Fun Race #1 was originally scheduled for November 20, but was postponed due to cold temperatures.  Nineteen  people and 35 dogs participated on trails made ice skate rink slick by the recent warm weather. The participants gave huge thanks to all the trail groomers who were out as late as Sunday morning getting the trail in the best racing shape possible given the conditions. In asking after the race for any trail stories, the most popular reaction was "it was scary."

At least 16 of the 35 dogs racing today were adopted from animal shelters or rescue organizations. Most are Alaska huskies, but several Golden Retrievers have found their true calling as skijoring dogs.  Forget diving after birds in cold water....they love to run the trails pulling their owners on one of the shortest days of winter.

The 3.6 mile 2-dog class was won by Chad Carroll with Penny and Tico (11:42), followed by Carol Kleckner with Borax and Misty (12:17). 3rd place went to Amanda Byrd with Barat and Wanda (12:20). Rounding out the class was David Avery with Tucker and Huey in their first skijor race (14:22).

The 3.6 mile 1-dog class was the largest of the day. The top 4 times were within 15 seconds of each other. Andy Warwick with Zip sped around the course in 14:13 followed by Ted Wu with Ty in 14:23. Sven Grage and Reed were close behind in 14:27 with Kimberlee Beckman and Iris a second behind in 14:28. Lisa Baraff and Hope were 5th in 15:35. A total of 8 racers competed in this class.

The 2.7 mile 2 dog class was led by Sara Elzey with Ayla and Chert in 10:22. Don Kiely with Casper and Daikon was 2nd in 11:00. Rounding out the class was Iris Wood with Fox and Eagle in 11:46 and Marya Lewanski with Blaze and Nellie in 12:49.

Andy Warwick won his 2nd race of the day in the 2.7 mile 1 dog class with Licorice in 12:19. David French was close behind with Boone in 12:26 and 3rd place went to Daniel Carlson with Sky in 12:42.

Amanda Byrd in her 2nd race of the day led the 1.4 mile 2 dog class with Tas and Miley in 4:51.  Sara Elzey , also running her 2nd race of the day, was 2nd with Myst and Shadow in 5:45.

Sunnifa Deehr with Leap and Cicero was 3rd in 5:56 after also finishing the 2.7 mile trail with 1 dog.  

Thanks to all the volunteers and sponsors who help make the races possible!  People who helped make today's event  possible are:

Registration: Peggy Raybeck, Ted Wu
Starter: Pat DeRuyter
Handler: Steve Sheehy, AJ Sutton
Timer: Clarice Dukeminier, Chuck Deehr
Results: Amanda Byrd, Lisa Baraff
Reporting: Carol Kleckner
Bib Repair: Gail Davidson
Trail Grooming: Pat DeRuyter, John Hallsten, Peggy Raybeck

Back to Top

There was no rest for the wicked when the Alaska Skijor and Pulk Association held their Fun Race #2 on New Years Day.  The race was actually the 4th in the series, having been rescheduled from an earlier and colder day in the season.

Fifteen weary skijorers and 26 dogs brought in 2006 under clear skies and a chilly -11F at Creamers Field racing in events covering 1.4, 2.7 and 3.6 miles. While the trails were fast and relatively smooth, some skijorers had less than smooth runs.

Making to the start line, while not normally a judged event, earned a few racers prizes for their Elegance (Carol Kleckner smoothing out a potential tangle with an artistic swoop of an arm), Special Effects (Iris Wood for reaching the start line in a cloud of flying snow) and Murphy's Award, when Sara Elzey's dog Chert slipped both its harness and collar within 3 seconds of their start.

The 3.6 mile 2-dog race was relatively uneventful and quickly won by Andy Warwick skiing behind Zip and Licorice (11:55), followed by Amanda Byrd with Borat and Wanda (12:17), Iris Wood with Swimmer and Pluto (13:36), Steve Sheehy with Terri and Sputnick and rounding out the field was Carol Kleckner with Crowe and Blackberry (14:30).

Ted Wu and Ty won the 1-dog race over 3.6 miles (14:02) followed by Kimberlee Beckman and Iris (15:12), Lisa Baraff and Hope (16:17) and Jim Altherr and Sophie came in at 20:29.

Don Kiely was not satisfied with a simple 2-dog race over 2.7 miles, instead he decided to make it an extreme event when he lost his mitten at the start of the race, and after trying various methods of poling and keeping his bare hand warm, he decided to up his own ante and threw the pole into the snow and covered his hand in his sleeve.  He made it around the 2.7 mile course in 11:02 with his dogs Casper and Daikon, 40 seconds slower than Sara Elzy with Chert and Ayla, who after their own mishap at the start recovered well to win the event.

The 2.7 mile 1-dog race had its own adventure with Alina Evans skiing into the strap of Claudia Ihl's downed pole after Claudia and her dog Ginger crashed after encountering Fran Kohl and Jethro on the trail.  When there might have been a little frustration, humor was the main emotion and sportsmanship came into play as Alina picked up the offending pole and carried it a while around the course to give to Claudia, but dropped it when it was evident that it was not needed.

Fran and Jethro won the event in 14:09, followed by Claudia and Ginger (14:51) and Alina and Ledge rounded out the field in 16:55.

The 1.4 mile race had two 2-dog competitors and one single dog team.  Janice Wiegers teamed with Marco and Trance to run the short course in 5:33, followed by Sara Elzey with Shadow and Myst (6:04).  Andy Warwick too the opportunity to run a second race with shelter dog Blue, who ran the distance in 8:05. Many of the dogs racing are fostered or have been adopted through the Fairbanks Shelter.

Every skijorer and volunteer received great prize from the many sponsors who have helped ASPA with a successful season.

Many thanks, too, to all the volunteers who made this Holiday Race happen!!!

Registration: Kimberlee Beckman, Amanda Byrd
Starter: Pat DeRuyter
Handler: AJ Sutton
Timers: Diann Darnall, Judy Warwick
Results: Kimberlee Beckman, Lisa Baraff
Reporter: Amanda Byrd