Here is a link to Part 2 of the excellent interview with Allen by Amy Nordrum at Fairbanksalaska.com.
There are also some awesome pictures by Ronn Murray Photography – how about those puppies? That’s Dutch, Lydia and Kodiak with Junior in the back.
Musher number 11 out of the start chute on Saturday will be Allen Moore and the SPK BLACK team! Woohoo!
The whole team arrived in Whitehorse this afternoon in time for the start banquet and bib draw. It was a full house at the Convention Centre packed with fans, supporters, volunteers, officials, vets, handlers and, of course, mushers.
Allen draws bib number 11
(above left) Becky Alexander of Pleasant Valley Store – super sponsor of SP Kennel
(above right) Ryne with bib #66 for the Yukon Quest 300
Here’s a few snippets from the banquet – first up is the Minister of Tourism and Culture Mike Nixon followed by City of Whitehorse Mayor Dan Curtis.
Here’s a few pictures from tonight’s Meet The Mushers evening in Whitehorse. All the YQ1000 mushers were present and a huge crowd turned up at the Mount McIntyre Centre to meet them and get some prized signatures and photos.
With three teams heading over to Whitehorse and all the excitement of the Quest we thought we would pay tribute to those that get left back at the kennel. They are just as important to the kennel for their own different reasons…
Puppies are the future, retirees pass on the knowledge and the unlucky few who don’t make the teams this time are still in the frame for the rest of the season. They will stay home and enjoy some quiet time and get special attention from Wendy.
Here’s a video we took last Friday of two of the “secrets” Lydia and Dutch enjoying some quality time inside with Grandma ChaCha.
Take a look back at the start of winter and see how tiny Lydia was back then… what a difference a few months make! Winter In Here!
SP Kennel is a racing sled dog kennel. The dogs love to race. The mushers love to race. This season, we have regrettably had a few canceled races. But this coming weekend, we are going to make up for all that that! We plan to race 38 dogs and 3 mushers! As many as we can.
Not only will Allen and the 14 dogs of the Black Team be starting the 1,000 mile Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race, but also 24 additional SP Kennel dogs and 2 mushers will be on their own starting line.
It is very exciting to give so many dogs a race opportunity. Each dog has worked so hard for the entire season that it will be hard to leave even just a few dogs behind. Our goal has always been to give every dog a chance to “show their stuff”. So, here we go…
The Yukon Quest 300 starts 4 hours after the 1,000 mile race. It follows the same route, uses identical checkpoints and follows YQ rules and regulations. There are 18 teams racing in the YQ300 – two are from SP Kennel. Aliy will be racing the Red Team and Ryne will be racing the Red and Black Team. You can check out the team rosters on Saturday.
Handlers are crucial before, during and after the race. Meghan will handle for the Red Team and Kristy (SP Kennel Invitational competitor) will handle for the R and B Team. Each team has its own strategy and goal. After the finish of the YQ300, Aliy and Meghan will take their truck and head north – directly to Dawson to help set up Dawson Dog Camp prior to Allen’s arrival. They will then switch hats and work for the Black Team during their 36 hour layover. After the YQ300 finish, Ryne and Kristy will head directly back to Alaska. They will return all of the 300 mile race dogs back to the kennel so they can stretch out at their own houses and begin to prepare for the Iditarod.
All in all, it’s a “good plan”… stay tuned and we’ll see what really happens.
Meghan works on her never ending “to do” list, while Rambler relaxes.
Thanks for all your great questions! Hope you enjoy these few minutes with Allen before he embarks on his Quest.
The Yukon Quest has been the central focus for SP Kennel these last few weeks. We have exactly ONE WEEK until the Race Start. As the time nears, we’d like to share our “front row hype”.
As you might imagine there is an infinite amount of preparation that goes on behind the scenes. The race start is next Saturday, February 2nd at 11:00 AM. Here is a very simple calendar so you can follow the SP Kennel Crew as we inch closer to the starting line.
Sunday, January 27th
– Final packing
Monday, January 28th
– Allen and the Black Team go on a stretch out training run
Tuesday, January 29th
– Allen and Moira drive to Whitehorse (10 to 12 hours)
Wednesday, January 30th
– Yukon Quest Mushers Meeting
– Public Event “Mushers Meet & Greet”
Thursday, January 31st
– Ray, Meghan, Aliy, Ryne, Kristy and the Dogs drive to Whitehorse
– Yukon Quest Handlers Meeting
– Yukon Quest Mushers Meeting
– Yukon Quest Start Banquet
Friday, February 1st
– Calm before the storm
Saturday, February 2nd
– Race START
Ever wondered what the SP Kennel mushers eat out on the trail?
Most commercial high-energy snacks can freeze completely solid at 40 below so this, combined with the sugar rush and consequent sugar low many commercial products cause, prompted the SP Kennel mushers to look at other alternatives.
This is what we have found…
In an interview with KUAC at the Yukon Quest Food Drop in Fairbanks Allen mentioned “some oatmeal cluster things that have some white chocolate and all that good stuff. Those are the first things I’m going for.” Click here for KUAC YQ Food Drops article
We thought you might like to try them. They are fantastic for the trail – they don’t freeze solid, they are super tasty and nutritious and aren’t loaded with too much sugar. Why not try them while you follow along with the Yukon Quest?
1.5 cups old-fashioned oats
0.5 cup white chocolate chips
1 banana (squished)
0.5 cup sugar-free peanut butter
0.5 cup sugar-free shredded coconut
1 tsp vanilla
0.25 cup Agave syrup
Combine all ingredients, flatten into a baking dish then freeze.
Voila! Enjoy!
