MUSHERS BIO
Home location: Bowsman, Manitoba
Occupation: Métis Harvester
Kennel: Church Kennels
Interests/hobbies: Running Dogs, Hiking, camping, trapping, fishing, hunting, foraging, gardening, processing hides, making dog food
Mushing years: 5
Mushing experience: Torch River Run 2023, Canadian Challenge 2024 - 200 mile

Leon has been mushing for 5 years, and lives in Bowsman, Manitoba. He is a Metis Harvester, and has a very supportive and loyal fan base. Leon describes his interests as 'running dogs, hiking, camping, trapping, fishing, hunting, foraging, gardening, processing hides and making dog food'... pretty much an outdoors lifestyle right there. Leon swept the board in this years Challenge with special recognition awards, and we're so excited to see what he will achieve in 2025.

MUSHERS BIO
Home location: Saskatoon, SK
Occupation: Glass Fabricator
Kennel: Battle River Kennel
Interests/hobbies: Spending time outdoors with my dogs, Wood working when I can find the time
Mushing years: 3
Mushing experience: Torch River Run 2023 & 2024, Canadian Challenge 2024, Underdog 2024

In only his third year of mushing and competing, Dan is stepping up to our longer distance race for the first time. His racing pedigree so far has been at the Challenge in 2024, the Torch River in '23 and '24, and the Underdog 100 in 2024.
Based in Saskatoon, and working as a Glass Fabricator, somehow Dan finds the time to commit most of his life to his dogs, and to volunteering for the Challenge. As a Board Member for the race, Trail Crew Boss, Sponsor cheerleader, Checkpoint cook, Podcast host, and king of spreadsheets, Dan describes his interests as 'spending time outdoors with my dogs and woodworking when I can find the time'.
We're excited to see Dan back for the Challenge 2025, and can't wait to see his dogs back in action.

MUSHERS BIO
Home location: Treaty 2 Territory, South East Saskatchewan
Occupation: Program Manager, Land-Based Educator, Owner/Operator of Eagle Ridge Sled Dog Kennel
Kennel: Eagle Ridge Sled Dog Kennel
Interests/hobbies: Being on the land with my family, including our four-legged family members. Promoting traditional teaching through land-based camps and activities. Hunting, trapping, hide tanning. Camp outs with the dogs (summer & winter)
Mushing years: 6 years
Mushing experience: Tourism with public and school groups
- 2022 Canadian Challenge 100 miler
- 2023 Canadian Challenge 200 miler (won most improved vet care award, rookie of the year, red lantern)
- 2024 Canadian Challenge 200 miler
- 2024 Underdog 100 (best kept team award)

Garrick is back... it's fantastic to welcome him to the 10-dog 200 mile race which he is running as a Qualifier. Garrick is a Program Manager, a land-based educator, and owns and runs Eagle Ridge Sled Dog Kennel.
Looks like he is steadily building an awesome race team, and gaining so much experience.

MUSHERS BIO
Home location: Power, Mt
Occupation: Retired engineer
Kennel: TSA
Interests/hobbies: Sling, diving, horse / mule’s packing
Mushing years: 10
Mushing experience: Triple Crown win, Eagle cap extreme win, Canadian challenge win

Welcome back to last years 10-dog race CHAMP!!! Delighted to have you joining us again Clayton, all the way from Montana.
Clayton has been mushing for over 10 years, and has clocked up wins at the Triple Crown, Eagle Cap Extreme as well as with us here in Saskatchewan.
As a 'retired' engineer Clayton loves diving, sailing, horse and mule packing as well as training his dog team. Looks like fishing may also feature... looking at his bio picture!
Clayton is a fantastic story teller, and we can't wait to catch up with him in February.

MUSHERS BIO
Home location: Yukon Territory
Occupation: Musher
Kennel: Snowpigs Kennel owned by Jonathan Lucas
Interests/hobbies: Going on the trail with my dog, playing banjo with my dog sleeping at my feet, drawing portraits of me and my dog, talking about my dog
Mushing years: 2
Mushing experience: Yukon quest 100 2024: finisher, Carbon Hill 2024 - placed 1st

Although mushing for just 2 years, Vico has finished the Yukon Quest 100, and won the Carbon Hill 2024 race. She will be running the Challenge with a team from Snowpigs Kennels, owned by Jonathan Lucas. Vico says that what she loves is ' Going on the trail with my dog, playing banjo with my dog sleeping at my feet, drawing portraits of me and my dog, talking about my dog'...so fair to conclude that she is all about the dogs!

MUSHERS BIO
Home location: Wawota SK
Occupation: student
Kennel: Eagle Ridge Sled Dog Kennel
Interests/hobbies: football, hunting, hide tanning, and dogsledding
Mushing years: 4 years
Mushing experience: going into third year of racing. Have raced in Canadian Challenge 6 dog and 8 dog categories previously

Moe is back for her third year of racing, and moving up to the 200 mile race. She is a student, and somehow finds time to play football, go hunting, hide tanning, as well as training and running sled dogs.
Dad Dexter (aka Super Handler) joined Moe on one of our first season podcasts which you can catch up on to find out more. It's a true family commitment to support Moe. Moe trains and runs dogs with her racing mentor Garrick Schmidt in Wawota, Saskatchewan.

MUSHERS BIO
Home location: Porcupine Plain
Occupation: Musher
Kennel: YesIcan Racing kennel
Interests/hobbies: Mushing, Travel
Mushing years: 20
Mushing experience: Sprint races, Caledonia Classic, Underdog, Canadian Challenge, Eagle cap Extreme, Idaho sled Dog Challenge, Gunflint, Halliburton World Championship, Quesnel Mail run, Torch River Run, Trappers Festival, The Pas

Anna has been mushing for over 20 years and is a very experienced sprint and mid distance racer. Originally from Sweden, Anna lives in Porcupine Plain, Saskatchewan, and has spent this summer in the Yukon with her dogs, so she is also well travelled. She lists 'mushing and travel' as her biggest interests and we know that being able to combine travel with spending time with her dogs floats her boat!

MUSHERS BIO
Home location: Fort St. James
Occupation: High School Principal
Kennel: Craig and Sean Racing Dogs
Interests/hobbies: Running dogs, canoeing, hunting, trapping
Mushing years: Lifetime of running dogs
Mushing experience: Variety of races, sprint, stage, mid distance

Craig lives in Fort St James and is the organiser for the Caledonian Classic race which runs January 31 to Feb 02 in 2025. Goodness knows how he also has time to fit in being a High School Principal, sharing dog training with his son Sean, as well as canoeing, hunting and trapping. A busy man indeed!
Craig has had a lifetime of running sled dogs, and has experience of a wide variety of races from sprint, staged and up to mid-distance.

MUSHERS BIO
Home location: Rocky Mountain House
Occupation: Registered nurse
Kennel: Aurora Grae
Interests/hobbies: Backpacking and hiking, Music festivals, Volunteering for hospice society
Mushing years: Many
Mushing experience: Canadian challenge, eagle cap, Fort st James , torch river run

It wouldn't be a Challenge without Jillian running in one of our races. Jill lives in Rocky Mountain House, Alberta with her husband and 2 boys. She is a registered nurse who somehow manages to fit time in to backpacking, hiking, music festivals, and is a very savvy thrift and antique furniture shopper. As well as training her dogs AND volunteering for her community hospice society... which she helped to found, establish and grow within her local town.
Jill has many years of mushing experience, and as well as being an essential Challenge musher, she has also competed in the Eagle Cap Extreme, Caledonia Classic and Torch River Run.

MUSHERS BIO
Home location: Prince George BC
Occupation: Registered Nurse and pooper scooper
Kennel: Silver Lining Sled Dogs
Interests/hobbies: I love going on adventures with my two kidlets, Amric (7) and Max (5). Camping, fishing, rock hounding, grouse hunting, building forts, roasting marshmallows, really anything that makes them smile. I also love a quiet tea, sitting in the dog yard, building, listening to stories, knitting, paddle boarding and having a dozen projects going at once. Family, friends and animals fill my cup ❤.
Mushing years: I discovered mushing in 2010 (maybe 2009🤔). I fell in love with the dogs and was instantly hooked. I started my own kennel in 2012 (Kitsland Kennel) with a team of Siberians. We participated in mostly sprint racing. We now have a team of the sweetest Alaskans.
Mushing experience: This will be my 2nd year running distance. I learned a ton last year and met some really amazing people along the way. Huge thank you to Jerry Joinson for his patience and knowledge. I am fortunate to have such an amazing mentor and friend.

MUSHERS BIO
Home location: Fairbanks, AK
Occupation: Engineer, Dog musher
Kennel: Bouncing Bumbles
Interests/hobbies: Sled dog sports, backpacking, adventure
Mushing years: 16
Mushing experience: Yukon Quest, Fur Rondy, Solstice, Tanana River Challenge, Can-Am Crown, and many more.

An engineer by trade, Sean lives in Fairbanks, Alaska and has been mushing for 16 years. Although a Challenge rookie, he has stacks of racing experience, including the Yukon Quest, Fur Rondy, Can-Am Crown and many more.
He is an adventurer by heart, loving all sled dog sports and backpacking. Great action photo, Sean, check out the focus and drive of those lead dogs.

MUSHERS BIO
Home location: La Ronge, Sk
Occupation: Mine Engineer
Kennel: Red Lantern Dog Yard
Interests/hobbies: Xc skiing, Running, Videography
Mushing years: 4+
Mushing experience: Ran the Canadian Challenge the last 3 years.

Ragnar is going into his fourth year of racing, and finished just a minute behind our race leader in the 2024 race... so he is a serious competitor. He's just become a father for the second time (CONGRATULATIONS to you both) yet still finds the time to cross country ski, run, canoe, and make fab videos of all those activities. He also finds time to work as a mine engineer.

MUSHERS BIO
Home location: Fort St James
Occupation: Grumpy Old Musher
Kennel: Dog Creek Kennel
Interests/hobbies: Fishing and dogs
Mushing years: Not enough fingers and toes to count
Mushing experience: Ran a race once or twice

We love Jerry... who describes his current occupation as 'Grumpy Old Musher', says he doesn't have 'enough fingers and toes to count his mushing years' (guess that's quite a few then!) and describes his mushing experience as 'ran a race once or twice'!
So... to fill in a few gaps... Jerry just happens to be the first ever musher to leave the starting line in the first ever Canadian Challenge, ran his first race at 16 years old, and progressed into mid distance races like the Challenge, and onto racing in the Yukon Quest three times between 2009 and 2014.

MUSHERS BIO
Home location: Power, Mt
Occupation: Glacier Tour Musher
Kennel: TSA Kennels
Interests/hobbies: Climbing, Guitar, Jiu jitsu
Mushing years: First Year
Mushing experience: Learned in Skagway, AK on the Denver Glacier

A very warm welcome to Redman in his very first year of mushing. He is racing for TSA Kennels, owned by Clayton Perry, so is in good hands!
He learned his mushing skills in Skagway, AK on the Denver Glacier, and has been a Glacier Tour Guide as well. Currently based in Power, Montana, Redman manages to find time for climbing, guitar, and Jiu~jitsu when not training and caring for the dogs.
We're excited that you've chosen the Challenge in your first year...good luck, and we can't wait to meet you.

MUSHERS BIO
Home location: Eagle, Idaho USA
Occupation: Retired
Kennel: Three Dog Ranch
Interests/hobbies: Dogs, Outdoor pursuits, machinery
Mushing years: 20
Mushing experience: I participated in Mid distance mushing for many years. At one point allowed my dogs to age out and stopped for a few years. A few years ago I got a pair of well bred Alaskans and started dryland scooter racing (yes, it is an actual, recognized sport). The two led to three and then 4 and then 5 and that’s how it always starts. I have also served as a race judge and race marshal for a number of races. Was pleased to see a 100 mile race with a six dog class so we signed up!

Challenge Rookie... but definitely not a mushing rookie... a huge warm welcome goes out to Rick who will join us from Eagle, Idaho, USA. Rick was Race Marshal for the Idaho Sled Dog race this year (2024) and has been a Race judge for the Eagle Cap Extreme too. He says he is 'retired', but describes his interests as 'dogs, outdoor pursuits and machinery', having over 20 years of mushing experience.
In his own words Rick says ' I participated in Mid distance mushing for many years. At one point allowed my dogs to age out and stopped for a few years. A few years ago I got a pair of well bred Alaskans and started dryland scooter racing (yes, it is an actual, recognized sport). The two led to three and then 4 and then 5 and that’s how it always starts. I have also served as a race judge and race marshal for a number of races.

MUSHERS BIO
Home location: Emigrant Gap, California
Occupation: Wildlife Biologist
Kennel: The Reimer Pack
Interests/hobbies: Hiking, paddling, adventuring with dogs.
Mushing years: Third year running 100-mile races
Mushing experience: I started to dabble in skijoring, bikejoring, canicross and adventuring with a small recreational team (2 to 5 dogs) in 2014 while living in Alaska. In 2020 we relocated to northern California and had a litter of puppies to start building a small team for 100-mile races. Since then we've completed the Triple Crown (2023) which includes the Eagle Cap Extreme, Idaho Sled dog Challenge and Montana's Race to the Sky, as well as the Canadian Challenge (2023, 2024), Yellowknife's Underdog Race (2023, 2024), The Caledonia Classic (2024) and the Torch Run (2024).

Our current 8-dog 100 mile race champ... it's fantastic to see Jesika returning to challenge for a hat trick of 3 wins in a row.
Jes calls Emigrant Gap, California, home, but has a really neat vehicle set up which enables her to camp and travel throughout the year with her dogs. She often loads up in January and travels throughout the North going from race to race with her dog team.

MUSHERS BIO
Home location: Unity, SK
Occupation: Accounting Clerk
Kennel: Round Valley Kennels
Interests/hobbies: Singing, gardening, hanging out with my chickens
Mushing years: 14 years
Mushing experience: Torch River Run Sled Dog Race (2012 to 2023), Canadian Challenge (2019 & 2020), Crutwell Sprint Race (2023) and Loon Lake Sprint Race (2023)

Amanda has raced with us in 2019 and 2020, so its a pleasure that she has chosen to return again. With 14 years of mushing experience, Amanda somehow finds time to play a key role in organising the Torch River Run race, which typically runs the week after Challenge and is a really fun race in our local area. (so... why not give it a go if you're coming to Northern Sask for the Challenge??)
Amanda loves singing, gardening and hanging out with her chickens, as well as working as an accounting clerk, and is based in Unity, Sask.

MUSHERS BIO
Home location: La Ronge
Occupation: Educator
Kennel: Eagle Ridge Sled Dog Kennel
Interests/hobbies: Anything on the land with my wife and daughter. Hike, canoe, skijore, mountain bike.
Mushing years: 1
Mushing experience: 1 year but I have a star-studded list of mentors!

Eagle Ridge Sled Dog Kennels now have THREE teams entered into the 2025 race. A huge welcome for rookie, Derek Konga who has been mushing for a year, and says he has a 'star studded list of mentors'... including Garrick Schmidt, Musher Moe and Dexter for sure. Derek is local to the Challenge, living in La Ronge, and says he loves 'anything on the land with my wife and daughter, hiking, canoe, skijor, mountain bikes'. That's one gorgeous dog in the photo too.