NATE MAURICIO

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.