sun, 18-feb-2007, 13:52

buddy, 2005

buddy, 2005

Today was the second day of the Gold Run, the first championship series race of the season. It's a two day race, with the 4-dog class going 5.9 miles on both days. In yesterday's race Andrea and the dogs were in second place, six seconds ahead of the third place finisher. They were twenty seconds slower today, but finished ahead of the third place team by 0.5 seconds, for a final time between the two days of 39 minutes 38.9 seconds and a second place finish! I'm very proud of Andrea and the dogs. It's a lot of work, and while I know she enjoys it, a second place trophy with an entire team of rescued and misfit dogs is quite an accomplishment and a nice reward for her effort.
tags: Buddy  dogs  mushing 
sun, 04-feb-2007, 14:58

piper, tok 2006

piper taking a nap, tok 2006

This weekend's race was the final challenge race of the season. Andrea and the dogs finished the 5.9 mile course in under 20 minutes for the first time ever, which was good enough for fourth place. She was very happy with the dogs and their performance.

The photo on the right shows Piper sleeping with her head on the steering wheel down in Tok. It's a two day race at the end of the season, and the dogs (and us!) get very tired by the end.


tags: dogs  mushing  Piper  Tok 
sat, 03-feb-2007, 08:50

piper and buddy

photo © 2007 Dave Partee

It was a warm 21°F when the race started, but Andrea and the dogs kept up the pace and came in third place again! The fourth place finisher was only 6 seconds behind over 5.9 miles. Their time was 20:48.3 for an average speed of 17.0 miles per hour.

Our friend Dave took the photo on the right of Piper and Buddy leading the team. It looks like Buddy is completely off the ground in the photo.

For more information about dog mushing here in Fairbanks, check out Andrea's feature story from the University of Alaska Fairbanks home page.


tags: Buddy  dogs  mushing  Piper 
sun, 28-jan-2007, 10:21

happy piper

photo © 2007 Michel dos Santos Mesquita

Andrea and the dogs placed third out of twelve teams in the third ADMA challenge race of the season. At one of the turns, Buddy listened to Andrea and started to make the turn but Piper (pictured on the right) decided to ignore her, and Buddy followed along. Down went the snow fence blocking the trail, as well as Andrea and the sled. Despite that, they still had their second best time over the 4.5 mile trail.

Thanks to Michel for the great photo of Piper after the race!


tags: dogs  mushing  Piper 
tue, 16-jan-2007, 14:33

ready to run

photo © 2007 Dave Partee

We've finally gotten enough snow for the sprint racing season to start. There was a race last weekend, despite temperatures hovering right at the -25°F cutoff. I wore both of my union suits under my wool pants and multiple layers of shirts, sweaters and coats, and still managed to get cold. This Sunday it was a lot more pleasant, and more people showed up to race.

The photo shows our dogs lined out, Andrea on her sled, waiting to go up to the line to race. Piper and Buddy are in lead, with Kiva and Koidern (who is mostly hidden in the photo) behind them. Kiva is already rocking in place, trying to get the sled to move.

Andrea and our dogs ran the four and a half mile course in 15 minutes, 20.7 seconds, which was good enough for fourth place in a field of twelve. Average speed, 17.8 miles per hour; maximum speed, more than 22 miles per hour.


tags: Andrea  Buddy  Dakota  dogs  me  mushing  Piper 

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