Musher Bios

25th Running of the John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon
Marathon & Mid Distance Mushers:

Mid Distance Musher Bios
	ROBIN BEALL – GRAND MARAIS, MN Robin is a retired surgical nurse, who was introduced to this crazy sport by her husband Greg. She’s been racing for six years. She’s also a proud grandma of two. “I wish everyone a fast and safe trail,” says Robin.
	BILLIE DIVER – CLOQUET, MN Billie has been running dogs since she was seven. She has participated in the Empire 130, Apostle Islands race, Mid Minnesota and this will be her third Beargrease. Currently there are 25 dogs in her kennel. Billie would like to thank Fond Du Lac Reservation, Serenity Farms and B & B Market for helping to sponsor her this year. She also sends "a big thanks to Richard Loucks for helping me train!" Thanks to Kevin and Beth at Empire Canvas Works for keeping me warm for yet another race!!
	STEVEN CVEK – CORNUCOPIA, WI Steve has been mushing dogs since 1992, and brought his wife Natasha into the mushing fold in 1997. They manage a kennel of twenty-four dogs near Cornucipia, WI. When not mushing Steve is a carpenter and Tasha makes original jewelry. They would like to thank Ehler’s Store, Wolfsong Wear, Jesse Kaseno and Sheila Cadotte, Country Care Pet Hospital and all their handlers and friends.
	FRANK MOE – BEMIDJI, MN Frank and his wife Sherri live near Bemidji with their 20 dogs, mostly Alaskan huskies. He’s a teacher at Bemidji State University and serves in the Minnesota Legislature. “Every year I travel my legislative district, via dogsled, visiting communities and schools. Nothing makes me happier than to finish a long day on the trail by driving the dogs into a school yard. I’m not sure who enjoys the greeting more…the kids, or the dogs.”
	ANTHONY KUBAT - TEAM EPIC - DULUTH, MN This is my second run in the Mid-distance, first time I had an eighth place finish. I have been handling and helping out the Stetsons for the past several years and would like to say, Thanks to John and Shelly for all that they have done.
	KELLI HANSEN – ANGORA, MN “I’ve been involved with sled dogs for ten years and have had my own team for six,” Kelly says. “When not training the sled dogs, I work as a physicial therapist in Cook, MN. I also enjoy camping, kayaking, canoeing. Thanks you to Jamie Nelson and the Chapman family who have been my mentors and training partners!"
	DAVE TURNER- SANDY, OR
	JOHN VITEK - NO. BRANCH, MN
	ARJA MONTTINEN - SOUMUSSALMI, FINLAND Age: 23 Studying: Central Ostrobothnia Rural Institute, the Unit of Kannus, Kennels-sector. Studies: Graduated from High School, 2003 Wilderness and Nature Guide, 2004, Army, training military dogs, 2005 Me and my dogs: I have 5 own dogs: Piki, mixed breed, 10 years, Kimi, mixed breed, 10 years, Jere, mixed breed, 10 years, Ina, Siberian husky, 8 years, Frost, Samoyed, 6 years Then I also had a police patrol dog, German Shepherd, Rasputin. Training him was part of my studies. Me and sled dogs: I have worked as practical training in 3 different sled dog kennels, all together 5 months and I have experience in training and taking care of Siberian huskies, Samoyeds and Greenland dogs.
	PHIL MORRISON - NEW CASTLE, IRELAND This is Phil’s first attempt at a sled dog race. “I grew up around dogs, mainly German shepherds. I worked for over twenty-two years as a K9 handler in the Royal Ulster Constabulary and the Police Service of Northern Ireland,” he says. “I was introduced to Blake and Jennifer Freking, culminating in handling for Jennifer in her 2005 Beargrease. This year I’ll be running their young dogs."
	BRIAN PATTERSON – TWO HARBORS, MN I am a forty-eight year old starving actor. But now I have been shipped off to drive a dog team to stay out of trouble. I served a brief stint on the Beargrease Board of Directors and have had the responsibility of being a race judge several times.
	REBEKAH CHAPMAN - ANGORA, MN Rebekah is 23 and has been running dogs since she was 8. Rebekah and her sister Elizabeth own Sweet Wind Kennel and have 45 sled dogs and two cats. She has participated in numerious races in the midwest including the UP 200, the Apostle Islands and multiple Beargreases. Currently Rebekah is attending college and is employed as the general guest services manager at a local five star resort. She is the Mid-Distance Musher Representative on the Beargrease Board of Directors. In her spare time she enjoys being outdoors, canoeing, fishing, hunting, welding, cooking and driving her Subaru! Sweet Wind Kennel wishes to thank Vermillion Veterinary Clinic, Flint Creek Farms and Husky Creek Sleds for their support.
	BRIAN TIURA – CALUMET, MI This is Brian’s fourth season running dogs and his third race season. His kennel size ranges from 15-20 dogs. He is a self-employed builder and father of three children. Brian’s goals are to have fun while staying competitive with a small kennel, and getting his kids into some junior races in the future.
	LOWELL SCHWARZROCK- LESTER PRAIRIE, MN Lowel is the owner of BlackRockRacing Kennel. He has been involved with Siberians since 1996 when he purchased two and began skjoring. Lowell decided that was too much work, bought a couple more dogs and began sledding and racing. He now has 19 dogs and alot more work! Lowell has raced in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan and Canada and this will be his second attempt at the Beargrease Mid-Distance. His goal is to be successful in getting these Siberians, several of which were born and raised at the BlackRockRacing Kennel, from the start to the finish. Lowell sends a special "Thank You" to his sponsor TechMix Inc. of Steward, MN for furnishing the team with K-9 Restart.
	STEVE PETERSON – FARMINGTON, MN Steve is a pastor, married and the father of five daughters. He has been running dogs for about eight years and currently has 17 dogs in his kennel. Steve has spent extended time in Kenya, Africa building schools, churches and working with community development. He also enjoys camping, fishing and hunting. Steve is passionate about dog sledding and loves being out on the trail with his dogs.
	MARY BETH LOGUE – TROUT RIVER, PA It all began with a trip to Alaska and seeing the sled dog presentation in Denali National Park. After that trip in the year 2000 Mary Beth began to skijor. Now Cascade Kennel consists of 20 Alaskan Huskies and a crazy owner. Training and spending time with the dogs is addictive and Mary Beth thanks God her husband Chris is so supportive.
	ANGELA VOLDARSKI – HOUGHTON, MI Angela has a kennel of 20 adults and 4 puppies. She hopes to do the Iditarod in about 5 years. Angela has been racing for 15 years and started by riding in the basket at three years old. Angela and her husband Charles have two daughters.
	CLIFFORD MAXFIELD – DANBURY, WI It has been 20 years since Clifford began mushing by sprint racing. His kennel consists of 40 alaskan huskies and 2 siberian huskies. He is married to Kathy and they have two grown children, daughter Jaye and son, Tim.
	DAVE LUNDBERG – MONTICELLO, MN "Ever since I started running dogs 14 years ago the Beargrease has loomed in the back of my mind. The half-marathon may or may not idle that loom. Born in Duluth this race comes with a bit of nostalgia for me. Little Mountain Siberians is a kennel of 17 dogs. We could be described as a recreational team but I have a group of young guns who are exceptional animals. I figured they deserved to do a bit more than haul my fishing gear around. Visit my website at www.furwheeler.com
	LINDA HART – STILLWATER, MN Linda and her husband Steve live in Stillwater, MN and have been involved with sleddogs since 1986. Steve ran his first Beargrease in 1989 and they have participated in every race except one. Linda is an Emergency Communications Manager at the Minneapolis/St. Paul Int’l Airport. They have 13 dogs in their kennel including their wirehaired pointer, Roy. In 2006 Linda had a confrontation with a tree limb on the Beargrease trail, broke two ribs and had to scratch. She is hoping for a clean run in 2007.
	GAIL BRANSTROM – BABBITT, MN Gail hopes that this year there is snow for a go on the Beargrease!
	BOB WRIGHT – SOUTH RANGE, WI Bob has been racing sleddogs since 1997.
	MICHELLE ETHUN – DULUTH, MN Michelle has a small kennel of eighteen dogs and balances mushing with a family of three children. She tries to keep a happy attitude and have fun on the trail.
	ANDREW LETZRING - ST. CLOUD, MN
	CHRISTA KAMPHENKEL – ST. CLOUD, MN Christa is currently a student at St. Cloud State University. Her major is business with an emphasis in marketing. She is in her third year. Christa spent this past summer up in Seward, Alaska working at dog sled touring company. She had a great time up there and had a dog follow her home. Christa has been racing dogs since she was five years old. This will be her first time running the Beargrease trail, although she has been attending the race since she was one year old. Her lead dogs will be Flake and Lenny.
	SAM HUBER – ALEXANDRIA, MN Sam is an automotive technician at Steinbring Chevrolet of Alexandria, MN. He and wife Laurie own and operate Frosty Paws Racing Sleddogs. Sam is the proud dad of three year old twin girls. Sam and Laurie would like to thank their friends, family and neighbors for their support.
	BILL HJELM - ALEXANDRIA, MN
	CONGRATULATIONS - 2008 Mid Distance Winner! DON GALLOWAY – MAKINEN, MN Don shares a kennel with partner and wife August Galloway, who he met working at a sled dog business eleven years ago. Don works full time as a health practitioner in Virginia/Cherry, MN.
	SHARON NELSON-CURTICE – RUMELY, MN “I’m a part-time Physical Therapist Assistant and full-time mom. My husband Pete and I have three kids. Pete and I share the training and racing duties for our kennel of Alaskan Huskies,” Sharon tells us. “We presently have 25 adults and six puppies. This will be our twelfth racing season.”
	TRUMAN OBERMEYER – CALUMET, MI Brewery Creek Racing Kennel was started outside of Calumet, MI in 1994. This mid-distance kennel of twenty-two dogs is focusing on the Beargrease this year.
	MAGGIE HEILMANN – SOMERSET, WI Maggie has only been running dogs for about six years. She started out as a skijorer with her Irish Setter. Maggie has three daughters 21, 18, and 11. The 11 year old races in sprint and skijor races. Her husband, Peter, is the best handler ever. This will be Maggie’s longest race to date.
	NICK TURMAN – TWO HARBORS, MN “Handling other people’s teams led me to the dog mushing world. My wife Joy and I have sixteen sled dogs and two wirehaired pointers. We’ve participated in numerous Beargrease races, the Midnight Run, Mid Minnesota, Empire and the Apostle Islands Race."
	JAMES METHVEN - MASON, WI James has been mushing since 1996 and currently has a kennel of eleven dogs. He has run the Beargrease 150 previously and is back for another go at it.
	JOHN HULL - Elton, WI John started racing four years ago out of Rocky Flats Kennel. He works at the Pomps Tire Manufacturing plant in Antigo, WI. His son, Mickeal, helps with the dog kennel.
	TIM CHISHOLM - NORTH BRANCH, MI Tim has spent 15 years racing sled dogs and currently has a kennel of 25 dogs. He is married with two children and works at 3M.
	SHAWN McCARTY - ISABELLA, MN Shawn, a native of Ohio, has been running dogs out of the White Wilderness Kennel where he works as a guide in the winter. White Wilderness has a kennel of 100 dogs.
	BRIAN WIESE - KAKABEKA FALLS, ONTARIO, CANADA Brian has run the Beargrease six times, the Wildcat 500 twice, and the Northern Lights Challange 300. He has logged many other miles in the addictive sport of mushing which is his life long passion. Brian says "Every year has been a thrill!"
	SAUL ELLERING - GREY EAGLE, MN Saul has been working with dogs for 4 years and looks forward to running the race with his father Paul Ellering.
	PAUL ELLERING - GREY EAGLE, MN Paul is looking forward to running the Beargrease with his son Saul Ellering.
	DAWN BREEDLOVE - BRYANT, WI
	TOM BENSON - ELY, MN Tom is 43 and has been driving dogs since 1993 and racing since 1999. He races for fun, adventure and challenging competition.
	ROSE SMYTH - LACONA, WI Rose was born in Laona WI at wars end in 1945. She had some real challenging years growing up in a family of 10 brothers and 2 sisters. Her family was very involved in hunting and fishing activities and as a result she loves grouse and deer hunting. Rose likes walking with her young pups in the summer and travels about 12 miles a day - everyday. She got involved in dogsledding about 8 years ago and runs her Irish Setters. She runs 32 setters, 5 Elhew Pointers and 2 English Setters. She also breeds setters and pointers for family pets and for the grouse hunter.
	TASHA STEILSTRA - McMILLAN, MN
	KRISTER RAASOCH - McMILLAN, MI This is Krister's second season running sled dogs for Ed and Tasha Stielstra. He is originally from New Hampshire. Krister finished the UP 200 last year, and guided dog sled tours this summer on the Mendenhall Glacier in Juneau, Alaska. His favorite dog is Hedgie, who is a Beargrease Marathon veteran, but unfortunately too old to run with Krister's young team. Nature's Kennel Sled Dog Racing & Adventures www.natureskennel.com Ed and Tasha Stielstra PO Box 5 McMillan MI 49853 906-748-0513
	TIM VANDERMEULER - McMILLAN, MI I have been involved with mushing for the past 10 years. I started out ski-joring with one dog and this will be my longest race so far. I am very exited about coming over to Duluth to see the town and participate in the race. I would like to thank Ed and Tasha Stielstra for allowing me the opportunity to race there dogs in this event. I am a teacher at a Career Tech Center in Traverse City Michigan. I have taught high school students entry level skills to enter the electrical trade. I am married and have two children all of which enjoy the mushing lifestyle that our family has chosen.

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