Fun Race #1 Fun Race #2 Fun Race #3
Fun Race #1
By Sunnifa Deehr, Race Director
[Originally scheduled as Fun Race #2!]
Fifteen teams turned out for ASPA’s first Fun Race of the season at Creamer’s Field this past Saturday. The trails were punchy with intermittent patches of willow, and the temperature hovered around three below zero Fahrenheit.
There were a variety of teams braving the snowmachine-torn 5.7 mile trail. Nina Ruckhaus completed the course with three dogs in 24:59. Lisa Baraff completed it in 22:34 with 2 dogs. Abbie West, due to her extensive experience in the Iditarod and Yukon Quest, ran an approximately 15 mile trek into the ADMA trail system with her two dogs.
The 3.6 mile trail was the most popular. Nine teams rounded the course, with Andy Warwick taking the 3-dog in 18:43, Greg Jurek the 2-dog in 11:07, and Gail Davidson the 1-dog with a time of 16:07. Tobi Stolz took the Junior division with a scorching time of 11:19.
Sara Elzey dominated the 1.5 mile trail with two different teams, running at 5:35 and 6:15 respectively, and Nicole Silvers commanded the .5 mile with her two dogs in 2:13.
A very big thank you to our volunteers, Sara Tabbert, Chris Burrow and Brandon McGrath-Bernhard. The race could not have happened without them. Thank you also to Janna Miller for her search and rescue efforts.
| Alaska Skijor and Pulk Association | ||||
| Fun Race #2 | ||||
| Saturday, December 13, 2014 | ||||
| Creamers Field | ||||
| Bib # | Skijorer | Dogs | Time | Place |
| 5.7 mile, 3-dog | ||||
| 2 | Nina Ruckhaus | Sasha,Piggy, Weasel | 24:59 | 1 |
| 5.7 mile, 2-dog | ||||
| 3 | Lisa Baraff | Yukon, Baloo | 22:34 | 1 |
| 4 | Abbie West | Lady, Thumper | dnf | 2 |
| 3.6 mile, 3-dog | ||||
| 6 | Andy Warwick | Jack, Yogi, Freddie | 18:43 | 1 |
| 3.6 mile, 2-dog | ||||
| 7 | Greg Jurek | Jet, Hornet | 11:07 | 1 |
| 9 | Hilary Schwafel | Ollie, Ella | 14:43 | 2 |
| 10 | Janna Miller | Roy, Lilly | 15:07 | 3 |
| 8 | Brandi Beaudreault | Luna, Skittle | 20:40 | 4 |
| 3.6 mile, 1-dog | ||||
| 12 | Gail Davidson | Darna | 16:07 | 1 |
| 15 | Philip Marshall | Skye | 23:23 | 2 |
| 3.6 mile, 1-dog Junior Division | ||||
| 11 | Tobin Stolz | Olive | 11:19 | 1 |
| 13 | Leni Stolz | Unknown | 13:55 | 2 |
| 1.5 mile, 2-dog | ||||
| 1 | Sara Elzey | Daria, Lira | 5:35 | 1 |
| 2 | Sara Elzey | Faero, Kate | 6:15 | 2 |
| .5 mile, 1-dog | ||||
| 16 | Nicole Silvers | Kieran, The Big One | 2:13 | 1 |
Fun Race #2
By Pat DeRuyter
[Originally scheduled as Fun Race #3!]
The Alaska Skijoring and Pulk Association and North Star Golf Club hosted Skijoring Fun Race #3 on Saturday, January 17, 2015. The temperature was 19 degrees and the trail was in excellent condition. Ninteen teams participated with the biggest field in the 4 mile 2-dog class. Greg Jurek (Jet & Hornet) came in first with a time of 12:19. Aren Gunderson (Scooter & Hammer) were second at 12:47 and Emilie Entrokin (Reka & Apex) were third at 14:14.
The closest race of the day was the 4 mile one dog race. Kriya Dunlap with Boomer edged Bruce Miller and Roy by only 9 seconds with times of 16:36 and 16:45. Jana Miller and Lilly were third at 19:20.
Sara Elzey (Faero, Kate & Dylan) won the 4 mile 3 dog race with a time of 14:39.
Sunnifa Deehr ran two teams in the 3 mile 2 dog class and finished both first and second. The team of Moose and Sisu came in first with a time of 9:34. The team of Clude and Duncan was second at 11:19. Brandi Beaudrault with Luna and Skittle finished third in 16:29. Leni Stolzz with Mika won the 3 mile one dog class with a time of 11:38. Lisa Beattie and Rita came in second at 13:02. Sara Elzey with Daria and Lira won the 2 mile 2 dog class with a time of 8:19.
| Alaska Skijor and Pulk Association | ||||
| Fun Race #2 | ||||
| Saturday, January 17, 2015 | ||||
| North Star Golf Course |
4 mile 3 dog
1. Sara Elzey (Faero, Kate, Dylan) 15:39
4 mile 2 dog
1. Greg Jurek (Jet, Hornet) 12:19
2. Aren Gunderson (Scooter, Hammer) 12:47
3. Emilie Entrokin (Reka, Apex) 14:04
4. Scott Jerome (Zeus, Bjorn) 15:14
5. Nina Ruckhaus (Sasha, Weasel) 16:16
6. Hilary Schwafel (Frieda, Ella) 18:16
7. Josh McNeal (Snuff, Peggy) 22:20
4 mile 1 dog
1. Kriya Dunlap (Boomer) 16:36
2. Bruce Miller (Roy) 16:45
3. Jana Miller (Lilly) 19:20
4. Gail Davidson (Darna) 20:23
5. Lisa Stuby (Killae) 34:28
3 mile 2 dog
1. Sunnifa Deehr (Moose, Sisu) 9:34
2. Sunnifa Deehr (Clyde, Duncan) 11:19
3. Brandi Beaudrault (Luna, Skittle) 16:29
3 mile 1 dog
1. Leni Stolz (Mika) 11:38
2. Lisa Beattie (Rita) 13:02
2 mile 2 dog
1. Sara Elzey (Daria, Lira) 8:19
Fun Race #3
By Mara Bacsujlaky, Race Director
[Originally scheduled as Fun Race #4!]
After a week of temperatures that turned trails to sandpaper, made skijorers shiver and grumble, and sled dogs happy (except for perhaps the pointers), the Alaska Skijoring and Pulk Association held its penultimate fun race Wednesday, March 18 at Creamer’s Field. Balmy temperatures put the fun in this mid-week evening event. A total of 14 racers and 24 dogs turned out for races ranging in distance from 1.5 miles to 5.7 miles. For some racers and their dogs, the event also included a stretch of agility work – as racers and dogs found themselves weaving through an obstacle course of about eight people sitting on stools and chairs in the middle of the race trail – apparently enjoying the sun in a late-afternoon coffee klatch.
The 5.7, 1-dog class and the 3.6 mile, 1-dog class were the largest, with four racers in each class. Gail Davidson with Darna took first in the 5.7 mile, 1-dog, while Kriya Dunlap behind Boomer the Wonder Dog placed first in the 3.6 mile, 1-dog. Other first place finishers were Sara Tabbert with her hard-headed dogs (Moose-the-loaner, Dora) in the 5.7 mile, 2-dog class and Andy Warwick (Yogi, Freddie) in the 3.6 mile, 2-dog class. Sara Elzey (Daria, Kate, Dylan) and Elena Vayndorf (Taiga) took first, second and last in their classes – as they were the only competitors, respectively, in the 3.6 mile, 3-dog class and 1.5 mile, 1-dog class.
| Alaska Skijor and Pulk Association | ||||
| Wednesday Night Fun Run Race #3 | ||||
| Wednesday, March 18, 2015 | ||||
| Creamer’s Field | ||||
| Bib # | Skijorer | Dogs | Time | Place |
| 5.7 mile, 1 dog | ||||
| 6 | Gail Davidson | Darna | 31.13 | 1 |
| 5 | Hanna Wuttig | Koa | 32.08 | 2 |
| 4 | Klaus Wuttig | Kikkan | 33:07 | 3 |
| 7 | Derek Frohbieter | Rocky | 33.50 | 4 |
| 5.7 Mile, 2 dog | ||||
| 9 | Sara Tabbert | Moose, Dora | 24.33 | 1 |
| 8 | Scott Jerome | Bjorn, Zeus | 25.06 | 2 |
| 3.6 Mile, 1 dog | ||||
| 12 | Kriya Dunlap | Boomer | 13.39 | 1 |
| 13 | Amanda Byrd | Sabrina | 14:12 | 2 |
| 10 | Nina Ruckhaus | Sasha | 16:11 | 3 |
| 11 | Mara Bacsujlaky | Tansy | 16:45 | 4 |
| 3.6 Mile, 2 dog | ||||
| 2 | Andy Warwick | Yogi, Freddie | 13:01 | 1 |
| 15 | Sunnifa Deehr | Sisu, Duncan | 13:16 | 2 |
| 3.6 Mile, 3 dog | ||||
| 1 | Sara Elzey | Daria, Kate, Dylan | 11:57 | 1 |
| 2.5 Mile, 2 dog | ||||
| 14 | Andy Warwick | Jack, Joba | 9:31 | 1 |
| 1.5 Mile, 1 dog | ||||
| 16 | Elena Vayndort | Taiga | 16:05 | 1 |
| 1.5 Mile, 2 dog | ||||
| 17 | Sara Elzey | Faero, Katrina | 5:14 | 1 |
