A mushing weekend

Finally, I've managed to upload the pictures from our weekend of racing. There were a lot of pictures, but not as many good ones as I had hoped. I was very busy, and turned the camera over to Brandon's girlfriend, Sandy, and she did her best to snap a few photos, but had a lot of trouble with the lighting. Taking pictures of things in the snow on a very bright and sunny day is extremely challenging!

The exciting news was that my younger son, Alex, got his first professional win! He's been racing in the pro class for maybe 3 years now, and he usually comes in somewhere 'in the money' and has won a couple of small "fun runs" where there is no purse, but this was the first time he got first place in a big-time race. The competition in the 6-dog class at this race was huge, and there was a racer there that nobody ever beats. EVER. This guy is amazing, and when he shows up, everybody starts racing for second place. Except this time.

Let me try to describe the scene. Saturday, after the first day of racing, Alex was only 6 seconds behind this other guy. Races are two-day combined times. Sunday, teams left the starting line one minute apart, in order of finish. That meant the guy in first place went first, and then one minute later, Alex went. If Alex crossed the finish line less than 54 seconds after the other guy, Alex would win. The way the course was laid out, we got to see the teams pass through this gorgeous apple orchard about two miles before the finish. There were a lot of teams competing, but I was totally focused on watching for the first two teams to cross through the orchard.

The other guy came through, and the minute I saw him, I clicked my stopwatch and held my breath waiting for Alex. When I saw him, I immediately clicked the watch and checked the time. Exactly one minute - which means Alex had not gained any time. But he hadn't lost any time, either. I knew the last couple of miles of the course were mostly uphill, with the last climb quite steep, and I also knew Alex wanted this so very badly. He's pretty athletic, and competitive, so I thought he had a chance.

We all waited for the guy in first place to exit the woods near the finish line. After a bit, the spectators (including me) could see a team coming through the trees. I grabbed my stopwatch again, ready to click the second he crossed the finish line, to see if Alex would cross in less than 54 seconds. The 6 dog team finally emerged from the woods, turning the corner up toward the finish. But it wasn't that other guy - it was ALEX. Oh my good Lord. He was running behind his team, only his hands on the sled, as focused as his dog team. When the trail flattened out, he jumped on the runners, and raised one fist triumphantly in the air. He knew he had won.

I've never seen him so happy. And he deserves it - he told us he ran just about the whole two miles uphill to keep the team moving fast and not having to pull his weight. He not only caught up to the guy by a minute, he passed him by almost another minute. Alex set the weekend course record with that run. He was so excited, and I am so proud of him - not because he won, but because he worked so hard. He wanted this and he went out and made it happen. A thrilling moment that I will not soon forget.

This is Dart, Alex's 5 year old leader. She's contemplating her winning strategy!

Yankee and Doodle (don't laugh at Doodle - he's very sensitive about his name!). They were part of a litter born on the 4th of July (litter mates include Dandy, Liberty and Justice!). They usually run wheel (the ones closest to the sled) on Brandon's open class team, but this race didn't include open class competition because the trail was too curvy and dangerous for the larger teams. Instead, they ran on a 6 dog team, and only 6 miles, which probably seemed like a jog in the park to them!


One of the teams getting hooked up. They get so excited, it usually takes several people to help.

Brandon, joking with officials at the starting line. This is such a friendly sport.

Brandon, getting ready to take his team to the starting line.

Alex's team (except for Jamie), stretching their legs before getting harnessed. Jett, Dart, Major, Legolas, Gimli.

This is big brother giving Alex's dog Jamie a hug for luck.

View of the yard where some of the trucks were parked. There were about 75 teams competing.

The orchard where the teams came through with two miles to go.

Brandon always has a little quiet time with his leaders before the race starts.

One of the pretty views - can you see the dog team?

Brandon and Sandy. They look happy, but bulky. It's always amazing to see all these people without their winter gear - they all look so small!

The Champion! Alex is accepting his award (and the check that goes with it!).


It was a long and tiring weekend, but everybody had a good time. The best thing about this sport is the family-friendliness of it all. Everybody is willing to help everybody else and there are smiles everywhere you look. And I love that my kids are outside when so many other young men (and young women) are sitting on the couch in front of the tv or playing video games. Temperatures ranged from 7-25 degrees over the weekend, and they were outside in the fresh air and sunshine, and loving it. I'm a proud mom - can you tell?