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: 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: Mendenhall YT
Occupation: Engineer, Musher
Kennel: Keystone Sled Dogs
Interests/hobbies: Being out on the land and spending time with my family.
Mushing years: 12
Mushing experience: Canadian Challenge ‘22 and have been thinking about coming back ever since

It's taken a couple of years, but Mike is back! And we're so thrilled to see him racing the Challenge once again. Mike joined us in 2022 for the first time... his wife Abbie and (at the time, very small) daughter Audrey as his support crew. Memorable arrival in La Ronge as one of his dog team (allegedly) chewed a brake cable on his dog truck... rendering it a Challenge of a different kind! We loved having the Keystone Sled Dogs at that race, and are delighted that he is back, this time with 2 teams entering our races. Mike has been mushing for 12 years, and for the last couple of years has been living in Mendenhall, Yukon Territory. He is an engineer by trade, as well as a musher, and loves being out on the land and spending time with his family.

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: Libau, MB
Occupation: Self employed dog trainer/kennel manager
Kennel: Northern Sharks Working Dogs
Interests/hobbies: I spend my entire free time with my dogs and the life I build around them is filled with habits and routine. I guess I'm interested in deepening my relationship with Yeshua, myself and mother nature. As a pack we enjoy camping, hiking, running, relaxing adventuring and dancing together. Mindful nutrition, balanced exercise and meditation/relaxation schedules paired with studies of ancient scriptures, neuroscience, genealogy and biology is the base of our framework. Continuously improving and opening our mind to healing practices and divine wisdom ensures life-long learning, my curiosity to learn and satisfy that inner drive can be considered as one of my hobbies.
Mushing years: 6
Mushing experience: After spending almost three full winter seasons learning, training and racing with other mushers in Manitoba and the Yukon I committed to my own kennel after finally receiving my Permanent Residency in 2022. Within a year my kennel grew from four to 12 dogs and we started our first big race season in 2023 by finishing 3rd in the Yukon Quest 100 and being awarded the Rookie of the Year. My to date favorite race is the Percy DeWolfe Race Jr, which I was fortunate enough to experience , a 110 mile race all on the Yukon River north of Dawson City in the beautiful Yukon. After participating in a few more races in the US American sprint circuit for the season 2023/2024 I decided to focus for this upcoming season on running all 11 adults to the best of their average ability.

Without the help and motivation of some close friends and family members, I would have stayed away from racing this season, but thanks to especially Debbie Knight and her loving family, who reminded me what I have achieved in life and accepted me for who I am. I was told by many mushers this race is a great one to experience and I am thrilled to run it with my team. I promised my dad to run a race in his honor, so I will have him with me on the trail and he will watch over us as we will head into this challenge.

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: 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: 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: Lancashire, England
Occupation: Musher
Kennel: Keystone Sled Dogs
Interests/hobbies: Dogs, camping and fishing!
Mushing years: 6
Mushing experience: Tour kennels Europe and Canada

A very warm welcome to Lancashire lass Ellie, who says she has been mushing for 6 years in tour kennels across Europe, and now in Canada. She loves dogs, camping and fishing, so must be loving life in the Yukon.
Ellie is running the 8-dog race with a team from Keystone Sled Dogs.

MUSHERS BIO
Home location: Whitehorse, Yukon
Occupation: Retired
Kennel: Skywolf
Interests/hobbies: Mushing
Mushing years: 30+
Mushing experience: Sprint racing in Ontario to sprints and mId distance races in the Yukon. The Percy DeWolfe 200 and 100, Yukon Quest 300 and 100

Another Challenge rookie... but Deb has over 30 years of mushing experience so we're delighted she has decided to head south for the 2025 Challenge. Living in Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, Deb has raced sprints in Ontario, and mid distance races in the Yukon... including the Percy DeWolfe 200 and 100 and the Yukon Quest 300 and 100 milers. Looks like a greyhound in her bio pic... wonder how many of those will be on her team

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: 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: 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: 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: 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.

MUSHERS BIO
Home location: Unity, SK
Occupation: Accountant
Kennel: Round Valley Kennels
Interests/hobbies: Hunting, deep sea fishing, gardening
Mushing years: 21
Mushing experience: Torch River Run Sled Dog Race, Canadian Challenge, Sask Centennial Sled Dog Race, Brad Muir's race, Carol Danku's race

Randy is an accountant, is based in Unity, Sask, and manages to find time to enjoy hunting, deep sea fishing and gardening ...as well as training his dog team.
With over 21 years of mushing experience, Randy has raced the Torch River Run, the Sask Centennial Sled dog race, as well as running a handful of other races.
By the way... the smiley dog in the photo is Pluto.