2023 UP200 POWERED BY NMU Mushers
1. Miles Ahead Racing Kennel, Ray, Minnesota
Kennel Name: Miles Ahead Racing Kennel – Keith and Erin Aili
Sponsors: Scott and Holly Lundberg
Major Breed or Bloodline: Alaskan Huskies
Lead Dog(s): Smalls, Duker, Archie, and Rudolph
Number of Years Racing: 25+
How or why did you get involved in Sled Dog Racing? Love of the outdoors and the dogs
Where have you raced? Minnesota, Michigan, Wisconsin, Wyoming, and Alaska
Have a training or race experience to share? Anytime on the trail with the dogs is always a great new adventure!
2. Erin Altemus, Grand Marais, Minnesota
Kennel Name: Sawtooth Racing
Sponsors: Ed Dallas
Major Breed or Bloodline: Alaskan Husky
Lead Dog(s): Temper, Keith, Itsy, Chicken
Number of Years Racing: 10
How or why did you get involved in Sled Dog Racing? It’s a slippery slope, bring home a few free dogs and next thing you know, you have 40 dogs and life revolves around racing.
Where have you raced? Minnesota, Michigan, Maine
Have a training or race experience to share? Eventually I will experience it all – so far I have lost my team, mushed through freezing rain, blizzards and heat waves. Last year while trying to load a dog in the bag, my leader turned around to breed with a dog behind him. I’ve had some hallucinations. Adventure keeps things interesting.
3. Laura Neese, Newberry, Michigan
Kennel Name: Nature’s Kennel Race Team
Sponsors: Thank you to our dog sponsors!
Major Breed or Bloodline: Alaskan Husky
Lead Dog(s): Ace, Envy, Chilly, Fusion, Razor, Woodstove, Chimp, Jett, Elmer
Number of Years Racing: 9
How or why did you get involved in Sled Dog Racing? I fell in love with the sport of dog mushing and long distance racing at the age of nine, when my family followed the Iditarod as a homeschool project. After four years of reading and learning everything I could about the sport, I started a small kennel in Ohio and began running short races in the Upper Peninsula. I graduated from high school at age 16 and then earned an Associate’s Degree in Veterinary Technology at Penn Foster College two years later. In 2014 I moved to McMillan, Michigan, to work at Nature’s Kennel and pursue my dream of long distance racing. I opened my new business, MI DOG Summer Sled Dog Center (www.midogtours.com) this past summer and my team and I loved our first summer of sharing the sport with people during our off season!
Where have you raced? Yukon Quest, Iditarod, Percy DeWolfe, Canadian Challenge, Eagle Cap Extreme, Idaho Sled Dog Challenge, UP200, CanAm 250, Beargrease Marathon, Gunflint Mail Run, CopperDog 150
Have a training or race experience to share? Some of my favorite training memories are from training in the White Mountains of Alaska for a few weeks before our rookie Yukon Quest. Every day was an adventure when we took off to explore another new 50 miles of trail in the middle of nowhere!
4. Rémy Leduc, Glenwood, New Brunswick
Kennel Name: Chenil / Akkada / Kennel
Sponsors: Bison Bumper, RDQ Construction, Les viandes Fortier et Freres, kan-go-roo playground
Major Breed or Bloodline: Akkada Kennel
Lead Dog(s): Max, Solo, Yoda ,Flynn, Copper, Aspen, Pacquebot, Myst
Number of Years Racing: 12
How or why did you get involved in Sled Dog Racing? It all started up with 1 dog and it snowball from there. I just enjoy training my dogs and see them evolves to their full potential.
Where have you raced? Eagle Lake 100, Defi Taïga 120, Odyssée Appalachian 45/100, Can-am-crown 60/100/250, UP200, Beargrease Marathon, Canadian Challenge 100/300, Yukon Quest 1000, Chic Choc 200
Have a training or race experience to share? The experience I would like to share happen every time I go for a ride with my dogs. It’s the reason why I like dog sledding so much. When I’m in the trail with them the time stop, I’m just there living in the moment with them, nothing else matters.
5. Shawn McCarty, Babbitt, Minnesota
Kennel Name: Hauling Dogs
Sponsors: –
Major Breed or Bloodline: Alaskan huskies
Lead Dog(s): Volt, Carbon, Crater, Splash
Number of Years Racing: 16
How or why did you get involved in Sled Dog Racing? I started racing Peter McClellands yearling teams in 2007, my wife Kristen and I started our own kennel three years ago.
Where have you raced? MN, MI, Canada
Have a training or race experience to share? I can remember sitting in our warm truck last year during the UP200 handling for my wife, feeling the truck being rocked back and forth by the insane wind, thinking I sure was glad I was handling and didn’t have to race in that weather!
6. Martin Massicotte, St-Tite, Quebec
Kennel Name: Chenil des Patriotes
Sponsors: No sponsors yet
Major Breed or Bloodline: Alaskan
Lead Dog(s): Sally, Franklin, Woodstock and June
Number of Years Racing: 28
How or why did you get involved in Sled Dog Racing? I like to be in the wilderness and to see my dogs improve themself at every training
Where have you raced? Iditarod 2022 – 21th position
Can Am crown 250 – 10 times champion
UP200 many years, placed 2nd and 3rd may times
Hudson Bay Quest – 2 times champion
Have a training or race experience to share? I realize my teenager dream by running the Iditarod in 2022, it was the greatest experience of my life. The scenery is amazing with its magestic Alaska Range. We faced terrible winds on the Bering Sea Coast. My team and I were attacked by an angry moose at the middle of the race, I had to fight with him. I am so proud of my ten dogs who cross the finish line.
7. Ryan Anderson, St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin
Kennel Name: AnderTeir Racing
Sponsors: NA
Major Breed or Bloodline: Alaskan Husky
Lead Dog(s): Muskie, Sturgeon, Gable, Grout, Quincy
Number of Years Racing: 32
How or why did you get involved in Sled Dog Racing? I grew up with sled dogs and have been involved ever since
Where have you raced? MN, MI, WI, WY, MT, UT, AK, ME, Ontario, Manitoba
Have a training or race experience to share? Looking forward to another UP200
8. Mary Manning, Hovland, Minnesota
Kennel Name: DoodleDog Kennel
Sponsors: Canine Health Forward
Major Breed or Bloodline: Alaskan Huskies
Lead Dog(s): Luck, Charlie, Jester, Gala, Skuf, Argo
Number of Years Racing: 20+
How or why did you get involved in Sled Dog Racing? Looking for a “cheap” hobby and a way to spend more time in the wilderness with my dog(s).
Where have you raced? Minnesota, Montana, Maine, Michigan, Wisconsin
Have a training or race experience to share? After more than twenty years of running dogs, I recently (and finally) found a moose shed while out training!
9. Ward Wallin, Two Harbors, Minnesota
Kennel Name: Silver Creek Sled Dogs
Sponsors: MDH Construction, Betty’s Pies, Julie’s Variety and Hardware, Zup’s, Silver Bay Family Dental, Root River Photography, Lang companies, Printwear Graphics, Louise’s Place
Major Breed or Bloodline: Alaskan Husky
Lead Dog(s): Guinness, Corona, Growler
Number of Years Racing: 29
How or why did you get involved in Sled Dog Racing? I simply wanted to go fishing by dog team
Where have you raced? All over mid west
Have a training or race experience to share? Lots over the years….racing UP200 in 2007 just 5 days after losing finger in sled accident, tangles with moose, rolled 4 wheelers (more than once), walking after lost sleds, dragged across roads, breaking through ice with dogs….too many to list.
10. Frank Marvin Holmberg, Newberry, Michigan
Kennel Name: Holmberg Racing Sleddogs
Sponsors: N/A
Major Breed or Bloodline: Alaskan Husky
Lead Dog(s): Irma, Cotton, Ben
Number of Years Racing: 20
How or why did you get involved in Sled Dog Racing? Drove a team for another kennel.
Where have you raced? Maine, Ontario, MN, WI, MI
Have a training or race experience to share? Once outran a group of deer near the gravel pit on the Ackerman Trail during the Midnight Run. Actually had to get on the brake to keep from over running the deer. Pretty Special Team.
11. Jennifer Freking, Finland, Minnesota
Kennel Name: Manitou Crossing Kennels
Sponsors: Wintergreen Northern Wear
Major Breed or Bloodline: Siberian Huskies
Lead Dog(s): Vega, Dmitri, Dusty, Prince
Number of Years Racing:34 yrs
How or why did you get involved in Sled Dog Racing? The seed was planted in 1965 when my Grandfather got a Siberian Husky pup for my mother out in Boston! Her interest in Siberians and mushing grew until she had a team of dogs when I was born. I grew up with love of huskies and desire to have my own dog team. Santa brought me a dog sled for Christmas when I was 8 yrs old, and my mothers old leaf dogs were my first team.
Where have you raced? Midwest, Alaska, Maine, Churchill, and Italy
Have a training or race experience to share? My favorite UP200s are when it’s been windy and cold! My team loves those conditions.
12. Tom Bauer, Tapiola, Michigan Otter River Sleddogs
Kennel Name: Otter River Sleddogs
Sponsors: Heikkinen Firewood
Major Breed or Bloodline: Alaskan Husky
Lead Dog(s): Trito, Scooby, Jack, Adam, Aeres
Number of Years Racing: 33
How or why did you get involved in Sled Dog Racing? My Siberian and her two pups ate Leon Wellman’s chickens, then I went on a camping trip with dogless Doug, John Fischer and some racers from Minnesota. Oh and I met Jeffery Mann and I cant forget to mention getting mixed up with Bob Bright
Where have you raced? Midwest and Ontario
Have a training or race experience to share? Running side by side down the Red River on a full moon night just BSing with Peppy…
13. Brian Kandler, McMillan, Michigan
Kennel Name: Kandler Racing
Sponsors: Dr. Tim’s Pet Food Co
Major Breed or Bloodline: Alaskan Husky
Lead Dog(s): Almost every dog in the team will lead. Our leaders in spirit, to whom every owes our direction, are Emma, Merlot, Brennan & Wonder
Number of Years Racing: 10
How or why did you get involved in Sled Dog Racing? I was simply looking for a way to exercise my dog in the winter. At the time, I had no idea about racing sled dogs.
Great way to see the outdoors and enjoy happy dogs.
Where have you raced? Michigan, Maine, New Hampshire, Yukon Territory Canada
Have a training or race experience to share? On one training run, the team started speeding up in an unexpected location. They moved so quickly and quietly that they almost caught a snowy owl that had landed some prey right next to the trail. The owl somehow avoid my lead dogs and leaped to a tree branch directly above us. Then, the team sailed by almost before I could even sort out what had just happened.
14. Nicholas Vigilante, Ely, Minnesota
Kennel Name: Nathan Schroder Mushing
Sponsors: Chilly Dogs; Realtor Liana Hway and z’UP North Realty
Major Breed or Bloodline: Alaskan Husky
Lead Dog(s): Donald, Elm, Nora, Spruce, Daisie
Number of Years Racing: 3
How or why did you get involved in Sled Dog Racing? Guiding for the Boy Scouts
Where have you raced? Mid West
Have a training or race experience to share? Just happy to be on the runners
WITHDRAWN:
- Jonathan Nathaniel Hayes, Saint David, ME
- Kevin Malikowski, Outing, Minnesota
- John Sherwood Fisher, Cook, Minnesota
