John Beargrease 2021 Musher Roster

Seventeen teams are signed up to run the John Beargrease Marathon this year. Many veterans, some rookies to the 300mile race but not the John Beargrease. All in all it looks like a robust and healthy roster for the unorthodox 2021 racing season. 

As with the preview I wrote yesterday, I'm just focused on the marathon race. There are also the 120, Junior 120, and 40 Beargrease races. These are not less important races by any means, and perhaps in the future I can focus more attention on them. They are highly competitive and all race fans should pay attention. However, if I want to be able to do more than just sit on my booty and research all weekend, and to get this all out before race day tomorrow, I've gotta be willing to sacrifice something. 

As with my other rosters, I have assembled the list in bib number order. So, without further adieu...

Beargrease Marathon Mushers

2 Peter McClelland - Facebook

3 Alice White - Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Tumblr

4 Erin Altemus - Website / Facebook

5 Sarah Keefer - Website / Facebook

6 Jennifer Freking - Website / Facebook / Instagram

7 Mary Manning - Facebook / Twitter

8 Ryan Redington - Website / Facebook / Instagram

9 Blake Freking - Website / Facebook / Instagram

10 Ero Wallin - Facebook / Instagram

11 Colleen Wallin - Instagram 12 Bailey Vitello - Website / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

13 Erin Letzring - Facebook

14 Gregg Vitello - Website / Facebook / Instagram

15 John Fisher - Facebook

16 Charmayne Morrison - Facebook / Instagram

17 Kevin Mathis - Facebook

20 Josi Thyr - Facebook

Who are you cheering for?

John Beargrease sled dog races will happen this weekend

Sled Dog races have continually found ways to show Covid that it will not win this season - while some races have had to restructure or move their dates, the race season is still happening with some of the biggest races standing firm. The Beargrease is no exception. While the threat of Covid-19 numbers rising kept many wary of whether or not the premier marathon sled dog race in the Lower-48 would happen, here we are. The race begins this weekend with a strict Covid-19 Mitigation plan.

While this blogger remains focused on Alaska (and mainly the sled dog races run therein) it's time to give this race its due. Several familiar names associated with Alaska's big races choose to run the Beargrease as well. It's also the race chosen to be part of the "Mushing Grand Prix Series" being pushed by Qrill Pet Sports and the Iditarod's CEO. 

Seventeen names are on the roster for the 300mile marathon race set to start on Sunday, January 31. Several top teams are back this year and more strong teams I'm probably not even aware of being top teams. Normally, we'd look at the top teams in the race, but I honestly don't follow enough of the lower-48 teams/races to have a real clue beyond watch the Frekings and watch Ryan Redington. Both kennels have been top teams and have won the race several times between them. 

Sorry, maybe the more I pay attention to these races the more prepared I'll feel to make any pre-race judgement. Maybe 2022? I know, that doesn't help your Fantasy Mushing team selection for this year, though.

How to Follow

As with most races this season, the race does not want spectators at the start, finish, or at checkpoints due to Covid-19 concerns. They are working with media outlets to make sure fans are able to watch the race in video form. Local news outlet WDIO will livefeed the start, and you can find the link on the race's website. Qrill PAWS has also announced they will report on the race. 

GPS Tracker

As we saw with last year's race, it looks like the Beargrease will again have two GPS tracker systems in place to follow the race. Race fans will be happy to know that the more familiar TrackLeaders trackers are still in play, but there is also the high tech looking QrillPet trackers linked to the race website. Both offer some interesting bits, and if one tracker goes out the other one typically keeps running so there's that. If nothing else it's back up!

Social Media

As with most sled dog races, the Beargrease is fairly active on their facebook page and they do have a twitter account though it isn't very active. And for a few pics check them out on Instagram. WDIO's Sports Director is also a good follow on Twitter to keep up with all of their headlines about the race. 

Schedule of Events

Saturday, January 30

8am-2:30pm Vet Checks

**There will be no Meet and Greet/Opening Ceremony this year due to Covid protocols**

3pm-ish? Handler & Musher Meetings (Bib Draw)

Sunday, January 31

9am - Live Stream of Race Start Begins

Nicolas Petit is your 2021 Copper Basin 300 champion

They done did the thing! pic.twitter.com/Tcd4MndsyG

— Jess ☞ Black Lives Matter (@fartsock) January 11, 2021

In a finish that surprised really no one, Nicolas Petit and his team of 9 dogs stormed the finish of the Copper Basin 300 at 11:48am Monday to take his fourth title. According to KCAM Radio, Nic is the first musher to ever win four Copper Basin races in a row. Nic left Chistochina with 10 dogs on the line, but had to put one in his sled due to the dog tiring early in the run. Due to Covid-19 there will not be an awards ceremony and the teams are going to receive any prizes at the finish. Also due to Covid-19 there are no large crowds to welcome them. 

In a battle for second Joar Leifseth Ulsom has a narrow lead over Gunnar Johnson, both teams are less than 5 miles from the finish line and should be in in time for lunch. Joar is technically a rookie in this race as the other time he competed in the Copper Basin 300 the race was stopped mid-race over concerns of brutally cold temperatures. 

There is a live video feed of the finishes provided by the Copper Basin 300, as well as radio broadcast through KCAM radio. 

With 7 mile lead Petit looks to finish strong

Nicolas Petit at the ReStart of Iditarod 47
March 3, 2019.

It ain't over til it's over, but in all likelihood Nicolas Petit is running into the finish of the Copper Basin 300 to win his fourth consecutive title. Gunnar Johnson and Joar Leifseth Ulsom have given chase, but sit seven miles behind the leader who has kicked it into high gear. It seems Petit owns this race. Of course, stranger things have happened and it isn't a given that he's won until he wins, but be on the look out for Nic Petit to come into the finish around 11:30am AKST (could be earlier, more likely later. Check the GPS to make sure you don't miss him come across the finish line.) 

Overnight three more teams scratched from the race, including Shaynee Traska who was one of the leaders of the chase pack yesterday. It was reported by fans who watched over night that Shaynee left Meier's Lake and ran a few miles before turning back and returning to the checkpoint. There's no official report on any of the race scratches, so we will only know what happened if the musher(s) decide to make a statement on their own social media pages. Scratching is a very emotional and personal decision for mushers and sometimes they remain silent. Jeff Reid and Allen Dunn also scratched last night at Meier's Lake.

ATAO kennel reports that the trail is not the best condition with a lot of sugar snow. Sugar Snow adds friction to the sled and also makes for a very unstable/soft trail which only gets worse the more teams go over it. 

It does appear that Julie Ahrens did not complete her mandatory six hour plus differential and has had to take another 6+ rest in Chistochina. The rookie musher had a phenomenal race and should be very proud of what she and her team accomplished. Every team has made the differential mistake, it wouldn't be a "rookie mistake" if they hadn't. This was Ahren's first Iditarod qualifier and above all that is the goal.

The champion finish is always celebration worthy, but the true excitement comes from battle for placement. second place and fourth place look at being closely contended. Teams must give the right of way to the team coming up faster behind them UNTIL "no man's land" (typically the last mile to the finish) then it's every team for itself. Watching teams come in seconds after each other always gives for a fun little jump in excitement.

Get ready for an exciting afternoon of finishes, race fans. CB300 had announced they planned to go live for the finish and I believe the link will be shared on their website. You can also listen to the finish on KCAM online. 

Ulsom and Hall giving chase towards the final checkpoint

Nicolas Petit at the ReStart of
Iditarod 48. March 8, 2020.

Petit might need to look over his shoulder from time to time. What was once a challenge of two is now a challenge of potentially four as Matt Hall and Joar Leifseth Ulsom have made a move to join Gunnar Johnson and Julie Ahren in chasing Petit. Of the top five out of Meier's Lake, only Ahren has yet to take their six hour plus differential mandatory rest (though a refresh does show her staying for 6.5, they don't have it down as completed). Ahren will have to take it at the final checkpoint at Chistochina (unless the notation is . With the rest having just the final few hours to take, Ahrens is all but out of contention (we've seen some weird finishes, so never say never). Gunnar Johnson led for most of Saturday and has been hot on Petit's heels when not in lead.

For Joar Leifseth Ulsom it looks like plans from when he made his racing schedule for the season have changed. While he posted on his site that this would be treated like a training run - it seems he's making a run that's more competitive than training. Matt, too, has a young team that apparently has shown they're ready to race and he's let up on the brake to let them have that experience. Hall's team has reported through out the Copper Basin how GREAT the team is doing. Always good to read that the coach is happy with his team.

If Ahrens has taken her mandatory, she and Gunnar both have a half hour less rest to take than Petit. Ulsom also has just 3.5 hours to take. Hall, like Petit, has four hours left to take. It should be an interesting night, especially since both Matt and Joar's trackers seem to not want to refresh. The current leg for the front runners have a lot of river crossings and potential for overflow is high. There are also some intense (for this race) elevation changes. It could be slow going for a while depending on trail conditions.

Nic's got about 90 miles until the finish. 40 to his final checkpoint and mandatory four hours of rest. His moving average speed according to trackers is 9mph. I don't expect that for this current run, but he'll punch it out of Chistochina. If we give him an 8.5mph average we could see a finish tomorrow around 11:30am or Noon - if all goes well and speed improves from what it is at the moment. We're probably looking closer to 1pm (IFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF my math is correct at all which we all know I'm the worst at this). I just encourage everyone to be ready for a late morning early afternoon finish.

This is not saying that it couldn't change up and we could see someone else take the title away from the reigning champion, but for now Nic has command of the trail and without a trail report we don't know if he will be hindered by being so far up ahead or if this will see a four-peat for the speedy musher.

Petit charges into lead over night

 

Nicolas Petit's team at the Ceremonial Start of
Iditarod 48. March 7, 2020.

It should surprise no one that Team Petit currently leads - mile-wise - the Copper Basin 300. The three-time and reigning CB champ is known for his aggressive racing strategy of get out ahead of everyone and keep the lead. Nic often accounts his racing style to just letting the dogs set their pace and if that means they lead, they lead, but to me it feels far more like that's just where the musher likes to keep his team. It's a good strategy if you can keep it, and so far in the mid-distance races it works for him (still waiting to see it truly work for him in the Iditarod). 

Keeping Petit company is rookie Julie Ahren who is running a team of dogs belonging to Reality TV Star Jessie Holmes. Holmes is playing handler while Ahren runs the dogs and she has consistently stayed with the lead pack. Rounding out top three is Gunnar Johnson who is kind of a surprise through all of this and one wonders if he can keep the pace for the whole course. Johnson is running his Iditarod 2021 season with the goal of bringing more awareness to Suicide and Suicide prevention, so it's nice to see him rocket up the trail with confidence. (I believe he is running Jim Lanier dogs? I could be wrong.) 

The chase pack is large but full of a lot of well known names as well as a few up and comers many may not be aware of. Hunter Keefe looks to really improve his standing over last year's Copper Basin. Joar Leifseth Ulsom's "puppy team" that was just using this race as a "training run" seems to be more into racing than his website led on (also he has a lot of veteran dogs on his team for a "puppy team" but who am I to judge). Matt Hall is reportedly very excited that his young team seems to be "getting it" in their first major race, and Jeff Deeter's team is also performing strongly. 

Three scratches happened overnight. The first sign of "trouble" was Falk Huettman's tracker starting and stopping multiple times in the first leg and falling very much behind. Suddenly his tracker pinged going 41mph and that was almost a total giveaway that someone decided to throw in the towel. The scratch wasn't made official until this morning, but it came as no surprise. John Lloyd, running a puppy team for Team Petit, chose to scratch when the group of young dogs decided they were done. The whole goal of a puppy team is to get them used to the schedule of racing, the energy of a race, and to make sure they have fun. From John's wife's report it sounds like by the end of the night neither team or musher was having much fun. Elisha Rutledge rounds out the list of scratches, but no word on reason.

Several teams chose to do their mandatory 6 hour (plus differential) layover in Lake Louise, the front runners were not among them. Teams must have a mandatory 18 hours of rest over the course of the race. Nic has 8.5 hours tallied so far. 

2021 Copper Basin Musher Roster

You asked, and I'm willing to spend my "day off" (it's not, I have to work tonight and all day tomorrow so I will miss a lot of sled dog action, cry for me) looking up links for all of you to follow the mushers and their teams who are running this year's Copper Basin 300. If I've missed a link or have the wrong link, please let me know in the comments below. I really do appreciate the readership and the feedback! I will try to edit this once they have their bib numbers, but for now we'll go with the list on their website.

Musher List for the 2021 Copper Basin 300

1 Honorary Musher - Jamey Kemp
2 Gunnar Johnson Website / Facebook / Twitter 
3 John Lloyd Website / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram 
4 Adam Lindenmuth Facebook / Instagram / Youtube 
5 Joe Taylor Facebook 6 Allen Dunn Facebook   7 Gerhardt Thiart Website / Facebook  8 KattiJo Deeter Website / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram 9 Julie Ahnen  Facebook / Instagram  10 Will Troshynski Website / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram 11 Dre Langefeld Facebook / Instagram  12 Eric Kelly Instagram / Facebook
13 Matt Randall  Facebook / Twitter  14 Hal Hanson Website / Facebook 15 Falk Huettmann - maybe found a personal fb page but not sure 16 Rebecca Rowin  Facebook 17 Matt Hall Website / Facebook / Instagram  18 Chad Stoddard Website / Facebook / Instagram 
19 Nicolas Petit Website / Facebook / Twitter 20 Deke Naaktgeboren Website / Facebook / Instagram 21 Jeff Reid Website / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram  22 Joshua Cadzow Facebook  23 Joar Ulsom Website / Facebook / Instagram 24 Jeffrey Deeter Website / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram 25 Dan Powell Website / Facebook / Instagram  26 Jacob Witkop Facebook  27 Misha Wiljes Website / Facebook 28 Amanda Otto Facebook / Kennel Facebook / Instagram  29 Dennis Kananowicz Facebook  
30 Elisha Rutledge Instagram 
31 Shaynee Traska Website / Facebook / Instagram
32 Philip Hanke  Facebook 
33 Hunter Keefe Facebook / Twitter / Instagram 

*Edited to add bib number and starting order. 
**Added Will since no one caught my mistake earlier!