ALIY ZIRKLE & ALLEN MOORE (Alaska, USA): Long-distance mushing
Here they are! The famous wife & husband duo. They are on board for yet another season.
Aliy and Allen own and operate SP Kennel – a premier sled dog kennel in Two Rivers, Alaska. They strive to be the best they can through complete dedication to their canine teammates and the sport. The care they give to their dogs is second to none. Aliy and Allen will be putting 100% effort into the forthcoming season training a relatively small kennel of 24 dogs. Thye will be also spoiling three couch potatoes – three retired sled dogs.
Aliy will be taking her Red Team down the Iditarod trail again. Unfortunately, Allen’s “baby” – the Yukon Quest – was canceled due to Covid. However, there will be shorter races Allen’s Black Team will be attending. We might even see him and his team taking part in the Iditarod again. Stay tuned!
Follow Aliy, Allen and their canine athletes on the SP Kennel’s website.
Aliy’s and Allen’s have been using our Distance Harness with great success for many years.
JEFF KING (Alaska, USA): Long-distance mushing
After an unfortunate break from running the Iditarod last winter due to medical issues, the four-time Iditarod Champion plans on being back on the runners. Jeff has signed up for Iditarod 2021 (his 30th signup!), and he also intends to run the Kuskokwim 300 in Bethel, AK. Despite his rotator cuff surgery last summer and a health scare this spring with a perforated intestine, Jeff’s doctors assure him that he is in great health. Jeff’s spirits remain high with fall training in full swing.
We are all looking forward to seeing Jeff race again this season!
Visit Jeff’s Husky Homestead website.
Jeff’s harness of choice has been our Hybrid Light Weight Harness.
BLAKE & JENNIFER FREKING (Minnesota, USA): Long-distance mushing
Blake and Jennifer own Manitou Crossing Kennels in Northern Minnesota, where their primary focus is the preservation of the working Siberian Husky. Their goal is to raise their dogs in the best environment possible with great socialization, the best nutrition available, and optimal training to allow them to perform to their potential on the trail.
This season they will have four teams entered in the Beargrease Sled Dog Race! Jennifer calls it a “mushing mania”. Blake and Jen will run the Marathon. Plus they will have two teams entered in the Beargrease Mid-distance race.
Visit Blake & Jennifer’s website. Watch a video about their kennel.
Blake & Jennifer have been using our Light Weight Harnesses on their racing Siberians.
KATI & MARTIN DAGENAIS (Quebec, Canada): Sprint mushing
Kati & Matin own a premier limited class sprint racing kennel located in Quebec, Canada. They specialize in 6-dog racing. The plan for this season for Kennel Dagenais is to participate in the Québec CACQ circuit. If everything goes as planned and there are no border restrictions due to Covid, Kathy and Martin are thinking about traveling to Alaska to race in the Limited North American Championship. Their goal will be to break the LNAC track record in the 6-dog class.
We are wishing Kati & Martin succesfull race season. We are hoping that they can pursue their plans. We want to see you and your canine athletes break the track record, Kati! 🙂
Visit Dagenais Racingsleddogs Facebook page.
The harness of choice for Team Dagenais is our Light Weight Harness.
LYNN WHIPPLE & LAURE BRANDT (Colorado, USA): Sprint mushing
We have known this duo of ladies for several years now, as they are racing & raising dogs with our Howling Dog Alaska Kennel lineage. Their small kennel is located in the “uplands” of Montrose, CO. They are both great promoters of the sport in the state of Colorado. Lynn currently specializes in 4-dog sprint and has been racing 4 and 6-dog class for the past 35 years. Laurie races bikejoring and skijoring. Let’s not forget to mention that Laurie is an avid mountain bike racer. She is a National Champion! Ladies, we are happy to have you aboard as members of Team Howling Dog! 🙂
Follow Lynn on Facebook. Follow Laurie on Facebook.
Lynn and Laurie are using our Light Weight Harness on their canine athletes.
ANDREY & ALLA NAYDENKO (Russia): Sprint mushing
Here are our representatives from Moscow, Russia! Andrey and Alla own a kennel of Eurohunds named Crazy Dog Kennel, and they specialize in 4-dog sprint racing. This racing season Alla will be the main musher, as Andrey will take a step back. Their racing plans include participating in races in Russia (including the Russian Championship), and they would also like to travel to Italy to take part in the European Championship, and to Sweden to race in the IFSS World Championship. We have our fingers crossed, hoping that the borders between European countries are open and that travel is allowed. As everywhere else in the world, things are very uncertain due to Covid.
Visit Andrey and Alla’s Facebook page.
Andrey and Alla’s dogs are running comfortably in our Chest Protectors, Hybrid Running Jackets and our Light Weight Harnesses.
RICH KISSELOFF (Illinois, USA): Skijoring, scootering & bikejoring
Rich and his pack of Greysters are well known in the North American dryland & snow racing circuit. In the past, he has also traveled to Europe to race. Sadly, this year’s racing season is uncertain for Rich and his team, as many sprint events have been and are being canceled due to Covid. Rich also might have to move due to job relocation. Let’s see what the future brings for him. We are wishing you all the best, Rich!
Rich is the founder of Windy City Mushers Club – a group of mushing enthusiasts in the Chicago area. Visit Windy City Mushers Facebook page.
Rich uses our Skijoring Line PRO. His dogs race in our Patriot and in our Standard Harnesses.
CARLOS VALADEZ (Mexico): Canicross
Carlos is a top Mexican canicrosser. He competes with his two German Shephard girls Hasen and Nima. Canicross is a young, yet growing sport in Mexico. Carlos is doing a wonderful job representing Howling Dog and promoting our gear. He was part of the first Mexican national team ever to compete in the 2019 IFSS Dryland World Championship in Sweden. With several teams throughout the country, canicross is getting more and more popular, as human athletes are promoting this incredible activity with their dogs.
Interested to find out more about mushing in Mexico? Visit Mushing Mexico Facebook page.
Carlos is using our CaniSki Belt and our Skijoring Line PRO. His German Shepherd girls are running in our Second Skin Harnesses.