Erin Altemus
Grand Marais, MN – SAWTOOTH RACING
Matt and I have been running dogs since 2011. Our kennel is located just east of Grand Marais, MN. I work full-time as a nurse and mushing is my full-time hobby. We have an 8-year old who ran her first races this year. Every run brings a new adventure in mushing, you never know what is going to happen when dogs are involved. I enjoy the raising the puppies, being outside and the many complexities involved in racing, from sled dog nutrition to weather.
Brian Bergen
Sioux Lookout, ON – GONE TO THE DOGS RACING
I do property management and I am semi retired. Been enjoying training dogs for many years.
Julia Cross
Thunder Bay, ON – CRISS CROSS RACING
I love adventuring with my amazing group of canine athletes. Their love and enthusiasm to run makes me so excited everytime I grab the harnesses. I have been running sled dogs for 18 years, and have raced all over North America, including in Alaska for the Junior Iditarod. I am working towards becoming a veterinarian, and own a very small sled dog kennel in Northwestern Ontario. I love spending my time out with my dogs both in the summer and winter, hiking, fishing, camping, and competing in other dog sports with my superstar lead dog Jitterbug. Looking forward to being back to one of my absolute favourite races!
Emily Ford
Duluth, MN – LOST KEY SLED DOGS
After spending the past three winters racing in Alaska, Emily is excited to race locally and explore her home state of Minnesota with her dogs. She and her partner Anna relocated their core race team from Alaska and started their own kennel near Two Harbors this past fall. When not on the runners of a dogsled you can find Emily exploring the BWCA both on skis and by canoe or working at Glensheen mansion where she is the head gardener.
Elena Freking
Finland, MN – MANITOU CROSSING KENNELS
I am 15 years old and have been on the dogsled since before I could walk. I am in 10th grade and go to school in Ely, MN. I started running Mid Distance when I was 11 years old, and since then I have run the Klondike Dog Derby, Beargrease Cub Run, 40, and 120, Copperdog 15, and Wolftrack Classic. In my free time I love to travel, spend time with family and friends, and my dogs. I have a 13 year old sister Nicole Freking, and my parents are Jennifer and Blake Freking.
Jennifer Freking
Finland, MN – MANITOU CROSSING KENNELS
Our family owns Manitou Crossing Kennels where we raise and train our Siberian Huskies for mid and long distance sled dog races. From running my first Beargrease race in 1995, to racing the Iditarod alongside Blake in 2008, to finishing 1st and 2nd in the Beargrease marathon in 2019, to running the mid distance Beargrease alongside our daughters in 2025, mushing sled dogs has had a huge impact on all of our lives. Just thinking of all those adventures make me smile and know we really are a special kind of crazy. 🙂 Blake Freking, and their 2 daughters, Elena and Nicole. Jennifer is a Veterinarian at the Ely Veterinary Clinic in Ely Minnesota.
Eva Kolodji
Hibbing, MN – MEANDER MOUNTAIN HUSKIES
My love of sleddogs began back when I was in second grade and got my first sleddogs, then competed in a two-dog, two-mile race in third grade. Since then, I’ve raced throughout northern Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan. In 2009, as a 17-year-old junior in high school, I completed the John Beargrease Mid-Distance.
I stepped away from mushing to attend college, graduated from Bemidji State with a teaching degree, and have spent nine years in the classroom. Seven of those years were in Alabama—too hot, not enough snow—so I’m back up north! This is my second year teaching middle school math and science in Hibbing. Middle schoolers vs. sled dogs? High energy, big hearts, treat-motivated… only the snacks differ. And honestly, the same lessons apply in both arenas: teamwork, clear communication, and the joy of working hard at something you love.
Once I settled back in the North Woods, I was offered an opportunity I couldn’t pass up: racing a team out of John and Robin Fisher’s kennel in Cook, Minnesota. I’m incredibly grateful for their mentorship and trust.
Alyssa Sabatino
Goodland, MN – SCHROEDER MUSHING
Dog mushing has been a dream of mine since childhood, and I worked hard to make it a reality. Despite facing challenges and limited support along the way, I never gave up. In October 2014, I began recreational mushing, and in 2021, after moving to Minnesota, I started building my own kennel and truly stepped into the mushing world. Last year (2024) was an incredible milestone—I experienced my first taste of distance mushing by handling for Nathan Schroeder and running a few races myself. I am deeply grateful for the support of those who matter most, which allows me to pursue this passion while balancing the busy life of being a mother of two and a dedicated social worker/case manager.
Bill Sima
Stanchfield, MN – BANDIT CREEK KENNELS
My name is Bill Sima and I have been interested and involved with sled dogs most of my adult life. I am a retired Soo Line railroad diesel mechanic and welder, and my other hobbies include woodworking, leather working and making knives. I am so lucky to have the support of my wife, daughter and grandchildren who are all very involved with the training and care of the dogs. Working with sled dogs and helping them grow and learn is very fulfilling for me and my family. It’s so much fun to do the work and watch the puppies progress into great working dogs. Blake and Jen Freking at Manitou Crossing Kennels have been instrumental in my understanding the training and development of a sled dog team; the teaching of harness manors, people manors and being able to let the dogs do what they love to do, pull a sled.
Rita Wehseler
Tofte, MN – STONEY CREEK KENNEL
My husband and I have 36 dogs in our kennel. We live on the beautiful shore of Lake Superior in Tofte, MN. I have been running sled dogs for 28 years.
Sean de Wolski
Fairbanks, AK – BOUNCING BUMBLES
I have a small adventure and racing kennel in Fairbanks, AK. We specialize in 40-100mi races and enjoy traveling all over. I’ve been running dogs in various a capacities for about 17 years.