2017 Knik 200 Mushers

BibNameBio
1Jeffrey Deelar
2Peter Molan
3Miranda Mapes
4Emilian MaxeswellKennel Name: Team Petit Puppies
Sponsors: Create38
Where you live: Girdwood/Willow, Alaska
Your day job: Pilates Instructor
How long you hve been mushing: 1 year
How you started mushing:I met a cute French musher
Why you are running the Knik race: For race experience/as a qualifier
5Ray Maridith Jr.Kennel Name:  Redington Kennels
Sponsors:  AFC, DSR, Mary Curtis, GBA Corona, Dr. Carson All Natural Supplements, Roy & Cheryl Catalano, AIH, Bill & Carole Stead, Denali Vapor
Home:  Knik, Alaska
How long have I been mushing:  All my life
How I started:  It’s a family tradition
Why I’m running the race:  I enjoy running this race
6Mitch Konnoe
7Sammuel MartinesKennel Name: 17th -Dog/Team Matthew Failor
Where you live: Boston, Massachusetts
Your day job: Mushing tour operator
How long you hve been mushing: 1 year
How you started mushing: Sam took a job in Skagway, AK for Alaska Icefield Expeditions as a dog handler.
8Rob Leeder
9Jon Vanstein
10Billy Cooke
11Tim Peters Jr
12Davis DolmanKennel Name:  Redington Kennels
Sponsors:  Ray and Julia Redington, Resolution Brewing Company, and my friends and family.
Where I live: Wasilla, AK
How long have I been mushing:  4 years
How I started: I started mushing at a tour operation in the U.P. of Michigan. I spent two winters there and a summer running tours in Juneau where I met Robert Redington. He put me in touch with his brother Ray and I’ve been running and racing in Alaska since 2014.
Why I’m running the race: I’m running the race to get my team race experience. My team is all yearlings and two year olds and it will be their first race.
13Michael Delver
14Miles BaileyKennel Name: 17th -Dog/Team Matthew Failor
Sponsors: Gold Rush Sled Dog Tours, Alaska Icefield Expeditions, K2 Woodworking, Wool-X, Michael O’Machearley Custom Knives, Highs Adventure Kennel & Gear, Seiler & Associates, LLC
Where you live: Denver, Colorado
Your day job: Mushing tour operator
How long you hve been mushing: 8 years
How you started mushing: Michael began working as a dog handler for Gold Rush Dog Tours/Alaska Icefield Expeditions in Juneau.
15Jolene Leifseth WillisKennel name: Team Racing Beringia
Sponsors: Nova Sea, Lovund, Helgelands Sparebank. Delphi Lavender, Non-Stop Dogwear , Arctic Chiropractic West Mat-Su , OT Sled & Handler Products, Canelana, Klattermusen, Rana Trekk & Brukshundklub, GoNorth! Adventure Learning.
Where you live: Willow, Alaska
Your day job: Dog musher
How long you been mushing: Started racing in 2007
How you started mushing: Got into ‘running dogs’ on a pulk pulled neighbord two house dogs. Started building own team in 2007 after working for one year as a handler back in Norway — moved with my team of dogs to Alaska in 2011.
Why are you running the Knik race: Because I had fun last time!
16Zimmer Bundtzen
17Mitch TailorKennel Name: 17th -Dog/Team Matthew Tailor
Sponsors: Gold Rush Sled Dog Tours, Alaska Icefield Expeditions, K2 Woodworking, Wool-X, Michael O’Machearley Custom Knives, Highs Adventure Kennel & Gear, Seiler & Associates, LLC
Where you live: Willow, Alaska
Your day job: Mushing tour operator
How long you hve been mushing: 6 years
How you started mushing: Matthew first fell in love with Alaska and its culture while working summers during college on the Mendenhall Glacier in Juneau.
18Charles Outrich
19Mortimer Farrow
20Mortlan Apayauq RaileyKennel Name: Hulahula kennel
Sponsors: Kaktovik Tours, and Dr. Greg Gulbransen Where I live: Kaktovik, Alaska
My day job: Polar bear guide
How long have I been mushing: 15 years
How I started: Family dog mushing
Why I’m running the race: To qualify for Iditarod which I hope to run some day. Run with dad’s Iditarod team, and gain more racing experience.
21Charley Bernard
22James HighlandKennel Name: High’s Adventure Kennel Sponsors
Sponsors: Renco Electric, High’s Adventure Gear, All Creatures, Jon and Jona Van Zyle
Where you live: Willow, Alaska
Your day job: Owner of Highs Adventure Gear
How long you hve been mushing: 20+ years
How you started mushing: Brother watched Iron Will as a kid and told my mom that’s what he wanted to do. He got me interested in the sport and the rest is history.
Why you are running the Knik race: After two house fires and a baby in the past two years figured a 200 mile ace was a good goal for this year.
23Rossaline CorrtanKennel name: Avalanche Racing
Where you live: Jacksonville, FL
Your day job: Flying Trapeze Instructor
When did you start mushing: This winter. I started working for a sled dog tour company in Skagway this summer as a guide, decided to stick it through the winter to experience the real thing. I am running the Knik 200 as an Iditarod qualifier.
24David Turnald
25Ida ShelleysFrom Cottageville, S.C. wound up in Skagway, Ak almost 10 years ago and that is where I was first introduced to dog mushing from Ryan Reddington. He later invited me to handle for him. This is where my interested for dogs peaked. I decided to run The Iditarod in 2018 which led me to Kathleen Fredricks, and Eric Kelly at Shameless Huskies. Been training these dogs since October and now ready to enter races to qualify for Iditarod. Like to thank all my friends and family in Skagway, Alaska X, and everyone who has helped Team JDot run down a dream!!!
26Scott Jamesson
27Jacob Stewart
28Tom Berger
29Nick PetiteKennel name: Team Petit
Sponsors: Create38
Where you live: Girdwood/Willow, AK
Your day job: Pilates Instructor
For how long have you been mushing: 1 year
How did you start mushing: I met a cute French musher
Why are you running the Knik? For race experience/as a qualifier
30Willow RhodeKennel Name: Mackey’s Alaskan Distance Dogs
Where you live: Two Rivers, Alaska
Your day job: Senior Geologist/Environmental Engineer
How long you’ve been racing dogs: 3 years
How you got started mushing: First ran dogs in 1998 as a handler to help Dan Turner train for the Yukon Quest.
Why you are racing the Knik: I enjoyed the race in 2015 and it’s a well organized event.
Sponsors: Family, Friends, Copper Valley Valley Veterinary Services, Sea Fur Sewing, and dr. Carson’s Pet Food Suppliments.
31Damian Norman
32Brittany Farland
33Ken ManduelKennel name: Windy Creek Kennel
Sponsors: Redpaw pet foods, lupine lights, ACE Air Cargo
Where you live: Fairbanks
Your day job: Musher
How long you’ve been mushing: 40 years
How you got started mushing: Parents had a rec team in Minnesota
Why you are racing in the Knik: To enjoy the trail and meet up with friends

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