SPK Dog Log

Dog Fan Club Draw

March 24, 2019 by SPK Crew

We’ve still got some stuff to give away! Today we did a quadruple Dog Fan Club draw for a set of signed Yukon Quest and Iditarod Race Guides.

Congratulations to Susan McCandless who is a fan of Kodiak, Peach fan Jade Staft, Lucas Koch, a fan of Scooby and Lucas Tans who is also a fan of Kodiak (double treats for Kodi today!). You will all be receiving these two race guides, a glam shot of your dog and some other kennel goodies.

Kodiak is one of the best! He is a consistent top-level performer who unfortunately didn’t make the Quest or Iditarod teams since pulling up a bit sore after the Copper Basin. He did get to complete in the Two Rivers 100 with Karolyn and has been enjoying some spring mushing on local trails. Look out for him to be back to his best next season!

Peach is a peach. She is a sweetheart that loves to work. She has not come into her own just yet but will be ready to roll for next season. We’re excited for her to show us her stuff!

Scoob wins the ‘unluckiest dog’ award this season in terms of making major race teams. He made the journey over to Whitehorse for the Quest 200 but the night before the race he tore his toenail and had to take a week off. He then made it to the final 15 for the Iditarod but didn’t get to go, however he did enjoy the 11 miles of Ceremonial start through the streets of Anchorage saying ‘Hi’ to all his fans.

We still have a few more draws to make before the end of the season – it’s not too late to join. Find out more about our athletes at the “Dogs” page. To join the Dog Fan Club you can hit the “Become a Dog Fan” tab at the top of the page or click here.

Dogs

Home Trails

March 22, 2019 by SPK Crew

Everyone is home – resting and regrouping after Nome. Aliy and Moira took some of the Iditarod team out for a couple of hours last night on the local trails.

West of us the trails are still pretty good but we’re not sure how much they have left in them. It’s pretty warm here in Two Rivers during the day and it won’t be long before the trails turn to slush so we made the most of it last night.

And don’t feel bad for the rest of the kennel that got left behind last night – most of them went out today with Karolyn and Bridgett.

Races | Sponsors

ID: Thanks From Nome

March 18, 2019 by SPK Crew

Aliy has a thank you message to everyone from Nome.

Races | Sponsors

Nome Dog Fan Club Draw

March 18, 2019 by SPK Crew

It’s our last morning in Nome so we are doing a Dog Fan Club Draw to mark the end of the race.

Congratulations to Missy Williams who is a fan of QT. Missy wins an pack of Iditarod souvenirs including a patch, fridge magnet and coaster, a glam shot of QT and some other kennel goodies.

QT has had a breakout season culminating in running with Aliy and her team mates to Nome and crossing the line in 4th position. She started the season as leggy youngster without much experience but turned into a self-confident, determined dog. Aliy said she could see that determination when they stopped on the trail to take a break – she would look around wondering the reason for the stop. She didn’t worry about what the other dogs were doing, she only checked in with Aliy and was 100% focussed on her.

Find out more about our athletes at the “Dogs” page. To join the Dog Fan Club you can hit the “Become a Dog Fan” tab at the top of the page or click here.

Races

ID: Celebration Sunday

March 17, 2019 by SPK Crew

This evening at the Nome Convention Centre, the Iditarod celebrated amazing dogs and their humans at the Finish Banquet and Prizegiving. First, we all enjoyed a prime rib dinner and famous chocolate dipped strawberries by the Lakefront Hotel and served by an army of volunteers.

During the evening we were treated to many stories of sportsmanship, incredible dogs, and endurance through challenging conditions. Congratulations to all the mushers that even made the start line!

First up were the ‘special awards’ – many of which were already presented on the trail.

Aliy re-accepted the GCI Dorothy G Page Halfway Award for being the first musher into Iditarod. In her speech Aliy thanked GCI for enabling communications up and down the trail, and for being a long-time enthusiastic sponsor of the race. Aliy won this beautiful trophy plus $3,000 of gold.

Aliy was then rather stunned to be awarded the Leonhard Seppala Humanitarian Award for exemplary dog care. In her acceptance speech she acknowledged Jessie Royer, Jeff King and Martin Buser for what she has learned from them this year and through out her career. This is the fifth time Aliy has received this award and those of us around her feel so privileged and lucky she is the one who has taught us about dog care.

Each musher then got the opportunity to tell stories, thank sponsors and acknowledge their dogs. Aliy told the story of the best mush-though meal when she arrived in the village of Golovin. She and the dogs were excited to be there and she was presented with a take-away package of moose stew, cookies and the best cup of coffee ever!

Listen to Aliy’s speech here

It was a special moment to celebrate the new Iditarod Champion Pete Kaiser. You are worthy champ and the race is in good hands with you as the new face. Congratulations!

More information on prize winners on the Iditarod website here, from ADN here and KTUU here.

Races

ID: Social Saturday

March 16, 2019 by SPK Crew

Saturday in Nome during Iditarod week means “Meet the Mushers”. It is always one of the most popular events on the calendar with thousands of people showing up to get a signature, selfie and handshake from their favourite mushers.

Here’s a few snaps from today.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

The dogs are now home at the kennel! Bridgett and Karolyn drove them up from Anchorage today and the dogs are back at their houses, sharing stories with their friends and neighbours that didn’t make the trip.

Dogs | Races

ID: Flyday Friday

March 15, 2019 by SPK Crew

Today’s mission was to get all the dogs back to Anchorage. We set 5am alarms (and 5:10 and again at 5:20) to get down to the dog yard to give them breakfast, pack up all the gear in the sled for shipping and transport all the kennels and dogs the few miles out to the NAC cargo depot ready for their flight to Anchorage.

It is always a logistical challenge but we are fortunate we can transport all our dogs in one vehicle with no growls or squabbles. Thanks Kamey and Curtis for the loan of your truck – sorry about the smell.

Five, Rodney, Spark and Dutch (and Karolyn)

Before the race we shipped an airline kennel for each dog to Nome. Once the team arrived we used the kennels as their sleeping quarters for a few days then this morning we assembled them for transport home. Due to the early wake up most of the dogs settled in for a sleep as soon as we secured them into their kennels.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Thanks to the guys at NAC for your professional and careful handling of the precious cargo.

The plane arrived safe and sound in Anchorage a few hours later and Linda and Clare met them and loaded dogs and kennels into Hollywood ready for their drive home to Two Rivers tomorrow. It is always a relief to have the dogs home.

And here’s the promised pic of Nomex I missed yesterday. Good boy!

As for the rest of the day for us? Karolyn flew to Anchorage separately and will drive the dogs home tomorrow. Rest and relaxation was the name of the game for those of us left in Nome. The men watched some College basketball, Aliy had a massage and we all took a nap.

Dogs | Races

ID: Thursday in Nome

March 14, 2019 by SPK Crew

Feeling: relaxed.

Thursday in Nome was pretty slow paced. After the first full night of sleep for everyone we woke refreshed.

During the day we spent time in the dog yard, wandered around town and got coffee then Aliy had an interview with Greg Heister of the Insider. A few of us hung in the “Mini” Convention Centre – the Iditarod HQ – to listen to Mayor Richard Beneville performing a Robert Service poetry reading. We wrote out the Dog Fan Club and Team Member postcards ready for posting (hopefully they won’t take six weeks like last year but we have no control over that). We rounded out the day with another visit to the dogyard to give them dinner, then Karolyn went later to tuck them into bed.