2019 Sled Dog Races

 

John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon.

This year's John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon, in Minnesota proved that the race isn't over until the teams actually cross the finish line. Ryan Redington left the last checkpoint with what appeared to be an unbeatable lead over his fellow competitors right up until his dogs went on strike. The first musher to pass Redington and the utlimate champion of this year's race was Blake Freking, driving a team of Ed Steilstra's dog behind his own purebred Siberian Husky leaders. Following Blake, his wife Jennifer also passed Redington and with a team of 11 Siberians and 1 of Steilstra's Alaskan Huskies Jennifer finished in second place. Two more teams passed Redington before his dogs decided to return to work.

Pedigree Stage Stop

 Today is the final stage of the Pedigree Stage Stop Race in Wyoming and Idaho. Yesterday's stage, in Driggs, Idaho proved disastrous for two time defending chamion Lina Streeper. Lina, who held a slim lead through most of the race,  took a wrong turn sending her several miles up the wrong trail. Top contenders Érick Laforce and Tommy Bird also left the marked trail early in the run and proceeded several miles on an unmarked trail before turning around. Upon returning to the marked trail, Lina and Érick completed the course after losing significant time to the field finishing 22nd and 23rd respectively for the day. The impact of this is that Lina dropped to 10th overall and Érick 13th overall. On returning to the marked trail, competitor Tommy Bird elected to return to the checkpoint and withdraw from the race.

Today the competitors will be racing in Teton County, Wyoming and winner of today's stage is expected to cross the finish line at around 2:00 PM, Mountain Standard Time.

Yukon Quest

Later today the Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race will start in Whitehorse, Yukon Territory. In spite of some difficult trail conditions, which race organizers have accommodated, the race promises to be a great one, and I'll be following it closely, even if I don't post regular updates as I used to do.

The Quest is my personal favorite long-distance race, primarily because I personally know several of the mushers competing in the race, and am acquainted with several others. Former champions Allen Moore and Matt Hall are nearby neighbors. Both are brilliant dog men, dedicated to their teams and their sport. Chase Tingle, an all around nice guy who is equally devoted to his dogs, will be making his long-distance racing debut in this year's race. I haven't seen Chase very often this year, because he's been so busy working as well as training his dogs and himself for the race. Ryne Olson will be racing her lovely Ryno Kennel dogs in the Quest. Ryne, Matt and Chase all live near each other in a bit of an enclave with excellent access to the Two Rivers trail system, and I wish them each and all the very best of luck in this year's race.

Brent Sass, formerly of Two Rivers, is returning to the Quest after taking a year off to regroup.
Hans Gatt, a four-time Yukon Quest champion who hasn't been seen on the Quest trail since 2010 is also returning this year with a team of young dogs.

Jimmy Lebling, who is also well known in our little community, will be undertaking his rookie run in the Quest with a team of dogs from Hugh and Olivia Neff's Laughing Eyes Kennel. Cody Strathe and Paige Drobny will be racing two teams from their Squid Acres Kennel, located up on Murphy Dome.

Purebred Siberian Huskies will be well represented in the teams of Rob Cooke and Lisbet Norris.

All in all, this year's field of competitors makes the 2019 Yukon Quest a race well worth following.