The Dream... |
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 Our distance race team started as a dream over 12 years ago when we first hooked up our 4 huskies. It has been a long road but the Iditarod has always been the ultimate destination for us and our dogs. That road lead us to Haliburton, Ontario where we established our kennel and touring business back in 1999. Since than we have now grown to a touring kennel of 140 Purebred Siberian Huskies with some amazing staff and the priviledge of having introduced thousands of people to this incredible sport.
2006 saw the start of our march to Iditarod, with Hank and an 8 dog team running the 50 mile race in Bancroft, Ontario. Since then they have completed the Maramora, Ontario 120 mile race and travelled to Maine for the Can-am 60 & 250, Michigan several times for the Seney 300 and UP 200, and Minnesota for the Beargrease Marathon a 400 mile challenge. This past winter saw Hank complete both required qualifing races to enter the Iditarod in Alaska!
2009/10 Season - IDITAROD BOUND!!!!
March 6th, 2010 will see Hank & the team in downtown Anchorage, about to begin the journey he has been planning on for many years. As described by the Iditaord website....
"Iditarod - You can not compare it to any other competitive event in the world! A race over 1150 miles of the roughest, most beautiful terrain Mother Nature has to offer through jagged mountain ranges, frozen rivers, dense forests, desolate tundra and miles of windswept coast. A race extraordinaire, a race only possible in Alaska. From Anchorage, in south central Alaska, to Nome on the western Bering Sea coast, each team of 16 dogs and their musher cover over 1150 miles in 10 to 17 days.
It has been called the "Last Great Race on Earth" and it has won worldwide acclaim and interest.
It is not just a dog sled race, it is a race in which unique men and woman compete; men and women each with their own story, each with their own reasons for going the distance. The Spirit of Alaska! The race pits man and animal against nature, against wild Alaska at her best and as each mile is covered, a tribute to Alaska's past is issued. The Iditarod is a tie to "a commemoration of" that colorful past.
The Iditarod Trail, had its beginnings as a mail and supply route. Mail & supplies went in. Gold came out. All via dog sled. Heroes were made, legends were born. In 1925, part of the Iditarod Trail became a life saving highway for epidemic-stricken Nome. Diphtheria threatened and serum had to be brought in; again by intrepid dog mushers and their faithful hard-driving dogs.
Each musher that completes Iditarod, whether in the top ten, or winner of the Red Lantern (last place) has accomplished a feat few dare to attempt. Each has gone the distance and established a place for their team in the annals of Iditarod lore."
Before the truck loaded to the gills with musher, handler, kids, dogs & gear heads to Alaska next February, there will be several races run in the lower 48 to get the dogs and Hank in good shape! Training began in early September and the team will have already covered over 1000 training miles in the heart of the Haliburton Highlands wilderness both on dirt and snow, before they even leave for the first race!
Our 2009/10 Race Season:
January 3-8, Seney 400, Michigan, www.seeney300.com
January 30-February 2nd, John Beargrease Marathon, Minnesota, www.beargrease.com
March 6 - 20, Iditarod, Alaska www.iditarod.com
Winterdance News & Events
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March 6th, 2010 |
Start of Iditarod, Anchorage, Alaska. |
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February 18th, 2010 |
Hank and team leave for Alaska and Iditarod. Follow their adventures as they drive across Canada through the teams facebook page and Hank's blog, lots of pictures and some videos! |
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February 13 & 14th, 2010 |
Haliburton Highlands Dogsled Derby at Pinestone Resort. Details here. |
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January 13th, 2010 |
Winterdance "Bootie Call" Fundraiser. Details here. |
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December 14th, 2009 |
Tune into CBC Radio Ontario Morning around 7:15am to hear Hank talk about his journey to Iditarod. |
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December 8th, 2009 |
The Haliburton County Echo features Hank's Iditarod journey www.haliburtonecho.on.ca |
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