Maggie Heilmann

Somerset, WI US

I started out skijoring with my Irish Setter 10 years ago. I then got a few more dogs and tried sprint racing for a year. I wanted to spend my time on the trail with my dogs, so I moved into mid-distance. My husband Peter and 15 year old daughter Madeline are my fantastic handlers. I also have two older daughters. In the off season we show horses, ride bikes, garden & kayak. I have a small kennel of 18 dogs. I enjoy seeing the pups we raise become exceptional sled dogs. After suffering a severe brain injury (and being told I was lucky to be alive) during a race last season, I have become an advocate for wearing a helmet and encourage others to do the same! My website is www.maddogracingkennel.com.

Natalie Harwood

Iron River, WI US

My husband and I have been mushing for a little more than 10 years together. Our dogs are performance bred, racing Siberian Huskies. We have one son, Daniel, who is 3.5 years old who is happy to be "part dog" himself and will be getting his boots snowy this year on the runners in his own kid race! I'm a Veterinary Technician and manage our kennel, training the dogs with my husband (and handler, Aaron). I'm looking forward to my second Beargrease!

Paul Amano

Kaministiquia, Ontario, CA

Last year's recipient of the Red Lantern in the mid-distance race felt lucky to have spent more time on the trail than any other musher in the race. The spirit of the race and the northern Minnesota community have brought this musher from Kaministiquia, Ontario back for more!

Team Gordon

Duluth, MN US

Team Turman

Duluth, MN US

I have been handling with my brother Nick Turman ever since he began running dogs in the 80's. The sport has been intriguing and exciting for my family and Nick is gracious enough to allow me to run his dogs in various races including this, my first Beargrease!

Thea Schneider

Finland, MN US

Thea Schneider has been running Siberian Huskies recreationally for the past 7 years, but this will be her first race. Her addiction to dog sledding started with a child sized dog sled pulled by one dog that thought it was great to hear the musher screaming for dear life behind the sled. After those first couple runs, she was hooked to the sport. Thea has now moved to MN from Maine to spend a year handling for Jen and Blake Freking at Manitou Crossing Kennel. She is excited to get on the trail with the dogs and hopes this will be the first in a long line of races to come.

Dusty Klaven

Gheen, MN US

This will be my second running of the Breargrease. I'm 23 yrs old and have been in the sport for 8 or so yrs. Besides running dogs I'm a full time college student at Hibbing Community College. I would like to thank my sponsor- Franks Marine, Orr MN and a family friend for his dedication throughout the season.

Malinda Tjelta

Sheyenne, ND US

I am a student at New Rockford-Sheyene school. I have been running sled dogs for four years now. In our kennal we have forty sleddogs. My other favorite sport is Rodeo. MY family supports me in every way.

Peter Tjelta

Sheyenne, ND US

I became involved with sled dogs four years ago when my daughter started to train and race. It has become a family activity that has grown each year.

Michael Hoff

Little Marais, MN US

I live in Little Marais, MN with my wife Angie, who is in denial over me being involved in dog sledding. I am devoted to my business, and love spinning my wool to create beautiful sweaters for my handlers to wear. I am a life member of many yarn guilds and believe strongly in vegetarianism.

Joanna Oberg

Ignace, Ontario, CA

Been running dogs for about 18 years and love it! We have 29 adult dogs and 8 puppies in our kennel. I help my parents operate Agimac River Outfitters, a fishing and hunting camp north of Ignace, Ontario. I enjoy the outdoors and being active hiking, swimming, boating, fishing, x-country skiing, snowshoeing, reading and writing. I also really enjoy showing my Beauceron and Irish Setter at dog shows in conformation and performance events! Looking forward to racing the Beargrease trail in 2012!

Jason Jones

Walker, MN US

Had a great time last year, cant wait until January!

Charlotte Mooney

West Yellowstone, MT US

During the summer, I do seasonal work in West Yellowstone, Montana. During the winter I give dogsled rides and race. I have been running dogs for 12 years and currently have 22 dogs in my kennel.

Michelle Hogan

Tomahawk, WI US

I am an author, musher and homeschooling mom to 7 kids, ages 2-19. I started mushing in 1994 and had to stop several years later. I restarted my team after moving to Tomahawk, Wisconsin last year and volunteering for the Beargrease with my son Liam at the Sawbill checkpoint for the 2011 race. I now have a kennel of 20 dogs, including Jezebelle, Condee, Serena, Pasha, Sadie and Tupelo.

Bob Wright

South Range, WI US

Been participating (non-competitively) in races since 1997. Enjoy seeing the pro teams as they whiz by.

Amber Evans

Milaca, MN US

Dogsledding is an adventure my husband Doug and I have jumped into with both feet. I am a full time pharmacist. We have 4 children who enjoy the dogs as much as we do. We have a small kennel of 12 dogs. We take every opportunity we have to thank our mentors Matt and Paula Rossi. Go Andrew!

Team Fortier

Gaylord, MI US

Our team will be run by either Joann or Larry Fortier. We haven't decided yet.

Deb Glenn

Lodi, WI US

Seven years ago I went to Nome with my mother and daughter to watch the conclusion of the Iditarod. I guess lines from Shakespeare best descibe my feelings as the teams crossed under the Burled Arch..."the eyes say what the lips fear to speak". I saw something special and thought, 'man, where have you been, and wherever you've been, I need to go there'. While in Nome I talked with legends Dick Mackey and Dan Seavy Sr., asking them how a person goes about learning to become a dog musher. Dick introduced me to John Barron, one of the original trailblazers to finish over three decades of Iditarods. I sold my nursing home, leased a team from John, and spent a year running dogs on the mountains of Montana. After training on miles of icy trails too near treacherous drop-offs, hundreds of miles in stiff and blinding blizzards where I couldn't even see my wheel dogs, and minus fifty degree camp trips with my team, I am musher poor but adventure rich - running by the light of the moon with sixteen of my best friends keeps me coming back. Not having enough experience, money or dogs to finish a race, I saved to buy my own sled. Then I acquired a few retired sled dogs I could call my own. We recently moved to the country where we now reside with our 35 Alaskans. Being raised in the Northwoods and living in Wisconsin, I have been coronated with a love for the great outdoors. I hope this year I can honor my dogs by finishing the Beargrease in good stead.

Bill Glenn

Lodi, WI US

I spent most of my career in building and zoning, from pounding nails to fifteen years doing rural municipal inspections and administration. After my wife began to develop her passion spending time on sled runners and with her dogs and learning how to become a long-distance dog musher, I learned how to become the seventeenth dog! I've always enjoyed outdoor activities in all seasons - camping, hiking, rock and mountain climbing and traditional sports, but spending time with Deb on the trails intrigues me also. Despite many obstacles, she wouldn't get out of dogs or quit, so here I go...like they say, 'if you can't beat 'em, join them'. Before training Iditarod finisher Al Hardmans'dogs for a season, and then Jim Warrens' dogs for a season, I ran dogs with my wife and John Barron out of Montana. I have pretty much experienced kennel care and long-distance mushing for five years now. Last year Deb surprised me with a sled of my own as a birthday present. So I guess by default I am a dog musher. All kidding aside, and by my own admission, I really enjoy the sport and hope we can celebrate finishing a good race.

Jerry Trudell

Calumet, MI US

My wife/handler/best friend Pat and I are transplanted southerners now residing in the U.P. of Michigan. We were introduced to the sport of mushing in 2006 and after a couple of years of handling for Truman Obermeyers Brewery Creek Racing we took the plunge into racing for the 2008-2009 season. Our kennel is made up of 12 Alaskan Husky/Eurohounds ranging in age from 1 to 6 years of age. We thoroughly enjoy the people, dogs and sport of mushing. The longer we are in the sport, the more our respect and admiration for our canine athletes grows. We look forward to returning for our third Beargrease Mid-Distance race. I am a pilot for Delta Airlines and my wife is a teacher. We have 4 grown children and 5 young grandchildren.

Billie Diver

Cloquet, MN US

I'm originally from Cloquet, MN but currently attend school at the University of North Dakota. I'm seeking a degree in Nursing. I've been around dogs since I was about 3 years old and ran my first race when I was 7 years old. We have about 27 dogs in our kennel. Richard Loucks does most of the training since I'm at school & I cannot thank him enough!! I look forward to my sixth Beargrease this year!

Jenny Greger

Bozeman, MT US

I've been mushing for almost my entire life, for my dad has been a musher for over 20 years and my mother has shown and bred purebred dogs for just as long. I ran my dad's distance team in middistance races until in 2008 I got my first 8 dogs from a rescue case our family helped out with. Those 8 dogs and their offspring make up my team now. Personaly, I have 22 dogs, 2 of which are Belgian Shepherds which I do AKC Dog Shows, agility, and obedience with in the off season. My dogs are Alaskan Huskies and Belgian Huskies (Belgian Shepherd crossed with Alaskan Husky). My dogs are my family and I enjoy the sport of mushing because I love to do things with my dogs and enjoy the great outdoors. My website/blog is jennygreger.com

John Hull

Elton, WI US

I Like to Race - Awesome!

Adam Koecher

Willow River, MN US

This is proof that dreams come true.....

Der Hund Kennal Ellering

Grey Eagle, MN US

We're shooting for the Little John Race!

Keith Peppler

Bruce Mines, Ontario, CA

Jerry Papke

Kingston, MI US

Journeyman Lineman for Dte Energy in the Thumb of Michigan. Racing Sleddogs for several years - 38 dogs in the kennel. My wife and handler, Ali, along with our soon to be born little girl Nov. 20?, love spending time with our k-9's. We have three acres fenced in the backyard and a dog cabin where our animals rest - this includes old retired sleddogs, young immature ones and very tired race dogs in training. The dogs love to relax by the fireplace with us. A fun time on the trail was in 2011 stopping two ten dog teams at the same time - we had 20 dogs side by side with no fighting until the musher caught up to his team :)

Joshua Barnes

Gorham, Ontario, CA

I am a carpenter, and have been running dogs for 10 years. We live just outside Thunder Bay ON, and have a small Siberian kennel with 8 dogs. We have done a lot of recreational mushing and winter camping, but this will be my first race entry. Our main goal for this race is to cross the finish line with a happy and healthy team, and hopefully come back for more next year.

Michael Bestgen

St. Cloud, MN US

I'm just too busy to train for the marathon, so the next best thing is the mid- distance. I'm in auto sales for Miller Chevrolet for the past 26 years. I'm married to Vicki and between us we have 4 children, and 7 grandchildren. I entered my first race with borrowed dogs in 1997, the Esslinger Classic. Did a few years helping a kennel out and then jumped in deep and started my own kennel. I've been broke ever since. I always say "it's better to live rich, than to die rich".

Frank Holmberg

Newberry, MI US

Looking forward to running the BG trail again. The dogs always seem to run their best on this trail.

Erin Lindquist

Waite Park, MN US

I'm 21 years old and work full time for the MN National Guard. I've been in this sport for twelve years now, took a brief time out for the last couple years to attend college but am greatful that I have a dad who was willing to keep the kennel going for me. Also a big thanks to Dean Bonati for allowing me to combine our kennels and help me prepare for a great racing season!

Merlyn Coy

Iron River, WI US

Merlyn Coy, along with his wife, Anne, and 5yr old daughter, McKenna, run a small sled dog kennel in Iron River, WI. Merlyn has been running dogs for over 12 years and competed in numerous races in Michigan before moving to Wisconsin last year. Merlyn works as a dental lab tech at Lake Superior Dental Laboratory in Duluth, MN. When he is not working or running dogs, he enjoys kayaking, making cider, wine, and goat cheese from their herd of Oberhasli dairy goats.

Brian Wiese

Kakabeka Falls, Ontario, CA

Born in Bemidji, MN. Currently living in Thunder Bay Ontario. Still building some of the best dog sleds on Planet Earth. A life time passion of traditional steam bent, hand tied sleds, with proven quality from Alaska to Australia. Along with this is an equal obsession of training and racing a mixed breed of 16 Alaskan Huskies with a reckless spirit. Let The Wild Winds Blow!

Chad Schouweiler

Irma, WI US

I have 17 dogs in my kennel. My mom, Martha, will be handling. She usually does a wonderful job, but she might be bitter she is not racing this year. Hopefully I'll go a little faster than last time, but don't expect to run with Frank and Maggie and all those other great teams. Well my team is great too, but they just like to be on the trail a little longer. Thanks to all the wonderful volunteers and all the dedicated people that make the race happen. That's about it.