Cantwell Classic 200-mile race mushers
Mushers
200 Mile Race
Cantwell to Maclaren and back
Anja Fein born in Germany comes to us from Talkeetna, where she met Melanie Gould and began mushing in 2004. Previous race experience has been the Don Bower and the Gin Gin.
Lucy Tyrrell a research administrator for Denali National Park and Preserve writes that that she is entering the Cantwell Classic to provide a longer distance challenge in race format and is participating for the experience . Lucy has many talents besides running dogs, she is an artist accomplished in quilting, watercolor, sketching and writing. Lucy has participated in the 2004 Serum Run, and the Hamburger Run and Poker Run out of Two Rivers
Martin Buser wrote that he began mushing at 16 years old. Helped a musher in Switzerland, came to Alaska to learn more and the rest is history. History is what he made completed 24 Iditarods, won 4 times and is the current record holder for the fastest time. One of Martins hobbies is Sadoku and he writes he has too many leaders to name them all. So does means he is trying to figure it all out, placing the right numbers or in this case the right dogs in the correct place to be the best? www.buserdog.com
Rohn Buser a 18 year old student is following in his father’s sled runner tracks, having run the ‘04, ’05, ’06 Jr. Iditarod then taking 1st in ‘07 and placing 4th in the 2007 Kusko 300. Listing XC running as a hobby dad better watch out who is behind him. www.buserdog.com
Dale Curry from Fairbanks got hooked into mushing as a Yukon Quest volunteer and began mushing in ‘06. Dale is a building maintenance supervisor and father of two young girls. He will be running Mo Jo and Rizbin under Mackey’s Come Back Kennel.
Bill Cotter from Nenana assumes we all know about him cause he didn’t write much about himself. He is retired but doesn’t know how long or from what. He has no hobbies, but did start mushing in 1970 and claims it was Joe Redington’s fault. He has lots of previous race experience, nothing specific. His leaders are Grizzl and Tucker.
Hugh Neff says his marital status is soon…. He got interested in mushing by working for the Erharts. He jumped in with both feet listing ‘dog musher’ as present occupation since beginning in ‘95. He is modest in his answer of previous race experience- a bit; he took second place in last years Cantwell Classic. His lead dogs are Watson, Wonka, Colby, Annie and many more.
www.laughingeyeskennel.com
Hans Gatt trains in Whitehorse, YT began mushing in 1987 and has experience with all the different types of races from sprint, stage racing and distance. He has been a musher and sled builder for the last 20 years. His leaders are Timpany, M.coy, Tushai, Tivek.
Anne Capistrant and her husband, Todd followed their dreams and moved to Healy Alaska from Wisconsin with their two young daughters. A home school mom and kennel manager she has been mushing for 11 years she has found time to run the 2007 Copper Basin300, and the 2005 and 2007 Chatanika Challenge 200. www.hoofnwoof.com
Aaron Burmeister born into a mushing family lives in Nenana, he also enjoys hunting and fishing. Aaron’s wife is Mandy and lists children as ‘not yet’. He has been Project Superintendent for Quality Asphalt & Paving for the last 10 years. He writes previous race experience as ‘a little bit’
Bob Hickel lives in Anchorage but travels north to train dogs from Kami Kennels in Cantwell and Healy. He is married with 4 grown children. A businessman of 30 years is president of Hickel Investment Company. He is community oriented; being a trustee of Alaska Pacific University Foundation and the AK Regional Hospital and the Civilian Advisory Board- Alaska Command. His many hobbies are all very physical outdoor activities. Bob began mushing in 1989 and has finished three Iditarods and has raced in the Copper Basin 300 and the Su-Valley 300. Bob is racing in the ‘08Cantwell Classic to prepare for another Iditarod and Yukon Quest run.
Allen Miller from Nenana has been retired for 5 years so has plenty of time for his hobbies of dog mushing and fishing. He began mushing 32 years ago cause ‘at the time it seemed like the thing to do’. Bit by the bug Allen has raced in the Iditarod, Coldfoot Classic, Knik 200, Nome Sign 40, and the Nenana Tripod race. His lead dogs name is Red Flyer.
Tamara Rose’s hobbies of dogs, cycling, running and working as a veterinarian for the last 6 years and interest the outdoors got her into mushing 2 years ago. After handling for Bob McAlpine for one winter it’s all been down hill from there. Tamara has a small kennel with some nice line. She writes ‘they (the dogs) and the outdoors, teach me something new every day. We’re in the Cantwell Classic because it’s a fun well organized race. Best of luck to everyone.’
Debbie Moderow began mushing in 1989 after adopting Salt a retired Iditarod dog. Their kennel www.saltydogkennel.com is a family affair. Debbie’s husband Mark and their two grown children all have raced. Debbie’s races include Iditarod’05 &’03 and the Wyoming Stage Stop 1999 and 2000. Her lead dogs will be Mugs, Sydney, Tiger and Spur. Debbie writes “I’m excited about entering this new race on the Denali Highway”--her training grounds.
Ramy Brooks began mushing as a child when his mother introduced him to the sport. He now resides in Healy and has a supportive wife and two teenage daughters. Previous race experience is the Kusko 300, Yukon Quest and the Iditarod.
Clinton Warnke has been a sled dog trainer and tour guide for the last 10 and 5 years respectively. He also enjoys running, hunting and fishing. Clinton got two huskies as pets and his mushing career snowballed from there. He has been racing on the trail from Anchorage to Nome four times, competed in the Copper Basin in ’05 and ’06 and this will be his second time to run the Cantwell Classic. www.warnkeracing.com
Didier Moggia born in France is another musher coming to us from the Yukon Territories. A finish carpenter for 30 years Didier has been on the back of a sled for the last 13. Running in races such as Silver Sled, Sheep Mountain, Percy de Wolf, Yukon Quest 300 and ext.
Judy Currier from Two Rivers began mushing in 1993 they raised and bred Siberian Huskies for many years until 2002 when they started breeding Alaskan Huskies out of Little, Buser and Tallman lines. Race experience includes ‘99, ‘05,’06 Iditarod, ‘98 Copper Basin, ‘99 Knik200, ‘04,’05,’06and ‘07 Tustumena 200 and taking 1st place in the ‘05 Gin Gin 120 Judy is involved with the Two Rivers Dog Mushers and the Running Club North.
Jason Weitzel from Two Rivers is also involved in the Two Rivers Dog Mushers Association and his hobby is raising critters. He has always had an interest in mushing and began in 2004. Cantwell Classic will be his first experience with a mid-distance race. His leaders are Suva, Little Roy and Twig.
Tammi Rego writes ’I am a mother, a wife, a teacher and a sled dog racer. I’ve been running dogs for over 12 years, with the last 4-5 years running mid distance races. I learn something new every year, at every race; therefore, even if we didn’t make it all the way to the end of a race, it isn’t a loss as long as we gained something from the experience. My wonderful husband and partner, Manny and I have been building our kennel for many years with the goal of running the Yukon Quest. As such, I plan to use the Cantwell Classic as a qualifier, if possible. My main goal is to finish with a happy, healthy team!’
Michelle Phillips
Michelle, from Tagish in the Yukon Territory, has been mushing for 10 years. She has been in the Yukon Quest 3 times as well as the Copper Basin 300 and the Percy DeWolfe. Her lead dogs are Axel, Zappa, Patti, Ricki, and Taz.
www.yukonhuskies.com
Debbie Hoover
Debbie is running the Cantwell Classic as a qualifier for the Iditarod. Since moving to Alaska in 2000 she and her family have been working with sled dogs and dreaming of running the Iditarod. She is a registered nurse, and says that she is a recently discovered artist. Her lead dogs are Cocky, Madrid, Painter, Dori, and Liberty. www.debskennel.com
Benedikt Beisch
Benedikt, from Germany, has been running sled dogs for 6 years. In fact, he lists his occupation as “Pooper Scooper/Musher.” Last year Benedikt ran the Yukon Quest as well as the Cantwell Classic. His lead dogs will be Messy Bessie and Michi. www.BenediktBeisch.com
Jennifer Kemper
Jennifer is currently working as a dog handler for Jeff King. The Cantwell Classic will be her first race. Good luck, Jennifer!
Christine Roalofs
Christine is a dentist from Anchorage. She become interested in mushing through her work as an Iditarod volunteer. She has been mushing since 2006. She ran the 2007 Cantwell Classic and has come back this year to finish! She says that all of her dogs (except Ice and Gypsy) like to lead, but her main leaders are Wacko and Koala Bear.
Paul Geoffrion
Paul is a part-time dentist who was born in Quebec. He has been mushing for 25 years. He has run the Yukon Quest, Sheep Mountain 150 and other races. His leaders are Finger, Rosebud, Nanuk, Galsna, Ruby, and McGrath.
Wayne Curtis
Wayne has been distance racing in Alaska since 1992. He is a veteran of many races including Iditarod. He currently the owner of Valley Canine Camp and Training Center. His leaders are Newman, Danger, Grissom, Anvik, and Lov. www.iditarodtrail.com
Mike Barnett
Jessie Royer
Scott Reid
John Stewart
Kelly Griffin
Junior Mushers
70 Mile Race
Cantwell to Brushkana and back
Kristen Crain wrote ‘I started mushing in 1997 at her age of 5 or 6 because my dad had been mushing to years. I was finally “big enough” then. When we moved to Talkeetna in 2005 I acquired a team of freighting dogs. I prefer the larger dogs because they are tougher and mellower and stronger. I’m not expecting to place, but I want to race to have fun.’ Kristen also writes that her occupation is Student / bum she is involved with Battle of the Book, Peer Helpers and Dogged Juniors. Her leaders are Baxter, Annie and Neptune.
Amanda Olson lives 11 miles out of Talkeetna and uses her dogs for transportation and hauling dog food, human food, firewood and supplies. She has raced in the ‘06 and ‘07 Junior Iditarod and the ‘07 Cantwell Classic. We are glad to have her back.
Meredith Mapes writes ‘I am a 14 year old home school student and have been running dogs since I was about 6 years old. My first experience was in the Willow Winter Carnival one-dog race which I won and was forever hooked! Since then, I’ve run sprint races in Willow, Anchorage, Chugiak and Fairbanks with some wins, a couple of red lanterns and tons of fun….. The Jr. Cantwell Classic ’07 was my first mid-distance race where I had lots of fun, met some amazing people and really look forward to coming back again.’ We also found out about Meredith- not only can she run dogs but she can show pigs! Meredith won reserve Grand Champion for Swine Showmanship in the intermediate division at the Alaska State Fair. www.alaska4hdogmushingprogram.com Welcome back Meredith and congratulations
Anitra Winkler
Anitra is from Cantwell. She began mushing last year and the Cantwell Classic will be her first race. She is planning on running the Junior Iditarod 2008 as well. Her hobbies include, varsity sports, Battle of the Books, and snowmachine sledding. Good luck, Anitra!
Yuta Takagi
Yuta is from Anchorage and is an active participant in Alaska 4-H dog mushing program. He has been running dogs for five years now and has participated in many races including the 2007 Cantwell Classic. He is coming back to race again because he “had a blast last year!” He also enjoys long distance skiing. His leaders will be Angel, Chris, Willow, and Heart.
www.alaska4hdogmushingprogram,com
Ava Linder
Ava has grown up around sled dogs. Her family breeds and raises dogs and both she and her father race their dogs. Ava ran the Junior Iditarod last year and plans on running both Iditarod and the Yukon Quest in the future. Her hobbies include snowmachining, fourwheeling,and snowbarding. Her leaders will be Mikki and Tanis.
Charlie Allison
Charlie has been mushing since 2003 when his brother gave him a litter of pups to raise and train. In addition to spending time with his dogs for fun, he uses his mushing experiences to satisfy some of his school requirements. He has competed in the Junior Iditarod for the past two years. He took third place in last year’s Cantwell Classic. He says that he hopes to improve his finish by two places this year. His leaders will be Fluffy, Creamer, Beatrice, Transom, and Hermione.
Jesse DeLoach
Jesse, from Trapper Creek, is a veteran of the Junior Iditarod and the Nome Sign 40. He has been running dogs for 10 years. His passion for sled dogs started when his family adopted a malemute. He is racing the Cantwell Classic to warm-up his team for his second Junior Iditarod in February. His leaders will be Pallie and Brooke.
Skipper Stitt
Skipper is from Willow. He has been mushing since 2002. He got started by running dogs with Bob Clupatch. He is a veteran of the Junior World Championships and numerous Aurora race. He plans to run the Don Bowers 100 later this year. He lists his hobbies as trapping and snowboarding. His leaders are BJ and Tinker.
Skeeter Stitt
Skeeter is a veteran of the Cantwell Classic. He moved to Alaska 5 years ago, and that is when he began running sled dogs. Some day he would like to run the Junior Iditarod and the Iditarod. His leaders are Wolfman and Homer.
Randi Stitt
Randi is 15 and loves dogs. In fact, her whole family runs dogs. She is a veteran of many races including last year's Cantwell Classic. Her dogs are mostly Siberian Husky and really nice to be with. Spending time with the dogs is Randi's favorite part of mushing. Her other hobbies are snowboarding, snowmachining, and dirt biking. Her leaders are Yukon and Windy.
Travis Beals
Travis has been mushing ever since he could hold on tight enough, at least 10 years so far. Dogs run in his family since his mom used to run sprint dogs. Travis has experience in sprint races. While his main hobby is mushing, he also likes snowboarding, snowmachining, skiing, and baseball. His leaders will be Archie and Perry.
Wade Marrs
Wade is from Knik. He became interested in sled dogs through his mom and his uncle. He has now been mushing for 10 years. He is a veteran of many races including the Junior Iditarod and the Goosebay 120. Travis also enjoys trapping, fishing, and hunting. His lead dogs are River and Curly.
Carole Keller
Carole is from Ekultna and has been mushing since 2006. She says that her mom told her she could get a team and she now has 10 dogs. She lists her occupation as dog owner/trainer, babysitter, high school student. Her hobbies include being a Big Brothers, Big Sisters volunteer. Carole has been in sprint races and the Eagle River Classic. Her leaders are Arco and Mindy.
2008
"AN APPROVED IDITAROD QUALIFIER"
