2007

 

2008 Mushers
MUSHERS
PROFILE

Grant Beck
YELLOWKNIFE, NWT

Grant has been running dogs since he was a young boy. He ran and won his first race at 9 years of age. Today, Grant has a kennel of 160 racing dogs and he has raced hundreds of races in Canada, the US and Europe. Some of the highlights of Grant's racing career include winning: The Pirena Sled Dog Race in Spain in the Prynese Mountains, winning many stages of the Alpirod Sled Dog Race in Europe (France, Italy, Switzerland and Austria), Placing 3rd in inaugural La Grande Odyssee in 2005. He has also won the World Championship Dog Derby, The American Dog Derby, The Seeley Lake Montana 200, Le Defi De Lac St. Jean in Quebec, Elkford, British Columbia Sled Dog Derby and many other races during his career. Grant is a 4 time Canadian Champion Dog Sled Racer and was ranked 2nd in the International Federation of Sleddog Sports Mid Distance World Cup Program in 2005.

Last year Grant won the Mancos Mush Sled Dog Stage race in Colorado and also won the Caledonia Classic Sled Dog Race in Fort St. James, BC. Grant operates the largest Sled Dog Tour operation in the NWT. Grant was one of the founding members of both the Yellowknife Dog Trotters Association and the NWT Dog Sledding Association. In 2008 Grant won the Cecil Memorial Dog Sled Races in Fort Resolution capturing both the 10 Dog and 6 dog classes. Grant is looking forward to racing in the 2008 Canadian Championship Dog Derby in his home town.

 

Carol Beck
YELLOWKNIFE, NWT

Carol began running dogs with her brother Gary in 1981 in Yellowknife. She met Grant Beck in 1983 and the rest is history! She has now "gone to the dogs" full time.

Carol has raced for the last 26 years in many races in North America. Some of her accomplishments include:

2nd Mancos Mush Stage Race (12 dog), Colorado, USA 2007
3rd Caledonia Classic 12 dog Sled Dog Race, Fort St. James, BC 2007
2nd Elkford Wilderness Classic 10 dog Sled Dog Race, BC 2006
3rd American Dog Derby 6 dog race, Idaho, 2006
2nd La Mastigouche 6 dog race, Quebec

Other races in the NWT that Carol has ranked in include:

Rae Dog Derby - 10 dog
Yellowknife's 30 Miler - 10 dog
Yellowknife's Christmas Race - 10 dog
Fort Resolution NWT Championship - 10 dog
Fort McPherson - Womens Race

Carol is a very active dog sled racing volunteer. She is presently the Regional Director, representing Canada for the International Federation of Sled Dog Sports, she also chairs the Nomination Commission. She is also the Vice-President of the NWT Dog Sledding Association and has served many terms with the Yellowknife Dog Trotters Association. Carol and her husband Grant are co-chairing the 2008 Arctic Winter Games Dog Sledding Committee.

This will be Carol's first time racing the Canadian Championship Dog Derby. Carol is sponsored by Beck's Kennels and Sport North and will be racing her leaders Molina and Lariat during the 2007 Canadian Championship dog derby.
 
John Beck
YELLOWKNIFE, NWT

John Beck's first race was in 1975. He owns a 40 dog kennel with his wife and daughters, Trista, Taylor and Terryn all of whom race dogs. John is a past winner of the Diavik 150 Canadian Championship Dog Derby. This year's John spent considerable time coaching his daughter, Trista to win 1 silver and 2 bronze ulu's for Team NWT during the Arctic Winter Games Dog Mushing Event. John has won many races in the Western Canadian Dog Sledding Circuit. Always a contender, John's dedication and commitment to the sport are commendable.

Brent Beck
YELLOWKNIFE, NWT

Brent started racing in 1985.  He operates his own kennel of 35 dogs in Yellowknife.  Brent has won many races across Canada which earned him the 2007 International Federation of Sleddog Sports Mid Distance World Cup.  This season Brent raced in the North American and the Fur Rendezvous in Alaska.  He is a very competitive and high spirited musher with a very unique sense of humor.  Brent loves to have fun in front of his hometown crowd, and is known to do whatever it takes to win a race. He is currently undefeated on days he wears a dress with purple flowers.

 

Sam Perrino
YELLOWKNIFE, NWT

Sam’s first race was in 1991.  He and his wife Petra and son Quinn have a kennel of 40+ racing sled dogs.  Sam has raced in the International Pedigree Stage Stop, The Iditarod, the Yukon Quest and dozens of other races in Canada and the US.  He is always a strong competitor and has battled for the top spot in the Diavik 150 Canadian Championship Dog Derby almost every year he has entered.  Sam is an electrician by trade.
 

Mathew Poitras
FORTSMITH, NWT

JR Anderson
MINESOTA, USA

J.R. began running dogs in 1996 with his father and brother just to having fun together.  He now owns a kennel of 45 dogs with his wife Anna in Ray, Minnesota.  This year JR placed 2nd I the Midnight Run in Marquette, Minnesota, 2nd in the White Classic in Grand Rapids, Minnesota and 8th in  the International Pedigree Stage Stop race in Wyoming.  J.R.’s wife Anna who raced in the 2007 Diavik 150 Canadian Championship will be handling his team this year.  J.R. is sponsored by Cabelas.
Truman Obermeyer
CALUMET, MICHIGAN, USA

Truman started running dogs in 1993 and has a kennel of 22 dogs.  He is addicted to sleddog racing and dogs in general.  He has raced in the Beargrace 150 in Duluth, Minnesota, Midnight Run in Marquetee Minnesota and the Wolftracks 65 in Ely, Minnesota this year.  His sponsors are:  Pat and Jerry Trudell, Pat’s Foods, Portage Health and Kekeenan Community.  He is looking forward to this adventure and hopes to learn from all the experts competing. 
Craig Houghton
FORT ST.JAMES, BC

Craig started running dogs as a kid and loved it.  He enjoys racing because it gives him a focus on the kennel and is a good reason to continue to improve your team.  He has a kennel of 20 dogs and is a High School Vice-Principal.  He believes running dogs is a great way to break from the school.  He is returning to Yellowknife this year because he so much enjoyed the race , the people and the North last year during his first attempt at the Diavik 150 Canadian Championship Dog Derby.
Lloyd Gilbertson
MICHIGAN, USA

Little Lloyd Gilbertson will be racing in the Diavik 150 Canadian Championship Dog Derby this year.  He is a past champion of this race.  Lloyd and his lovely wife Mary own and operate a dog food company and raise dogs across North America.
Mary Gilbertson
MICHIGAN, USA

Mary Gilbertson will be one of the official “Rookies” of the Diavik 150 Canadian Championship Dog Derby this year.  Mary has completed many races in Michigan, Minnesota and also in Wyoming.   Mary is a nurse by profession.
Trevor Lizotte
YELLOWKNIFE, NWT

Trevor started racing in 1995.  He has a kennel in Yellowknife of 40 dogs.  Trevor is a strong contender and has raced across Western Canada for the last few years in many races.  His wins have included: Yellowknife’s Christmas Race and Yellowknife’s 30 Mile Race. 

Sponsors: Northern Lites Motel, Arctic Express, Sombe Ke Enterprises, Moskegon Consulting

Trevor was born in Hay River and has spent most of his life here in Yellowknife. He was inspired to be a dog musher because of his grandpa Danny McQeen 5 time Champion of the 150 miler. He continues to run dogs in memory of his grandparents Doris and Danny McQueen. He hoes to keep the family tradition alive.
Julian Landry
KAKISA, NWT

Julian started racing in 1994.  He has a kennel with his wife Ruby in Kakisa of 20 dogs.  He normally races 8 races per year.  This year Julian Competed in Western Canada and also in Fort Resolution and his hometown of Kakisa.  Julian has completed the Diavik 150 Canadian Championship Dog Derby many times and is a fan favourite.

Lola Ranchon
PARIS, FRANCE

Lola who hails from Paris, France will be the team from the farthest away racing in this year’s Diavik 150 Canadian Championship Dog Derby 2008.  Lola is presently employed as a Dog Sled Tour Guide for Beck’s Kennels in Yellowknife.  Lola is a rookie in the race and vying for the coveted “Rookie of the Race award”.  Lola is looking forward to taking part in this race and realizing a dream she has had for a long time.  Welcome Lola.
Jason Smith
LAKE LOUISE, ALBERTA

Jason Smith operates a Dog Sled Tour Operation in Lake Louise, Alberta.  Originally from Ontario Jason will be competing in this year’s race for the 2nd time.  He has a very impressive race record and has competed in races across Western USA and Canada.  We are looking for him for a strong finish.
Aaron Peck
ONTARIO

Aaron Peck will be another Musher vying for the “Rookie of the Race” award in this year’s Diavik 150 Canadian Championship Dog Derby.  Aaron works with Jason Smith offering Tours in Lake Louise in the winter season.  This year Aaron competed in the International Pedigree Stage Stop Race in Wyoming.  Welcome Aaron.
Fred Lafferty
FORT RESOLUTION, NWT

Better known as Chico Fred Lafferty will be racing for the first time in the Diavik 150 Canadian Championship Dog Derby in 2008.  He has recently returned from the Dog Racing circuit with Brent Beck from the Midwest and Alaska.  Welcome Fred, have a great weekend.