester for the last 20 years, Kirk says he enjoys music, boats, dutch oven cooking, and wildlife. “I like raising my own dogs from puppies. They are ‘simply amazing.’ My kennel is usually about 50 dogs. When I’m not working with the dogs, I enjoy running rivers and pulling plugs for salmon and steelhead in drift boats.”
In the summer of 2010, Kirk moved from Montana to Idaho for “better trails.” He says his occupation is “dog servant.”
Kristi Berington – Kasilof, Alaska
Kristy Berington, age 26, was born and raised in Northern Wisconsin. She has worked as a wrangler in the Sierra Nevada Mountains area near Lake Tahoe, as a mushing tour guide, was a member of the Army National Guard, and is an avid runner. Kristy says that together with her twin sister, Anna, the pair started handling and running dogs at a neighbor’s sprint kennel. Their first dog team consisted of a Great Pyrenees and a Border Collie, pulling a sled they built out of a pair of downhill skis and a milk crate. The two continued to share their love of dogs and the outdoors, and eventually were drawn to Alaska because of these interests.
This is Kristy’s fourth season running dogs and racing in Alaska, and her third year working for Paul and Evy Gebhardt in Kasilof. “I couldn’t be happier! I’m living the dream here in Alaska.”
Moving here to Alaska three years ago, Kristy was able to see her dream, running the Iditarod, come true, thanks to Paul and Evy Gebhardt and the donations of many sponsors. After her rookie run to Nome in 2010, Kristi’s back for round two with an eager young team of pups born and raised at Gebhardt’s Morning View Kennel. “I love dogs, adventure, adrenaline, and pushing the limits. What better way to experience these and other feelings than racing across Alaska with a dog team.”
Kristy spends her free time with her friends and family (primarily consisting of her dog team and her twin sister, Anna, who also is an avid musher.) “I love running, hunting, horses, and the great outdoors. I’m looking forward to this year’s race, the challenges, opportunities, and most of all, my time with the real athletes, the dogs.”
Robert Bundtzen, Anchorage, Alaska
Robert Bundtzen, 61, grew up in Anderson (after moving to Alaska from New Mexico in1960) where he used a small dog team while trapping. After obtaining a degree from UAF, an M.D. from the University of Washington and training in infectious diseases at the University of Wisconsin. Robert returned to Alaska to establish a consultative infectious disease practice in Anchorage in 1984.
With the aid and encouragement of Jim Lanier, Robert began to run sled dogs in 1994. He has run the Iditarod 12 times, the Knik 200, Klondike 300, Tustumena 200, and the Copper Basin 300.
Robert continues to be amazed at what the trained Alaskan husky can do and continues to run dogs for inexplicable reasons (he loves it). His wife Joan and son, Travis, are his most ardent fans. Robert is a member of the Chugiak Dog Mushers Association and when not mushing he says he enjoys hunting, fishing, hiking, and the outdoors in general!
Martin Buser, Big Lake, Alaska
Website: www.buserdog.com
Born in Winterthur, Switzerland in 1958, Martin became fascinated with sled dogs while still a teen. He came to Alaska in 1979 to enhance his knowledge of care and training of sled dogs. He began working and training with long-time Alaskan mushers Earl and Natalie Norris and ran his first Iditarod in 1980. Martin, wife Kathy Chapoton, a retired teacher, and sons Nikolai and Rohn (both named after Iditarod checkpoints), reside in Big Lake, Alaska, where the family owns and manages Happy Trails Kennel. Nikolai and Rohn are currently in college. Rohn completed the 2008 Iditarod.
Martin spends a large percentage of his personal time speaking with youth on the humanitarian care of animals and the spirit of the Iditarod. A favorite celebrity of the children of Alaska, Martin treats them with surprise visits from his dogs and puppies during many of these appearances.
Martin runs the race each year with his dogs to test the success of their breeding, training, and physical endurance. He regards his racers as true competitive athletes and prides his team on their longevity and spirit of competition. Says Martin, “I run the Iditarod to prove that my dogs, bred, trained, and raced by Happy Trails Kennels, are the best amongst the world’s long distance athletes.” Martin’s 2002 team currently holds the record for the fastest Iditarod by completing the race in 8 days, 22 hours, 46 minutes and 2 seconds. He has the more consecutive Iditarod finishes than any other musher, 24 from 1986 until 2009. He also ran the race in a1980 and 1981.
As tribute to his treatment of his racers, Martin was awarded the coveted Leonhard Seppala Award in 1988, 1993, 1995, and again in 1997 for the most humanitarian care of his dogs. The award was named for the most famous Alaskan musher who ran the longest and most dangerous stretch of the 1925, 674-mile diphtheria serum run from Nenana to Nome, which saved hundreds of lives.
Following Martin’s 2002 Iditarod victory, the process for his becoming a naturalized citizen of the United States was completed under the burled monument. He then turned around in Nome and made the trip from Nome to Big Lake with his family by snowmachine.
Upon completion of the 2005 Iditarod after a woodworking accident 4 days prior to the race start resulting in the amputation of a part of his finger; he was awarded both the Sportsmanship and Most Inspirational Awards by his fellow mushers.
Martin is an honorary member of Rotary and the Explorer’s Club. His hobbies are carpentry and woodturning. When not working with dogs, he spends most of his time building a new, smaller, retirement home.
Martin is currently the musher with the most consecutive Iditarod finishes, 25 races completed in row, 27 total finishes.
Sponsors:
Kendall Auto Group; Eagle Pack (now a part of WellPet); MTA; Marylou Whitney; Diversified Tire; Big Lake Susitna Veterinary Hospital; END Polio NOW, Rotary International; Sprocketheads, LLC; Alaska Orthopedic Specialists/Dr. David McGuire; Trapper Creek Smoking Company; Taiga Mushing Supplies, Inc.; Northern Outfitters; Dr. Mike McNamara; Trabits Group; Jon/Jona Van Zyle; Susan/Edwin Estes
Cain Carter, Fairbanks, AK
Cain has signed up to run the 2011 Iditarod.
Cain is a rookie in this year’s race.
Cain is a Jr. Iditarod Champion.
A complete bio will be added to this site soon.
Please check back later this week.
Lachlan Clarke, Buena Vista, CO
Website: TeamClarkeUSA.com
Lachlan Clarke, 53, was born and raised in Derby, New York. He graduated from Principia College in Illinois in 1979 with a B.A. in History & Business Administration. In 1989, he moved to Colorado to work on ranches with horses, people, and cattle. He has been a horse trainer for 20 years. He says, “Our kennel is a team effort, my wife, Linda, being the other half of the team. We try to keep our kennel in the 30-35 dog range. We got into sled dog racing because we love developing working relationships with dogs and horses, then testing that relationship through competition. My main job is training horses and instructing horsemanship through the youth and adult programs at Adventure Unlimited Ranch, where we live as well. Dan MacEachen has been our sled dog mentor and has given us several great dogs over the past 10 years. Our bloodlines include MacEachen, Redington, Saunderson, Burmeister, Earhardt, and Barron. We’re working to become competitive in the Iditarod and hopefully will reach that point in the near future.” Lachlan is a member of the American Polocrosse Association, Mush with P.R.I.D.E., C.M.M., and A.Q.H.A. In his spare time he enjoys horses and horsemanship, polocrosse, cattle working, and other ranch work.
Sponsors:
Activeion Cleaning Solutions, MN; Friends of Team Clarke and Aventure Unlimited Ranches
Judy Currier – Two Rivers, AK
Website: http://lara-ke.blogspot.com/
Judy Currier, 46, was born in New Hampshire and graduated from the University of New Hampshire in 1984 with a degree in Business Administration. She was inspired by the achievements of Libby Riddles and Susan Butcher in 1982. In 1992, she and her husband, Devan, began mushing and quickly realized that their destiny was to live in Alaska. They moved to Wasilla in 1995 and in 2002 they jumped at the opportunity to take jobs in Fairbanks to “escape Wasilla traffic” and moved to Two Rivers. When Judy is not on the runners or at work, she enjoys bicycling and running. Judy is employed as Senior Accountant by Brice Inc. in Fairbanks.
Zoya DeNure – Paxson, AK
Website: dogsleddenali.com
Zoya DeNure, 34, was born and raised in Black River Falls, Wisconsin. She worked as an International runway model for twelve years, working in such place as Shanghai, China, and Milan, Italy. On one of her trips back home, she watched a sled dog demonstration; fascinated by these amazing animals, she quit her job and trekked to Alaska in search of her new destiny. She worked for well-known musher Bill Cotter for one year before piecing together her own dog team; some purchased from other mushers, some rescues. In 2003, she met her husband, John Schandelmeier, and together they founded a rescue/rehabilitation kennel for unwanted sled dogs. 2008 found Zoya competing in and finishing her first Iditarod Sled Dog Race with a mixed team of rescues and her own race dogs; “there is no difference—dogs are dogs whether they come from the shelter or from our yard.” Zoya’s 2011 team will again be a mix of dogs; “I expect to be more competitive this time, now that I know what I am getting in to; I can focus on where I need to improve.” Zoya, John and their two year old daughter, Jona, reside in Interior Alaska near the town of Paxson. Zoya enjoys writing, yoga, and keeping fit; but above all, her time with dogs.
Linwood Fiedler, Willow, Alaska – Has Withdrawn and is NOT racing in the 2011 Iditarod
Website: alaskahelimush.com
Linwood Fiedler, 57, was born and raised in Vermont. He received his BSW at Carroll College and his MSW at University of Montana. He began dog mushing in 1980 and lived in Montana before moving to Alaska in 1990. He says he moved to Alaska to “experience Alaska and to run the Iditarod.”
For the last 11 summers, Linwood has operated a glacier tour business in the Juneau area.
Lindwood says, “Sled dogs have become a way of life. I’ve surrounded myself with these wonderful animals 12 months a year. In the summer we do tours on a glacier and in the winter we travel the wilds of Alaska for our own enjoyment. I owe much of my happiness to these wonderful dogs.” When asked about hobbies outside of dogs and mushing, Linwood says, “Is there anything else?” Linwood and his wife Kathi are the parents of three, Justin, Dalton, and Christi.
Hans Gatt – Whitehorse, YT CANADA
Website: http://gattsled.com
Hans Gatt, 52, grew up on a farm in Austria. He ran the farm from age 26 and bred award winning dairy cows. He raced motocross in Europe until he attended a dog sled race that ignited his passion for racing sled dogs. Hans immediately started a breeding program using Edinger, Dunlap and Lester Erhart dogs. He also built his first dog sleds in Austria, under the name ‘Gatt Sleds.’ His partner in sled building in Austria was his good friend Ernst Danler. After winning all eight races entered in his first year of racing, including European Championship, Hans turned his attention to the world of dog sled racing in North America.
Hans moved to Atlin, B.C. in 1990. Hans has won the Yukon Quest four times, the Wyoming Stage Stop four times, the Copper Basin, the European Championship four times and the IFSS World Championship Open Class, among many other races.
Gatt’s dogs are his own breeding, but in years back he has mixed sprint lines with distance dogs from yards in Alaska, Europe, Scandinavia, Lower 48, and Canada. Hans is entering the 2011 Iditarod to see if he can finally win it and “put that baby to bed!”
Sponsors:
WellPet-Eagle Pack Natural Pet Food
Paul Gebhardt, Kasilof, AK
Website: http://aspenhollowlodging.com
Paul Gebhardt, 54, was born and raised in Minnesota and came to Alaska in 1989 “to escape the rat race of the Lower 48 states. “I moved to Alaska in 1984. I love to hunt and travel in the mountains of Alaska. I believe this is truly God’s country. I love to watch nature at its best, whether it is on horseback or with my dog team! I began mushing in 1992. I have bred up my own dog team for many years, now from the Red Dog line. I continue to run the Iditarod because I want to win it before I retire. As long as I feel I can physically be competitive, I will continue to race. I know my dogs are capable of winning. I live in Kasilof with my wife, Evy, and run a lodge there, besides being a general contractor. My kennel consists of 65 dogs, and I own four horses to hunt with. I love to raise pheasants and other birds. This will be my 15th Iditarod. I have placed as high as 2nd twice.” Paul and Evy are the parents of one adult child, Kristen.
Matt Giblin, Juneau, AK
Matt Giblin, 40, was born in Massachusetts. He became attracted to mushing after seeing it on television and began mushing in Colorado in 1992 when he worked as a tour guide. Matt came to Alaska in 1996 and ran the Iditarod in 1998. He has continued mushing and moved from Montana back to Alaska two years ago in order to return to the Iditarod Trail.
Matt says, “My reasons for running the Iditarod are numerous. The 2011 race for me will be the first part of a long term goal.” Giblin will be running Mitch Seavey’s two year olds in this year’s race.
Matt says that his hobbies are hunting, writing, traveling, and family.
Kelley Griffin, Wasilla, AK
Kelley Griffin, 50, was born in Minnesota and raised in Alaska.
She graduated from West Anchorage High School, now known as West High.
Kelley began mushing about 30 years ago and wanted to run the Iditarod to “further challenge myself and my team.”
She has finished the Yukon Quest six times and the Iditarod twice.
Kelley is a member of the MatSu Sled Dog Council, Inc. and the Yukon Quest Board of Directors.
Sven Haltmann Fairbanks, AK
Sven Haltmann, 33, began mushing in 1999 and came to Alaska in 2001 to look for new challenges and opportunities.
Sven grew up in Appenzell, a little Swiss village, in the foothills of a popular mountain range. Surrounded by farm animals all of his teenage days, he developed a strong bond with animals, especially dogs.
Sven lives in Fairbanks and is a sled dog tour operator.
He says he has no time for hobbies!
*
Ellen Halverson, Wasilla, AK
Ellen Halverson, 50, was born and raised in North Dakota. She received her degree in Biology and Music Education at Concordia College in Minnesota and then went to medical school in North Dakota. Ellen has been a psychiatrist for the last 19 years. She moved to Alaska in 1998 for a job at the Alaska Guidance Clinic, which is now Providence Behavioral Medicine. Ellen began mushing when she moved to Alaska and finished the Iditarod in 2007.
“When I finished the Iditarod in 2007, I learned a lot and would like to make changes and improvements to my training and racing. The Iditarod experience is both wonderful and very difficult. Iditarod is about shared experiences with the amazing canine athletes, family and friends who are with you every stop of the way, the Iditarod staff and volunteers without whom it would not exist and people all over the world who follow, watch, inspire all who are inspired by this event, fellow mushers and teams on the trail. Iditarod is about perseverance, problem solving, putting one foot in front of the other, facing fears and doubts and finding your way. I’ve turned 50 and Iditarod is a grand way to celebrate half a century on this earth.”
Ellen has a 7 year old son, Peter. Her hobbies are horses and hobby farm, “however, being a parent is the most important thing I do, and takes up most of my energy outside of work and the dogs.”
Matt Hayashida, Willow Alaska
Matt Hayashida, 37, was born in Massachusetts and worked in Wyoming for three years as a river/fishing guide and a dog sled tour guide. He began mushing in 1993 and knew he wanted to run the Iditarod the first time he stepped on the runners.
In 1993, Matt came to Alaska to work with Martin Buser. “After running two Iditarods with Martin’s yearlings, I knew I wanted to start my own kennel. I now have a modest number of dogs, a few more Iditarods under my belt, a beautiful family, and a wonderful circle of supportive friends and sponsors.”
Since 1999, Matt has been the general manager of Alaska Icefield Expeditions.
Matt has two children, Lily, 4 and Grace, 2. Matt says that he enjoys fishing, reading, history and comedy.
He is a member of Mush with P.R.I.D.E.
Learn more at Matt’s website: www.rubiconracingfastdogs.com
Jessica Hendricks – Two Rivers, AK
Jessica Hendricks, 28, was born and raised in Alaska.
She graduated from North Pole High School.
Jessica began mushing when she was nine years old.
She ran the Jr. Iditarod when she was in high school.
This will be her fourth Iditarod.
Jessica lists her hobbies as dogs, horses, and hunting.
Sponsors:
AIX; Don/Brandi Millar
Karin Hendrickson – Willow, AK
Website: www.blueonblackdogs.com
Karin Hendrickson, 40, was born and raised in California. She graduated from the University of Colorado at Boulder in 1991 and has lived in Idaho and Colorado working as a teacher and college student. Karin now works in Environmental Regulation here in Alaska, where she moved in 2003 to be a handler. “My mom had been coming to Alaska to volunteer for the Iditarod since 1998, long before I knew a thing about sled dogs or how they would take over my life. In 2002, she talked me into coming up to volunteer. I returned to volunteer again in 2003 and that is when I knew my future. I sold my house and everything in it, quit my job, and headed north. I spent two years learning the ropes and paying my dues as a handler. I really thought I’d quit dogs and get a real life after that, but I was miserable, so I started building my own team in 2006, but not with any plans to race. Then I decided to the Iditarod just once. Well, that was fun, so I figured I’d do it one more time. By now, I’m starting to realize that I need to run dogs to feel like me—so here we go again!” Before dogs, she says she used to telemark ski, rock climb, white water kayak, train horses, and hike. Now, Karin says between working full time and training, she barely has time to sleep. Karin is married to Varan Hoyt.
Sponsors:
Pacific Tugboat Services/Ted/Joyce Griffith, CA; Gwen Rodman, CA; Richard/Sandra Hendrickson, OR; Tom Derevjanik, NJ; Dennis/Joanne Keith, CA; Joan/Marilyn/Sandra, CA; Megaw family, CA
Trent Herbst – Ketchum, ID
Website: www.trentherbst.com
Trent Herbst, 40, was born and raised in Wisconsin.
Trent graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Lacrosse with a major in Elementary Education. He became interested in the Iditarod while teaching in Switzerland.
He began mushing in 2005.
Trent moved to Idaho in 2006 where he is a fourth grade teacher. He has taught for 16 years.
He and his wife, Candida, have one daughter, Kali, age 8. The family spends their summers in their cabin in Homer. Trent is a member of Mush with P.R.I.D.E. He says he enjoys anything outdoors and teaching.
Kris Hoffman – Steamboat Springs, CO
Website: Grizzlet.com
Kris Hoffman, 34, was born in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. He received a B.A. degree in Economics at the University of Minnesota Morris and moved to Steamboat Springs in 1996 to ski and enjoy the mountains.
Kris began mushing in 2000 when he started guiding winter dog sledding adventures and has finished both the Race to the Sky and the Seeley Lake mid distance races in Montana.
He is married to Sara.
His hobbies are listed as fly fishing, diving, backpacking, hunting, and anything out of doors.
Scott W. Janssen – Anchorage, AK
Website: www.JanssenFuneralHomes.com
Scott Janssen, the “Mushing Mortician,” 49, was born and raised in Crookston, Minnesota. He graduated from the University of Minnesota with a B.S. degree with a major in Mortuary Science in 1985 and moved to Alaska in June of that year to work as a mortician at Evergreen Memorial Chapel. He has been a mortician and funeral home owner for the last 26 years.
Scott has been a friend and sponsor of Paul Gebhardt for 12 years and began mushing in 2007. He says “Iditarod has been my dream since 1986.” He has run both the Knik 200 and the Taiga 300 mid distance races in Alaska. He and his wife of thirty years, Debbie, are the parents of two adult daughters, Angela and Chelsea. Scott is a member of the National Funeral Directors Association, the ICCFA, and Kiwanis. He says he enjoys camping, skiing, hunting, fishing, and “riding my Harley.”
Paul Johnson, Unalakleet, Alaska
Paul Johnson, 53, was born and raised in Alaska. He moved from St. Michael to Unalakleet in 1964 to be close to family while attending Covenant High School and has lived in Unalakleet ever since. After graduating as valedictorian from high school, he attended UAA four years in the School of Business and Finance.
Paul says he grew up around sled dogs. “My dad used them to provide for the family until 1964, trapping, hunting, and general travel. I was interested in the Iditarod from the first year it ran.”
Paul’s brother, Henry, ran the Race in 1980 and Paul ran in 1986. Paul has been involved with the Norton Sound Sled Dog Club from its inception. In 2009 and 2010, he helped his brother, William “Middy”, train his 2010 team. Since they had a lot of time and resources invested in the 2010 team, he was then encouraged by his family to run in 2011.
“I enjoy the challenge and I want to do the best I can in 2011.” Paul is a member of the Unalakleet Covenant Church and the Norton Sound Sled Dog Club. He lists his hobbies as hunting, fishing, and building things.
G.B. Jones – Wasilla, AK
Website: www.IditarodMusher.com
G.B. Jones, 62, was born and raised in Utah.
He moved to Alaska in 1976 for the “unspoiled wilderness.”
He began mushing in 2001 and ran his first Iditarod in 2002.
G.B. says that he “values this opportunity to prepare and ultimately go to Nome by dog team.”
He lists his only hobby as dog driving.
DeeDee Jonrowe – Willow, AK
Website: DeeDeeJonrowe.com
DeeDee Jonrowe, 57, was born in Frankfort Germany while her father was in the military. The family moved to Alaska in1971 where her dad was stationed at Ft. Richardson. DeeDee has a B.S. degree in Biological Sciences and Renewable Resources and now lists her occupation as kennel owner and dog racer. DeeDee says, “The Iditarod has become my lifestyle choice that permitted me a chance to celebrate Alaska’s history and the partnership that dogs have had in it. I have had a chance to experience this relationship and to bond with the Alaskan culture that I admire. God has blessed me with the health to once again travel through His most beautiful handiwork, experiencing a reflection of His unconditional love through the bond I have with my team. The volunteers and residents of rural Alaska are an important element of the experience for me, and I am blessed to continue participating in this race.” DeeDee is a member of the Valley Women’s Running Team and the Big Lake Baptist Church. She says that in her spare time she enjoys Labrador retrievers, Pekingese’s and mountain running. She is a triathlete and bike racer. DeeDee is married to Mike.
Peter Kaiser – Bethel, AK
Peter Kaiser, 23, was born and raised in Bethel, Alaska. He graduated from Bethel High School in 2005 and has worked on a tug boat for the Bering Marine Corps for the last two years.
Peter says, “Our family has always had dogs, and I’ve been mushing since I was a kid. Watching the Kuskokwim 300 every January sparked my interest in long distance racing, and a few years ago, I decided that I would give the Iditarod a try.”
Peter says he enjoys boats, hunting, fishing and camping.
Magnus Kaltenborn – Lillehammer, NORWAY
Magnus Kaltenborn, 21, was born in Lillehammer, Norway and lived there the first 18 years of his life. The outdoors was always a big part of his childhood, and “I am forever grateful for that. One day, as a 12 year old, it popped into my head that running dogs would be pretty cool. Pretty soon I got in touch with several mushers. I helped train every now and then but the majority of my time was spent as a biathlete. Having a mushing teacher in high school and Team Norway’s success in Iditarod definitely added to the fire. During my last semester of high school I had some unexpected think time and started to look around for a handler job among the friends I had been mushing with. One of them opened my eyes and I found no real reason not to live the dream full tilt. Feeling free as a bird, I was lucky enough to get in touch with Martin Buser and start helping the Happy Trails’ team. It has been flowers and sunshine ever since, and now the Iditarod is next.” Magnus will be running the yearling team and both the dogs and he will be out there to gain experience. The goal is to get the youngsters to Nome healthy and happy and a little more trail savvy. “Once I get them through elementary school, Martin can make competitive dogs out of them. Obviously I would never be able to do this without the never-ending support from my family, Martin, Kathy and all my friends in both Alaska and Norway. Hopefully I thank them in person and not only in writing. Thanks everybody!” Magnus has completed the Copper Basin 300 and the Yukon Quest 300. He lists his hobbies as skiing, whitewater kayaking, and hunting.
Sponsors:
Happy Trails Kennel; Northern Outfitters; Sue/Rich Allen; Friends & Family; Nancy Marty/Jim Davis; Linda Leady
Jim Lanier – Chugiak, AK: Jim has withdrawn from the race for Medical Reasons. Nicolas Petit is substituting for Jim. (See the bio for Nicolas Petit.)
Jim Lanier, 70, was born in Washington, DC and raised in Fargo, North Dakota, where his family moved when he was six years old. After receiving his medical degree from Washington University in St. Louis, he moved to Alaska in 1967 to serve at the Native Hospital with the US Public Health Service. A pathologist at Providence Hospital for thirty years, Jim is now retired. He began mushing in 1977 and says he got the bug from Iditarod mushers Ron Gould, Dinah Knight, and Gerry Riley. Jim ran his first Iditarod in 1979. Never having scratched, he has now entered and completed fourteen Iditarods, including at least one in all five decades that the race has been in existence. His goal is to make it six decades and in a competitive fashion. “After that, who knows?” Jim says, “Health aside, it’s a matter of continued enjoyment of the dreaming, the planning, the training, the support of family, friends and sponsors, and of going head-to-head” with people half his age and younger. His specialty is his white dogs and therefore, “Northern Whites Kennel.” Jim is married to Anna Bondarenko, the first Russian woman to enter and complete “The Last Great Race” (2000). He is the father of four, Margaret, 42, Kim, 41, Willy, 32, and Jimmy, 13, and also the grandfather of four, Annie, Ethan, Logan, and Jessie. His hobbies include singing, commercial fishing, hunting, reading, writing, and raising kids!
Sonny Linder, Two Rivers, Alaska
Sonny Lindner, 61, was born in Michigan on Christmas Eve. He came to Alaska in 1970 and attended the University of Alaska at Fairbanks where he graduated in 1972. He began mushing in the early 70’s and became interested in the Iditarod in 1976 when he had friends having fun running the race.
Sonny was the winner of the first Yukon Quest. He finished fourth in the All Alaska Sweepstakes in 2008. Sonny is a carpentry contractor in the Fairbanks area. He has three adult children, Erika, R.T., and Chad, three young children, Ava, Sarah, and Sam. Sonny is also a grandfather.
Sonny says, “I run the Iditarod to enjoy the trip across Alaska with my team and to visit many friends along the way.”
Bruce Linton – Kasilof, AK
Website: www.nolimitssleddogkennel.com
Bruce Linton, 48, was born in New York City and was raised in the suburbs of Philadelphia. He studied at Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania where he received two degrees, one in Environmental Science and the other in Mathematics / Computer Science. Soon after graduation, Bruce worked as an Environmental Scientist near Boston and at the same time pursued his Master’s Degree in Hazardous Waste Management at Tufts University. In 1994, he moved to Vermont and worked for the State of Vermont as an Environmental Analyst.
In 1998, he began mushing and soon after started a dog sled touring business called Green Mountain Dog Sled Adventures. Green Mountain Dog Sled Adventures grew quickly and in 2004 Bruce resigned from his state job to run his sled dog touring business full time. Unexpectedly, the touring business took over his life and he realized that he couldn’t live his dreams of training and racing his dogs while at the same time running his business.
He made the big move from Vermont to Alaska in the summer of 2006 with his wife Melissa so that he could fulfill his lifelong dream of running the Iditarod. He has completed the last four Iditarods and has bettered his finishing position each year.
In his spare, time Bruce enjoys running marathons and competing in triathlons. He has completed 12 marathons, three Ironman triathlons, and hundreds of other athletic events. Bruce has managed to fulfill all of these accomplishments as a Type 1 diabetic which brings its own set of challenges. Bruce is committed to raise awareness about diabetes and to spread his message that diabetes can achieve anything as long as they take care of themselves, live a healthy lifestyle, and “dream big” with a positive attitude. Bruce believes that those with diabetes should not be limited by their medical condition and has renamed his kennel to align with that philosophy – No Limits Sled Dog Kennel. He has given talks about the Iditarod and living one’s dream to thousands of children around the country and has been featured in several TV shows.
When Bruce is not training his dogs or giving presentations, he is an Environmental Compliance Officer for Homer Electric Association.
Bruce and Melissa have a 2 year old son named Brody and a one year old daughter named Shea.
Lance Mackey – Fairbanks, AK
Website: comebackkennel.com
Lance Mackey, 40, was born and raised in Alaska. The back to back four time Iditarod champion and four time Yukon Quest champion (and current record holder) says he began mushing “at birth.”
“I grew up around racing and the Iditarod. I was at the finish line in 1978 to see my father, Dick Mackey, win by one second. In 1983, my older brother, Rick, won. Both my father and brother won wearing bib #13 in their sixth Iditarod.” 2007 was Lance’s sixth Iditarod and he won wearing bib #13, just as he had planned.
Lance says, “At this time we have a Dream Team.”
Lance’s achievements include:
- Being the only person to win both 1000 mile races in the same year (two years in a row)
- First person to win four Iditarods in a row
- Two time Espy Nominee
- Inducted into Alaska Sports Hall of Fame in 2010
Lance also helped the first Jamaican musher, Newton Marshal, make it to the finish of the 2010 Iditarod. Newton will be joining Lance again for the 2011 Iditarod and they will be racing in the Lower 48 this winter as well.
Lance is a lifetime member of the Yukon Quest, the Iditarod Trail Committee Inc., a member of P.R.I.D.E, and the Armstrong Foundation. His interests include “sport fishing, old stuff of any kind and GOLD!” Lance and Tonya are the parents of Amanda, 22, Brittney, 20, and Cain, 18.
Kelly Maixner – Big Lake, AK
Kelly Maixner, 35, was born and raised in North Dakota. After receiving his dental degree, Kelly came to Alaska for a residence three years ago and decided to stay. He is a pediatric dentist in Wasilla. Kelly began mushing right after he arrived in Alaska and started thinking about running the Iditarod immediately. He has competed in several mid distance races and a number of sprint races in the last three years.
Kelly says, “I have a very young team, most of which are two years old or younger. I am entering the Iditarod because I love distance mushing and plan on doing it for a long time.” Kelly’s hobbies are hunting, fishing, and snowboarding.
Newton Marshall – St. Ann, Jamaica
Website: www.Jamaicadogsled.com
Twenty-seven year old Jamaican, Oswald “Newton” Marshall began mushing in 2005 after an operations manager at Chukka Cove, saw something special in Newton and handpicked him to look after a trio of new dogs at Chukka Cove Farm. Newton’s exuberance and special way with animals propelled him on a journey to the snow and great outdoors to train with huskies. In November 2007, it was decided that Newton would train and race to qualify for the Yukon Quest. Marshall left sunny Jamaica and arrived in Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, Canada to begin his long distance training with three-time Yukon Quest winner Hans Gatt. In 2009, Marshall became the first Jamaican ever to finish the Yukon Quest 1,000 Mile International Sled Dog Race. Following the 2009 Quest, he went to the Fairbanks area to train with then three time Iditarod champion, Lance Mackey, for his first attempt at the Iditarod trail Sled Dog Race.
In 2010 he became the first Jamaican to ever finish the Iditarod. He is returning for the 2011 Race. Newton says that his hobbies are listening to reggae music, hiking, and travelling.
Wattie McDonald – Aberdeenshire, SCOTLAND
Website: www.wattiesgreatrace.com
Wattie McDonald, 45, was born and raised in Scotland.
“I began with our first Siberian husky in 1999 and quickly became addicted to sled dog racing. After dreaming of Iditarod for many years, Wendy and I decided t o celebrate 25 years of wedded bliss by watching the start of the 2008 Iditarod, and from that day, Iditarod became a ‘must’ for me. I have worked off shore in the oilfield for over 20 years, but I am lucky that my wife, Wendy, shares my passion for dogs, and she takes good care of the team (10 Siberians) in my absence. We train in Fetteresso Forest which offers many miles of trails and it is just on our doorstep. We have met a great deal of people who show the same passion and commitment to the sport, namely Kev, Val and Jackie along with many sponsors and support from the family.”
Wattie finished the 2010 Iditarod and is coming back to do it again! He is a member of the Scottish Siberian Club and says that he enjoys Aberdeen Football Club (soccer). Wendy and Wattie are the parents of Kerry, 27, Nicola, 26, and Mark, 23.
Allen Moore – Two Rivers, AK
Website: SPKDogLog.com
Allen Moore, 52, was born in Arkansas where he received his college degree. He worked as a carpenter and taxidermist there before moving to Alaska almost 20 years ago. He began mushing about sixteen years ago and had competed in sprint races and in many mid distance races around the state before he ran his first Iditarod in 2007.
He says he decided to run the Iditarod when “our kennel produced such high quality enthusiastic young dogs. I am again racing SP Kennel’s young Alaska Huskies on the Iditarod. My dog team consists of several experienced adults with the remainder being happy, enthusiastic young dogs with tons of energy and no real direction. My job is to make it fun and rewarding for the team and mold them into future SP Kennel all-star sled dogs.” During the summer, Allen works as a contractor and a carpenter. He trains sled dogs full time during the winter. Allen lives in Two Rivers, Alaska with his wife Aliy Zirkle, also an Iditarod veteran and competitor in 2010. He likes to fish, hunt and enjoy life. Allen has two adult children, Bridget and Jennifer.
Sponsors:
Horizon Lines of Alaska; Eagle Pack Natural Pet Food, MA; Clarion Suites (Downtown Anchorage); Pleasant Valley Store; Macgellan; Northern Outfitters, FL
Hugh Neff – Tok, AK
Website: laughingeyeskennel.com
Hugh Neff, 43, was born in Tennessee. He grew up in Evanston, Illinois and attended Loyola Academy and the University of Illinois. Before moving to Alaska in 1995, Hugh worked as a golf caddy in Evanston, Illinois. He says he moved to Alaska “running down a dream.” After reading one of Lew Freedman’s books and hearing Hobo Jim’s Iditarod song, Hugh began thinking about someday running the Iditarod. He began mushing in 1994 when he was a handler for Bill Mitchell and the Erharts. Hugh says, “Racing is an excuse to play with our beloved beasts all over the North.” He lists his occupation as dog musher and public speaker. He is a member of Mush with P.R.I.D.E., the IOFC, and the Boy Scouts of America (Eagle Scout) and says he enjoys “making other people smile.”
Robert Nelson, Kotzebue, Alaska
Robert Nelson, 41, was born and raised in Kotzebue. He graduated from the University of Oregon in 1995 with a B.S. degree in Economics and Political Science.
“My kennel is located some 20 miles outside of Kotzebue, a place called Fish Creek. I train with my dad, Louie, as well as with Ed Iten and John Baker, who also have their cabins nearby. I think the area in which we train is heaven on earth, plus I get to spend a lot of time with Louie. He’s an incredible person. He’s the reason I got involved with running dogs. If you’re ever in the area, stop by. There’s no shortage of coffee and conversation at our camp.”
For the last two years, Robert has worked in construction. He says that his hobbies are music, reading, and biking.
Brennan Norden – Kasilof, AK
Brennan Norden, 37, was born and raised in the state of Washington.
He moved to Alaska in April of 2001 and he isn’t sure why other than “wanting to living the Alaskan dream!”
Brennan began mushing in 2002 and has been a dog musher and a river guide for the last seven years. He has run the Tustumena, the Sheep Mountain 150, the Gin Gin, the Klondike, and other Alaska mid distance races.
Brennan says that his hobbies are fishing, hiking and “anything crazy.”
Melissa Owens – Wasilla, AK
Melissa Owens, 21, was born in Nome and has spent her whole life there. She said she began mushing “as soon as she could walk. Her family had a team and her dad ran Iditarod the year she was born.
Melissa completed four Jr. Iditarod races and was the 2005 Jr. Iditarod Champion. She moved to Wasilla to go to school following graduation from high school. She raises and trains most of her own dogs.
Melissa says, “I have lived in Nome all my life and still consider it home. I have a variety of blood lines in my kennel. I still have a lot of the old coastal blood lines. I am entering this year’s Iditarod to bring my young dogs to Nome. I just want to get this group of dogs home. I have a small kennel of about 25 dogs. My dogs are my whole life. I do everything I can for them.”
Sponsors:
Heather Williams; Mike & Pat Owens; Mapes Family; Larisa Myers-McCoin; Richard & Trisha Plack; Julie Busch
Nicolas Petit, Girdwood, AK (France)
Nicolas Petit, 31, is currently the dog handler at fellow musher, Jim Lanier’s Northern Whites Kennel. He has run the Sheep Mountain 150, the Gin Gin 200, and the Copper Basin 300 with the nearly all white dog team as he raced to qualify for the Iditarod. Nick’s passion for dogs and sledding started while he was in diapers. He credits his first canine companion with teaching him to walk and jump-starting his love of dogs and ultimately dog mushing.
Nick was born in France and grew up in Normandy, until the age of 12, when his mother remarried and moved his sister and him to New Mexico. Nick moved to Alaska in 2000, and adopted his first Husky shortly there after that. During a visit to Wyoming, Nick went on his first dogsled trip and immediately got “hooked”. For this, he thanks Iditarod veteran Billy Snodgrass for putting him on the runners.
Upon retuning to Alaska, Nick connected with Dario Martinez of Girdwood. This is where he got most of his “Dog Education”. Martinez, owner/operator of Chugach Express of Girdwood, and the Alaska Dogsledding Center, took Nick in as an apprentice. Also Martinez, Nicks’ mentor, was instrumental in putting Nick and Jim Lanier in contact. Over the years, Nick has stopped into Chugach Express always wanting to “hang out with the dogs”, and show off his scooping skills! Ten years after adopting his beautiful Alaskan husky named Ugly, and working construction and dabbling with sled dog tour scene, Nick has decided to now focus solely on running dogs his goal being to one day compete in the Iditarod, and maybe later on to raise his own team.
Nick says, “Thank you Anna, Jimmy, and Jim for accepting me into your home, and for entrusting me with your wonderful, hard working dog team! I will do my best to make you proud! Merci Beaucoup!”
Nick was able to enter the Iditarod at the last minute to drive Lanier’s team after Lanier learned that he needed immediate hip surgery.
Michelle Phillips – Tagish, YT CANADA
Website: www.yukonhuskies.com
Michelle Phillips, 42, was born and raised in Whitehorse, YT. Growing up she was a competitive figure skater. As a young adult, she traveled the world until she decided to stay in the Yukon.
“Meeting my partner, Ed Hopkins, 13 years ago sparked my interest in mushing. Once I started mushing, I became addicted. We have become a dog mushing family. We work with our dogs year round.”
Michelle has run the Yukon Quest five times, finishing in the top eight every time and winning the Vet’s Choice Award in 2009. She and Ed are the parents of Keegan, 10. She lists her hobbies as reading, biking, and jogging.
Ray Redington, Jr. – Wasilla, AK
Website: 222.teamredington.com
Ray Redington, Jr., 35, was born and raised in Alaska. The grandson of Iditarod co-founder, Joe Redington, Sr. and son of Iditarod veteran, Raymie Redington, Ray says that he’s been mushing since he can remember. “Iditarod has always been around my family.” After running the Jr. Iditarod several times, he took a break from mushing. He began racing again in 2000. He is married to the former Julia Flodin, daughter of Iditarod veteran, Steve Flodin. They lived in Two Rivers for nine years and then moved back to Knik to be closer to family. Ray and Julia’s daughter, Ellen, will be five during the 2011 Iditarod and Isaac will be two in December of this year. Ray says he enjoys hunting, fishing, and his kids.
Sponsors:
Mary E Curtis, NJ; Bill Stead, CA; Leslie/Claudette Stevens, NE; Steve/Mabel Flodin
Jessie Royer Fairbanks, AK, USA
Jessie Royer, 34, was born in Idaho. She grew up on a cattle ranch in Montana where she lived for 21 years. Jessie worked on ranches as a horse wrangler & horse teamster.
Jessie says that she got her first sled dogs when she was 15. She started learning about dogs from Doug Swingley whom she worked with for a couple of years. Jessie had dogs in Montana seven years before moving to Alaska in the spring on 1998.
Now Jessie has a 65 dog kennel north of Fairbanks. Jessie has extensive mushing experience including having won Montana’s Race to the Sky when she was only 17 and she was the winner of the Invitational La Grande Odyssey in France in 2005.
Jessie says her hobbies are horses, hunting, mounted shooting, drawing, braiding, and photography.
Learn more at Jessie’s website: www.huskypower.com/jessie
Mike Santos – Cantwell, AK
Website: www.wolfsdenkennel.com
Mike Santos, 42, was born and raised in Ludlow, Massachusetts.
He moved to Alaska in 2005 to run dogs.
Mike says that he’s been a dog musher “forever.”
He has run some mid distance races but says he has “spent a lot more time training than racing.”
Mike says that there is “no time for hobbies.”
Mike is married to Caitlin.
Sponsors:
Cantwell Veterinary Service; Tom/EZ Farbo; Jack/Maria Santos, MA; John/Nancy Brady, MA; Frances Gray, MN
Justin Savidis, Willow, AK
In 2004, Justin, 36, and his wife, Rebecca, packed their worldly belongings into a truck and a trailer (complete with a rocking chair strapped to the top) and moved to Willow, Alaska, to follow a job offer, and more importantly, to chase down a dream of running dogs. It was a quick journey from having a couple of dogs and handling for other mushers to establishing a kennel of their own, and then setting the goal to prepare for and race in the Iditarod. Today, they operate Snowhook Kennel comprised of 40+ dogs-some are rescues, some procured form other mushers, and others are a result of the Snowhook Kennel recipe.
Growing up in Southeast Idaho, Justin has always sought out adventure including mountaineering and whitewater kayaking. Mushing and the Iditarod are a natural fit for Justin’s sense of and need for adventure. He and the dogs live for pulling the snowhook! Justin’s racing career includes a 3rd place finish in the 208 Don Bowers 300 mile and a second to last place finish in the Knik 200 (thank you, stomach flu).
Justin earned his degree in Parks, Recreation, and Tourism with an emphasis on experiential education from the University of Utah in 2002. Driven to help others, his career path has been focused on working with youth at risk. In addition to running dogs, Justin enjoys reading, woodworking, and restoring their 60 year-old homestead with Rebecca.
Learn more at Justin’s website: www.snowhookkennel.com
Sebastian Schnuelle – Whitehorse YT CANADA
Website: www.sebastianschnuelle.com
Sebastian Schnuelle, 40, was born in Wuppertal, Germany. After studying Environmental Engineering in Germany he moved to Canada in 1996 “in search of adventure.” Sebastian started out in Ontario but then moved to the Yukon in 1997. First working as a motor home rental agent, he then opened his tour business, Blue Kennels, which he now runs full time year round. In the summer he offers helicopter supported dog sled tours out of Juneau, Alaska in cooperation with Coastal Helicopters and in the winter he offers overnight trips in the Yukon and Alaska´s Denali Highway area. He’s run many mid-distance races and in 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2009, he ran both the Yukon Quest and the Iditarod. Sebastian is the recipient of the Veterinarians Choice award as well as the Sportsmanship award in the 2007 Yukon Quest and he was the 2009 Yukon Quest Champion. He was the second place finisher in the 2009 Iditarod and received the Alaska Airlines Leonhard Seppala Humanitarian award in the 2010 Iditarod.
For the 2011 Iditarod, Sebastian has partnered up with 12 time Iditarod finisher Aaron Burmeister from Flat Dog Kennels in Nenana to field a team comprised of the best dogs from both kennels. Sebastian is a member of Mush with P.R.I.D.E. and says that his hobby is sailing.
Sponsors:
Anita A Danielson/Proprietor of MsAnnasBooks on Amazon.com; Aaron Burmeister/Flat Dog Kennels, Nenana; Ten Squared Racing, MN; First Mate Pet Foods, CANADA; Rowerma Packaging Group, GERMANY; Jona/Jon VanZyle; Moser Web Publishing, SWITZERLAND; Enviro Lube, YT CANADA; Gisela Houseman, TX; Bonnie/Jim Foster; Heinz Steinborn; Chris/Jim Rowe/Bering Air; Christian Schnuelle/HTU Consulting, GERMANY
Dallas Seavey – Willow, AK
Dallas Seavey, 22, was born in Virginia and his family moved to Seward when he was five.
Dallas is a third generation musher who grew up helping his dad, Mitch, the 2004 Iditarod champion, train his racing teams. He ran the Jr. Iditarod four times and in 2005, Dallas became the youngest musher in history to run the Iditarod. He also wrestled for Sky View High School and spent one year training at the U.S. Olympic Training Center. He is a High School State Champion, a Jr. National Champion, and was on the 2005 Jr. World team.
He is part owner/manager of WildRide Sled Dog Rodeo in Anchorage. Dallas and his wife, Jen, also an Iditarod veteran, are the parents of an infant daughter born in July of 2010. Dallas lists his hobbies as wrestling and mushing.
Sponsors:
JJ Keller & Associates, WI; Dr. Tim’s Pet Food MI; Alaska 5 Star Catering; Comfort Inn
Mitch Seavey – Sterling, AK
Mitch Seavey, 51, was born in Minnesota and moved with his family to Alaska in1963. He graduated from high school in Seward and wrestled for Pacific University in Forest Grove Oregon. He began mushing in 1963.
Mitch’s dad, Dan, ran the Iditarod in 1973 so he decided he wanted to run the Iditarod someday. After running eleven Iditarods, Mitch won the race in 2004. In 2008, Mitch was the winner of the All Alaska Sweepstakes, held that year as a commemoration of the original All Alaska Sweepstakes.
Mitch and Janine are the parents of four boys, three of whom have run the Jr. Iditarod and the Iditarod, Danny, 27, Tyrell, 24, and Dallas, 22. The youngest, Conway, is 13.
Heather Sirtola – Talkeetna, AK
Heather Siirtola, 33, was born and raised in North Dakota and later moved to Steamboat, Colorado to find sled dogs. She ran sled dog tours at Red Runner Dog Tours and ran a few short races and “was hooked.” In September of 2003, she moved to Alaska to handle for Jerry Sousa and Kathleen Holden. After three years of being with them, she acquired he own dogs from their yard.
Heather said,” I enjoy the lifestyle of running dogs. I like the different challenges it brings. I have become ‘addicted’ to the experience the Iditarod has given to my dogs and me. My dogs are my best friends. There is nothing better to me then spending time with them on the trail.”
Heather has been a bartender for the last seven years and says she enjoys four wheeling, camping, and dogs.
Learn more at Heather’s website: www.hardcorehuskies.com
Ramey Smyth – Willow, AK
Ramey Smyth, 35, was born and raised in Alaska, the son of Iditarod veterans Bud Smyth and the late Lolly Medley. He has lived all over the state and says he moved to Willow to put down roots and build a home for his wife and daughter. Ramey and his wife, Rebecca, are the parents of Ava, 3 ½.
Ramy says that he’s been mushing since he was born. He ran the Jr. Iditarod twice and won both times. Ramy ran his first Iditarod in 1994 and has only skipped one year since. He is a log builder and dog musher. Ramy’s hobbies are guiding, hunting, reading, boxing, family, and friends.
Ramey says, “I love Alaska, love my family, love dogs, and am racing to compete at the highest level of mushing (Iditarod). I love a challenge and would hope people would abstain from alcohol and cigarettes. My mother died from cancer caused by smoking.”
Sponsors:
Aurora Trailers; Alaska Diesel Doctor; Steve Ripp, WI
Cim Smyth Big Lake, AK
Cim Smyth, 34, was born in Alaska and is the son of Iditarod veteran “Bud” Smyth.
Cim says he’s been mushing “since I was big enough to stand on a sled.” He lists his occupation as “dog driver.” His hobbies and interests include horses, soccer and reading.
He is married to Corrine.
Billy Snodgrass – Dubois. WY
Website: www.distancedogfood.com
Billy Snodgrass, 54, was born and raised on a ranch in central Wyoming. Later he moved to the Dubois area because, he says, “the mountains were bigger when I was 20.” He says, “I’ve always been a Wyoming cowboy.” He began mushing in 1982 and used dog teams to get into his ranch. He says that he wanted to run Iditarod ever since he first started mushing. He has finished the Iditarod three times and competed in many mid-distance races. He says, “I have done a lot of racing and enjoyed all my Iditarod races. I’m not ‘getting’ any younger and have a real nice team. Thought I’d better do this some more.” Billy owns the Distance Dog Food Company and a Dog Sled Tour Company. He says his hobbies are tennis and horses.
Gerald Sousa Talkeetna, AK, USA
Jerry Sousa, 51, was born in California where he lived until he was 12. He moved to Alaska with his family in 1971 and has been in Alaska ever since, graduating from Susitna Valley High School in Talkeetna, and attended UAA.
Jerry began mushing in 2000 and said that he became interested in the Iditarod by listening to KHAR radio reports on the Race. He’s a member of the Iditarod Trail Committee, Inc. and owns Talkeetna Fishing Guides & Sundog Kennel.
Jerry says, “We mush dogs for the dogs! That’s all!”
He and Kathleen are the parents of Nicolas, 7. He is also the father of two adult children, Fritha and Denali. Jerry lists his hobbies and interests as hunting, flying and fishing.
Learn more at Gerald’s website: www.sundogkennel.com
Ed Stielstra McMillan, MI, USA
Ed Stielstra, 39, and his wife, Tasha, own and operate a dog sled touring business and racing kennel in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.
Ed was born and raised in Ludington, and graduated from Michigan State University with a Bachelor of Science degree and then from Lynam Briggs University in biology. He moved to the Upper Peninsula about five years ago in search of “space and snow.” Ed had started mushing in 1991 and became interested in running Iditarod after listening to Al Hardman talk about his experiences.
Ed has owned and operated Nature’s Kennel Sled Dog Adventures for the last five years. He says, “I am running Iditarod again because I love camping with my dogs. No computers. No cell phones. Just beautiful Alaska and my dogs!” When asked about hobbies and interests, he says he enjoys spending time “with my wonderful wife.”
Learn more at Ed’s website: www.natureskennel.com
Bob Storey – Aukland, NEW ZEALAND
Training at the Dream a Dream Dog Farm, Willow, AK
Bob Storey, 65, was born and raised in New Zealand. He graduated from the Royal Military College of Duntoon, Australia, in 1968 with a BA and followed that with New Zealand army officer training. His working career encompassed 25 years in the New Zealand army as an officer, building a cathedral in Auckland, working in central government and running a War Veteran’s Home and Hospital.
Bob is now retired and moved to Willow, Alaska, in 2009 to prepare for the 2011 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. He ran numerous dry land and sled dog races in New Zealand since beginning mushing in 2001 and since his arrival in Alaska, has completed his qualifiers as well as several other races.
Bob is married to Marilyn and they have one adult son, Robert.
Rick Swenson Two Rivers, AK
Rick Swenson, 60, was born in Minnesota. He moved to Alaska in 1973 to mush dogs.
Rick is the only five-time winner of the Iditarod. He belongs to Mush with P.R.I.D.E., the Iditarod where he serves on the Board of Directors, and the Alaska Miners.
Rick is the father of three, Kristen, Andy, and Kevin.
Michael Suprenant – Chugiak, AK has withdrawn and is not racing in the 2011 Iditarod
Website: www.suprekennels.com
Michael Suprenant, 46, was born in Germany while his dad was stationed there. He spent his youth living in Germany, Texas and New Mexico. After High School he joined the Air Force as an avionics technician, working on various aircraft including F-4s, A-10s, C-130s, C-5s, C-141s, KC-10s, KC-135s and the C-17. Mike has spent time all over the world including Hawaii, Japan, Australia and Saudi Arabia. He came to Alaska with the Air Force in 1997 and says he volunteered for Alaska expecting great skiing and fishing. Mike began thinking about the Iditarod at that time and became an Iditarod volunteer. After the Air Force, he decided to stay in Alaska to pursue his Iditarod dream. He began mushing in 1999 and moved to Chugiak from Anchorage to be able to run dogs. With some great advice from Iditarod veterans and his own experiences as a volunteer on the trail he crafted a plan to run the Iditarod. Michael currently is a Civil Service worker for the U.S. Army at Elmendorf A.F.B. He has a BA in Business and has been in contracting for three years. Michael is a member of the Chugiak Dog Mushers, Aurora Dog Mushers and Willow Dog Mushers Clubs.
Angie Taggart – Ketchikan, AK
Website: www.mushingadventures.blogspot.com
Angie Taggart, 36, was born in Idaho and grew up in Ketchikan, Alaska, where the family moved when she was five years old because of jobs.
She went to college in Juneau and then went back to Ketchikan where she has been teaching for 10 years.
She began mushing in 2001 when she was a handler for DeeDee Jonrowe.
Angie has run both the Knik 200 and the Taiga mid distance races. A member of Delta Kappa Gamma, Masters Swimming, and the NEA (National Education Association), Angie says that her hobbies are swimming, hiking and being outdoors.
Sponsors:
Red Dog Saloon; Tongass Trading Company
Tom Thurston –Oak Creek, CO
Website: TTkennel.com
“I am a 40 year old general contractor. My wife, Tami, our two daughters, Greta, 10, and Leona, 8, and I operate Double T Kennel. Tami runs our tour operation in the winter and our small marina at Stagecoach Reservoir State Park in the summer. We have been training sled dogs for 10 years now and began racing in2006. We have completed the 350 mile Race to the Sky three times and the Seeley Lake 200 two times, winning each race once. I finished the Iditarod in 2009 and in 2010, I scratched from the Iditarod in Ophir when I was concerned about the well being of my dogs. Last year’s failure was a huge learning opportunity and we plan to grow from our short comings. Our main sponsor, General Physics, has decided to fund the majority of our kennel for the next three years. This will allow us to build from our experiences to date with a very young kennel. We will enter two teams in this year’s Race. Our second team will be run by Kris Hoffman, a good friend and sled dog tour operator in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. Both Kris and I will be running young teams. We each will be running half yearlings and the other half will be under four years old. This is a huge opportunity for us to build on a core group of two and three year old athletes that we have developed over the past two years. Our goal this year is to finish in 12 days with as many happy dogs as possible. Although I enjoy running races competitively, the Iditarod teaches us great humility and I feel this will be a very important step in the years to come.”
Mike Williams, Jr. – Akiak, AK
Michael Williams, Jr., 26, was born and raised in Alaska. Michael says, “I am Yupik Eskimo and I have lived in rural Alaska all of my life. My dogs are mainly Alaskan huskies. My reason for entering the Iditarod is…well, it has been a dream of mine to run the Iditarod. I have been running dogs since childhood and I have always loved to run and race sled dogs. My interest in running the race grew over the years as my family and I, have participated in training and helping my father, Mike Williams, Sr., prepare for the race as well as keeping track of the race.” Now Michael says he’d like to improve from his 2010 Iditarod, especially on a personal level. He attended the Alaska Vocational Technical Center in Seward for a year and FMCT, studying carpentry. He enjoys hunting, fishing, camping, wood working, and playing guitar.
Sponsors:
Akiak Native Community; Kokomut Corp, City of Akiak; GCI; Kusko 300 Race Committee; Bob Hickel; Williams/Ekomrak Family; Lynden Air Cargo
Gerry Willomitzer – Whitehorse, YT CANADA
Website: www.gerrywillomitzer.com
Gerry Willomitzer, 40, was born in Bavaria, Germany and immigrated to Canada in 1996. He is now a Canadian citizen. Gerry is a five-time Yukon Quest finisher and in 2007 finished both the Yukon Quest (3rd place) and his first Iditarod. He also ran both races in 2008 and 2010. He has received Humanitarian Awards in the Yukon Quest, Copper Basin and Percy de Wolfe and is the 2008 Percy de Wolfe champion.
Gerry is a log building contractor and operates “Eldorado Logworks & Construction.” Gerry’s hobbies are “logs and dogs.”
Aliy Zirkle – Two Rivers, AK
Website: SPKDogLog.com
Aliy Zirkle, 41, was born in New Hampshire. She spent her childhood in New Hampshire, Puerto Rico, and Missouri. She graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a degree in Biology and came to Alaska in 1990, where she lived in a wall tent on the Alaskan Peninsula and worked for the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. She’s lived in Two Rivers for the last 14 years and says she “enjoys the community and the surrounding wild lands.”
Aliy lists her occupation as “dog musher” and has finished the Iditarod 10 years. She and her husband, Allen Moore, also an Iditarod musher, share the kennel. Aliy has two adult step daughters, Bridgett and Jennifer. She says she enjoys guiding novice dog mushers on wilderness adventure trips around Alaska.
Sponsors:
Horizon Lines of Alaska; Eagle Pack Natural Pet Food, MA; Clarion Suites (Downtown Anchorage); Pleasant Valley Store; Macgellan; Northern Outfitters, FL
View a chart and additional information about the mushers at this link.
