Mentor
List: USA - Alaska
Updated:
06 February 2015
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Name: Jack Berry
Hometown: Homer, AK
Will mentor by: e-mail
Will mentor in: distance and general
E-mail address: doghouse@xyz.net
Experience: I'm interested in long distance racing. I've competed in the
Yukon Quest and Iditarod for the last 8 years. I live and train on the Kenai Peninsula. My
dogs are Alaskan Huskies.
Name:
Bryan Bearss
Hometown: Anchorage, AK
Will mentor by: e-mail, phone and in person
Will mentor in: distance, recreation and general
E-mail address: musherbryan@yahoo.com
Phone: 906-350-4363
Experience: 2
years of sprint mushing followed up by 8 years of distance mushing. Have
handled or run most mid and long distance races in Alaska and have learned
the trade from some of the best: King, Steer and Bundtzen. I'm a teacher by
trade, so mentoring is right up my alley!
Name: Charlie Champaine
Hometown: Salcha, AK
Will mentor by: e-mail, phone and in person
Will mentor in: sprint and general
E-mail address: champain@ptialaska.net
Phone: 907-488-3087
Experience: I've had sled dog experience since 1970. I have numerous first place
finishes in all major Alaska races. In addition I have also won the I.S.D.R.A gold
metal in the open sprint class. For 22 years I've produced and marketed premium perishable
and freeze dried meat diets for competitive teams. Unfortunately I'm miserable typist, but
I'll try.
 Junior Mentor
Name: Kristen Crain
Hometown: Talkeetna, AK
Will mentor by: email and in person
Will mentor in: distance, recreation and general
E-mail address: choctawdogmusher@yahoo.com
Experience: I started mushing in 1997 with two retired dogs. I now have a team of
freighting Alaskan Huskies, a hound mix, and two racing dogs. I ran the Jr.
Iditarod in 2007, and will be running it again in 2008.
Name: Zoya DeNure
Hometown: Paxson, AK
Will mentor by: email
Will mentor in: distance, sprint and general
E-mail address: zdenure@yahoo.com
Experience: Home is 42 Alaskan Huskies and 3 spoiled & silly house
dogs. I have 5 years of mushing experience ranging from Sprint racing a 4-dog class &
mid-distance running 10 & 12 Alaskan Huskies. Logging 1,880 hours average per season
with eyes on Iditarod 2006. Part of dog training I enjoy the most would be time camping
out with my dogs on trapline trails & training for the races with a natural method we
call Hyper-T training.
Name: Cathy & Tom Dimon
Hometown: North Pole, AK
Will mentor by: e-mail, phone and in person
Will mentor in: recreation
E-mail address: dimonfreightdogs@hotmail.com
Phone: 907-347-1682
Experience: We have 14 years experience in recreational mushing &
winter camping with 6 - 8 dog teams of large freighting huskies.
Name: Curtis & Shannon Erhart
Hometown: Fairbanks, AK
Will mentor by: e-mail, phone and in person
Will mentor in: distance, sprint and general
E-mail address: cserhart@acsalaska.net
Phone: 907-479-0516
Experience: Curtis and I have been involved in sled dogs for over 30
years each. We have Alaskan Huskies and hound crosses. Have been involved in
mostly open class racing, but have extensive knowledge in mid and long distance, limited
and junior racing.
Name:
Nita Fowler
Hometown: Fairbanks, AK
Will mentor by: e-mail, phone and in person
Will mentor in: recreation and general
Email: nitarae@gmail.com
Phone: 907-687-6656
Experience: I have 4 years experience in recreational mushing and
operating a tour business for dog sled rides and mushing schools with the
old style of Traditional Freighting Huskies. Mary Shields and Cathy
Dimon were kind enough to take me under their wings when I first moved to
Alaska. I'd be happy to pass it forward.
Suggestions:
Name: Leigh Gilburn
Hometown: Bethel, AK
Will mentor by: e-mail, phone and in person
Will mentor in: recreation and general
E-mail address: lgill270@yahoo.com
Phone: 907-543-1663
Experience: I have about 8 years experience and am moving to
International Falls, MN in October. I am very interested in helping even mildly
handicapped kids to get into the sport or benefit from working with the dogs/care/etc..
Name: Dori Hollingsworth
Hometown: Seward, AK
Will mentor by: e-mail, phone and in person
Will mentor in: sprint and general questions
E-mail address: dori@gci.net
Phone: (907) 224-3961
Experience: We have been running dogs for 12 years now. We run 4, 6, 8,
10 & open class sprint teams. For a long time our specialty was the six dog class. I
once had a 6-dog team that won every race for two years including Tok Race of Champions
& the Limited North American Championship. We now focus more on putting together a
nice open team although I still enjoy a really nice six or eight dog team. I also really
like working with puppies & young dogs. I was fortunate to have a couple of wonderful
mentors in Bill Sullivan and Bill Taylor. They kept us from a lot of mistakes. Every year
it seems I learn a little more.
Name: GB Jones
Hometown: Knik, AK
Will mentor by: e-mail, phone and in person
Will mentor in: distance, recreation, skijoring, sprint and general
E-mail address:
gbjones@iditarodmusher.com
Phone: 907-715-1226
Experience: Our kennel is located at the trailhead of the wilderness
section of the Iditarod sled dog race. My dogs and I are are Iditarod veterans and are
active throughout the year giving sled dog rides on the Iditarod Trail. (www.iditarodmusher.com/)
Name: Linda Joy
Hometown: Kenai, AK
Will mentor by: e-mail
Will mentor in: distance, recreation and general
E-mail address: lindajoy@gci.net
Experience: I have run The Iditarod 4 times: '96 ',97, '98 and '99.
Have run many mid-distance races finishing in the top third. Began mushing from the
ground up working for various Iditarod mushers prior to owning and running my own team.
Have experience as a doghandler, musher, and Puppy Team Trainer (for Dean Osmar). I
do not own dogs at present but am active helping others, Timmy Osmar, Jon Little, and
other Kenai Peninsula mushers train their teams this year. I am on the Board for the
Tustemena 200 and am on the Rules Committee. Have worked checkpoints on several races as
well as being an Official on some races.
Name: Fritz Kirsch
Hometown: Fairbanks, AK
Will mentor by: phone and in person
Will mentor in: distance, recreation and general
Phone: (907) 488 2273
Experience: I have a historical record with Animal Science. I have been long
distance mushing for 20 years. I would love to teach students about mushing and loving the
Alaskan sport of dog mushing.
Name: Eric Lanser
Hometown: Salcha AK
Will mentor by: e-mail, phone and in person
Will mentor in: sprint and general
E-mail address: elanser@ptialaska.net
Phone: (907) 488-5371
Experience: I have been racing the better part of twenty years and run open class
sprint races with Alaskan Huskies with some hounds.
Name: Bob McAlpin
Hometown: Fairbanks, AK
Will mentor by: e-mail and in person
Will mentor in: distance, recreation and general
E-mail address: bobmcalpin@hotmail.com
Experience: I have trained dogs for over 45 years (sled dogs for 30
years). My passion is developing pups into leaders that you can drive anywhere. My basic
bloodlines are from my friend, George Attla, with some other top winning mid -distance
lines mixed in.
Name: Judy Merritt
Hometown: Moose Pass, AK
Will mentor by: e-mail, phone and in person
Will mentor in: distance, recreation and general
E-mail address:
merrittpscooper1@gmail.com
Phone: 907-288-3188
Experience: I have participated in the Iditarod 3 times so far 2002
-2005 -- hope to run again in 2012. I've only been
running sled dogs for 16 years and still have a
lot to learn. I currently operate a kennel of 50 Huskies and several
rescue dogs. I enjoy running my dogs for the adventure and would love to
help others where I can to become involved in this wonderful sport of sled
dogs.
Name: Larisa Myers-McCoin
Hometown: Talkeetna, AK
Will mentor by: e-mail
Will mentor in: distance, recreation, skijoring, sprint and general
E-mail address: lmyers@mtaonline.net
Experience: I have 32 years experience in sprint, distance and recreation
(working on a homestead, with the dogs pulling in all the cabin logs, water and all the
supplies). I have started a 4-H dog mushing program. Currently have 5 students that are
racing in the junior races. One junior training for the Jr. Iditarod and Jr.Quest. I
myself have ran the Jr. Iditarod and many sprint races.
Name: Lynn Orbison
Hometown: Two Rivers, AK
Will mentor by: e-mail, phone and in person
Will mentor in: recreation, sprint and general
E-mail address: daisyacres@mosquitonet.com
Phone: 907-488-9685
Experience: I'm a sprint musher who is switching over to foster dogs from the
shelter and I'm learning to go slower! I've trained bird dogs and bassets to pull, I
currently have about 25 dogs. 4 retired, 1 pup, 8 Frost-Lowry hand-me-downs, 8 shelter
dogs--most of whom are available for adoption to the right person. I'm currently planning
on racing in the 4- 6- and maybe 8-dog classes.
Name: Roy Perry
Hometown: Tok, AK
Will mentor by: e-mail, phone and in person
Will mentor in: sprint and general
E-mail address: takalek@aptalaska.net
Phone: (907) 883-3647
Experience: I have extensive experience in the professional sprint mushing field.
Primarily in the limited classes with with Alaskan Huskies of various bloodlines. I
currently maintain a kennel of 50 or so dogs.
Name: Eric Rogers
Hometown: Eagle River, AK
Will mentor by: e-mail, phone and in person
Will mentor in: distance, recreation and general
E-mail address: eorogers@gci.net
Phone: 907.696.3133
Experience: I have 6 years experience driving dogs with the goal of distance
racing. While far from an expert, I am willing to share what I know.
Before the sled dog bug bit, I was involved in obedience competition and instruction and
have an avid interest in dog behavior. I am a firm believer that the biggest challenge and
biggest rewards come from working with the part of the dog between the ears. The absolute
joy that comes from working with a well trained and bonded dog, a dog that you know and
knows you so well you almost seem to read each others mind, is incredible. I doesn't make
any difference what you train - mushing, hunting, herding, search and rescue, obedience,
whatever. If you are willing to invest yourself and your time to just a fraction of what
the dog brings to the table, you will reap the rewards.
Name: Mike Santos
Hometown: Cantwell, AK
Will mentor by: e-mail, phone and in person
Will mentor in: distance
E-mail address: info@wolfsdenkennel.com
Phone: 907-768-2700
Experience: I have been training sled dogs for distance races for 20 years. You
can learn more about me and my dogs on my website www.wolfsdenkennel.com
Name: John Schultheis
Hometown: Wasilla, AK
Will mentor by: e-mail and in person
Will mentor in: sprint
E-mail address: johnheatherpointers@hotmail.com
Experience: I am 18 years old but have 18 years experience. I have been training
and racing since I could stand. Every dog in my kennel has German shorthair pointer
in their blood line. I breed and train for speed and loyalty. I would be willing to share
my knowledge with anyone interested in sprint mushing.
Name: Michael Suprenant
Hometown: Chugiak, AK
Will mentor by: e-mail, phone and in person
Will mentor in: distance and recreation
E-mail address: Suprenant1@aol.com
Phone: 907-830-5903
Experience: My team is primarily Alaskan Huskies that I've raised from
pups. I have been mushing for 5 years and a volunteer for the Iditarod for 8 years. I have
completed the Sheep Mountain 150, the Knik 200 and plan on running the 2007 Iditarod. I
have 28 dogs and puppies that are all great.
Name: Cori Simon
Hometown: Anchorage, AK
Will mentor by: e-mail, phone and in person
Will mentor in: distance and sprint
E-mail address: cori.simon.626@gmail.com
Phone: 1-907-310-6987
Experience: I have 25yrs of experience racing and racing open class sprint and mid distance dogs out in Western Alaska.
Name: Jim Uhl
Hometown: Wasilla, AK
Will mentor by: e-mail, phone and in person
Will mentor in: recreation, sprint and general
E-mail address:
uhldwm@mtaonline.net
Phone: (907) 376-2789
Experience: I started running dogs in 1969 in California with Siberian Huskies.
In 1975 I moved to Tanana, Alaska and got into village dogs, Alaskan Huskies. In
1977 I moved to Knik, Alaska, and actively raced, as well as held office with the Aurora
Dog Mushers Club. I have also worked with the Knik Jr. Dog Mushers and am one of the
founding adult members of the Jr. Iditarod and served on their Board for 18 years. My
primary background was in sprint or speed racing in limited and open class locally in
California, Tanana, and Knik, as well as Big Lake, Alaska area. I got too derned
old and fat to run competitively several years ago, but I am more than
willing to assist any new musher that I am able to by e-mail, phone or in person.
Name: David Waller
Hometown: Palmer, AK
Will mentor by: e-mail
Will mentor in: distance and general
E-mail address: dog_musher@hotmail.com
Experience: I have four years of experience in long distance mushing. Distance
was what I training for, and ran. We ran Alaskan Huskies, and I usually ran 12 dog
teams, but ran anything from 8 up.
Name: Norma Warner
Hometown: Wasilla, AK
Will mentor by: e-mail, phone and in person
Will mentor in: distance, recreation and general
E-mail address: normar_w@hotmail.com
Phone: 907-357-0740
Experience: I have 10 years experience mushing, this includes limited sprint,
tours, and long distance racing.
Name: Beth Wheeler
Hometown: Talkeetna, AK
Will mentor by: e-mail and in person
Will mentor in: distance, recreation and general
E-mail address: eewheeler@yahoo.com
Experience: I have 15 years experience with freight hauling dogs. My first
10 years of driving dogs was above the Arctic Circle using them to haul wood, water and
supplies. My team saved my life by bringing me home after I got hypothermic at -50F, tied
myself to the sled and blacked out. I came to 2 1/2 miles and 20 minutes later in my yard
with the dogs wrapped around me warming me.
My dogs and I participated in Col Norman Vaughan's Serum '25 Run in 2000 which goes
from Nenana to Nome. The team was honored by Col Vaughan Driving them down Front Street
and under the Arch in Nome. I have been honored to travel with the Serum Run a total of 3
times and have guided an Italian team and film crew a 4th time on the Serum Run trail.
My dogs range in size from 45 to 90 lbs. I prefer the freight dogs because they tend to
be more mellow than race dogs. They are extremely powerful and 5 dogs can haul 400lbs and
are hard to stop...yet very gentle. 8 yr. old kids have driven my team and the last two
years I have been lucky enough to mentor a Jr Musher who has participated with them in Jr
races in Alaska. (She has won 2 red lanterns).
I would be happy to mentor and or share my team with anyone who approaches dogs with a
humble attitude, considers the dogs safety first and their own second. My view on dogs is
8 little minds all working at the same time not necessarily towards the same goal.
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