CB300: Thanks & Banquet Speech

There are always 1000 thank yous to be made after a race so we’re going to try to remember everyone.

Firstly, thanks to Commando, Junior, Amber, Violet, Chevie, Sanka, QT, Champ, Jefe, Razz, Decaf and Perky. They all worked so hard always with a smile and wagging tail. At the end of the day, as long as the dogs are enjoying themselves then we can put up with anything!

Thanks to the handler crew Karolyn, Ryan and Lisa. Karolyn for keeping her finger on the pulse for the entire race – she didn’t miss a beat whether it be choosing a great parking spot, calculating run times and check-out times on very little sleep or keeping an enthusiastic and upbeat attitude despite challenging handling conditions. Ryan, thanks for keeping the team safe in the truck on the way down, throughout the race and home again. Your quiet and confident attitude put everyone at ease. Lisa, your capture of picture and video was so very much appreciated by all those of us that couldn’t be there and to give Moira such great content to include in the posts! Thanks for helping rake straw and clear camp spots and watching over the team. You were a huge help.

Here’s Aliy’s speech from the prizegiving:

So so many volunteers are required to run a race and we can’t hope to know everything you all did. Please know you are all appreciated, whether you were helping at the start, keeping the fire going in Sourdough, taking phenomenal photos, checking teams in and out of checkpoints, manning road crossings, selling merchandise, updating the website and social media… to you all we thank you.

The trail team. Oh my goodness, the trail team. It’s certainly not just a case of jumping on a snowmachine and riding ahead of the teams on the day. You spent countless hours putting in the trail in the lead-up to the race and climbed up over The Hump in the middle of the night and ensured the passage was safe for our teams. No race can happen without a great trail team. Thank you.

Nina and her volunteer vet team were, as always, amazing. Your dedication to the canine athletes is evident and appreciated. To know you are right there if mushers or handlers had any issues and knowing you have the best interests of the dogs foremost in your mind is reassuring. You had a difficult job in trying conditions but were always willing to help. Thank you.

Thanks to Greg, Donna, Zack, Peter and all of the team of race officials. To have such experience and knowledge guiding the ship is of great reassurance to us all. Thanks for giving up your time.

To all the checkpoint hosts: the team at The Point Lodge, BLM Sourdough Creek Campsite, Meiers Lake Roadhouse, Red Eagle Lodge in Chistochina and Old Paths Church. Your hospitality is so much appreciated by cold and weary mushers and handlers. Thanks also to the team at Buster Gene Memorial Facility in Native Village of Gakona for hosting the finishing banquet and prizegiving. Here’s a few pics from the prizegiving:

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To the CB300 Board – obviously without your hard work throughout the year we wouldn’t have a race. The sponsorship you secure, the logistics you manage and planning you do. Thanks for continuing to make this race on of our favourites.

To our competitors and friends – phew! Thanks for being awesome out there.

Finally, thanks to all of you – our supporters. Knowing so many of you are willing the team on, watching them in the middle of the night helps when Aliy and the dogs are on their own in the wee small hours. Thanks for every view, comment, like and share. Thanks to all our individual dog sponsors, Dog Fan Club members, Red and Black Team members (even though our Black Team wasn’t in this race), VIPs, Champions and other supporters. I was pleased to be able to bring you coverage. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you.